Skeletons

by Yettaren

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. Just the story.

Category: M/M, CC, General

Rating: R, mostly for language

Summary: Another post-graduation fic. When a body is unearthed in Roswell, it sets into motion a series of events that will lead the Pod Squad, humans and aliens alike, to face their past. Summer 2002.

Author’s Note: Well, I posted part one of my first Boardello story yesterday, and here’s part one of my second. Don’t worry, I’m not sidetracked (yet); I have a good bit written on both and will just alternate, posting a new part of something every day for the next few weeks as much as I can. I’ve had mono for the last two months and, well, about the only thing I felt like doing for awhile was writing! You’ll probably see a little more of Skeletons than The Short-Term Fix, because I have a lot more written of it (though the chapters tend to be a little shorter, I think.) Neither one is completely finished yet, so feedback is welcome. They’re both Michael stories and possibly both deal with fallout from the same episode, but that’s where the similarities stop. Enjoy…

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PART ONE

The silence in the library was deafening. The hum of the air conditioner, the rustle of papers, it all hung loudly, echoing inside Michael’s head.

Maria frowned at the pages in her lap. He could see her out of the corner of his eye, which was now in the habit of always keeping her in sight. “Michael,” she hissed, her voice breaking the silence.

“Yeah?” he asked, looking up.

“I can’t believe we missed this.” Her pink-painted nails fluttered above the pages.

“Missed what?”

“Britney and Justin. They broke up.”

Michael glanced down at the Sports Illustrated in his lap and glanced back up at her. In the seat beside him, Maria was staring right at him. She looked serious. And this wasn’t Maria’s form of sarcasm.

“Who?” he asked, hoping it wasn’t what he thought. Not his Maria, surely she wouldn’t sink so low…

“You know. Them. They broke up, he was seen at a nightclub flirting with a bunch of hoochies.” Maria closed the magazine and leaned her face into her palm. “You lose television access and look what happens. Oh, my god.”

“They didn’t break up,” came a whisper from the other side of the stacks, behind them. The face was invisible through the tall rack of books, but the voice was unmistakable.

Maria dove around in her chair to address the voice.

“How would you know?” she asked.

“My magazine said they were seen back together,” the faceless whisper said. “No need to worry, little soldier.”

“Okay, who are you people?” Michael demanded. He picked up his Sports Illustrated, took aim at Maria, and swatted.

“Hey!” she squealed, blocking his blow with her hands, and a host of faces turned to angrily shush them.

The voice, meanwhile, appeared on their side of the stacks in the form of the face and body of Kyle Valenti.

“If they really broke up, we would have heard about it by now,” Kyle said. “I wouldn’t let that little tidbit slip by unannounced.” He shrugged.

“I hope not,” Maria said, flipping her hair. She turned her attention back to her magazine.

Michael stared at her. “You’re not serious.”

“I am dead serious,” she said, her eyes focused in her lap.

“Relax, Guerin,” Kyle whispered, slipping into the seat on his other side, “you really should know her better than that.”

Michael looked back and forth between them suspiciously. “Take it back, then.”

“Take what back?” Maria asked innocently as she casually turned a page.

“Any pretended interest in Britney and Justin.”

“I love Justin Timberlake,” Maria said, casting her eyes up to the ceiling. “I want to have his babies.”

“Take it back!” Michael hissed, and grabbed at her arm, which she pulled away, giggling while at the same time trying to stifle her noise.

In the chair beside them, Kyle calmly took the opportunity to swipe the Sports Illustrated from Michael’s lap and delve into it as Michael and Maria continued to wrestle.

“He got your magazine,” Maria pointed out as she came near Michael’s ear in the struggle.

“If I have to come over here one more time, I will ask you two to leave the library,” a soft but stern voice came from beside them. All three looked up to see a member of the library staff glaring down at them.

“Sorry,” Maria said, biting her lip and smiling.

“Yeah. Oops,” Michael said. “We’re fine.”

Kyle flipped the pages of his magazine silently. The librarian walked away.

“Look at you, playing innocent,” Maria scolded Kyle, as soon as the librarian was back at the main desk. “I’m going to turn you in if we get kicked out.”

“Oh, the library police,” Kyle said. “I’m shivering.” He raised his hands in mock fear before returning to the Sports Illustrated.

Michael glanced down at his now unoccupied arms and casually threw one of them across the back of Maria’s chair. The kind of unconscious, silent gesture of companionship that could be taken for granted if it wasn’t thoroughly planned and intended. And much to his delight, she let it remain.

“Let me see that,” Michael said, leaning in closer to her to glance at the pages of her magazine.

“Oh, for crying out loud, Senor PDA. Do I need to call our friend back over?” Kyle asked. “I’m outta here.” He started to stand up.

“Then gimme my magazine back,” Michael said immediately.

Maria laughed. “Kyle, sit down,” she said.

Kyle obliged, and Michael took the opportunity to lean in even closer, on pretense of reading the same article as Maria. He really wasn’t that interested in fall skirt designs, but the hand that was turning the pages was something to look at indeed.

Across the library, their traveling companions were somewhat less cheerful.

There were five internet stations working, and all were occupied with a long line. Hence the thirty-minute rule. And for fugitives with the rare opportunity to get on the internet, the thirty-minute rule was giving them quite a bit of frantic stress.

Isabel idly clicked through her routine websites. She checked her e-mail. A couple of friends from school had written her, apparently unaware she was on the run. A couple of other friends from school had written inquiring into her whereabouts, indeed aware of her situation. Nobody she cared about too much, so it was fine that she didn’t reply. She checked the general news websites – no major catastrophes that they’d missed for any reason. She checked the Roswell Daily News website; no big news today about anybody they knew. And then she looked at the archives for the week, and she felt her blood run cold.


WEDNESDAY JULY 10 11:38 a.m. BODY FOUND IN FRASIER WOODS IDENTIFIED


She took a deep breath, licked her lips unconsciously, and clicked on the link with a feeling of dread.

As she read it, she felt a tightening in her shoulders. Her toes curled up inside her boots. It couldn’t be.

“Max,” Isabel whispered across her console. Max’s computer was right across from hers. “Max!”

No reply. She leaned over to look and only saw the tops of his shoulders. He was bending down over Liz’s computer.

“Max!” she said in full voice. “This is important!”

Max’s head shot up, his cheeks flushed.

“Whatisit?” he asked, a little too quickly. Liz looked up beside him guiltily.

“Go to the printer now,” she said. “I’m printing it out.”

Max obliged, shooting Liz a conspiratorial glance and shoving himself up from the chair. The two conjoining computer workstations, with high walls and no one nearby to pry, had been an ideal opportunity for the two of them to, well, do some conjoining. It was hard enough to get private time these days. He felt Liz’s eyes boring into his back as he walked to the computer, much as her fingers had just been exploring it. He felt color rush to his cheeks as he realized how close they’d been to his sister. But in the heat of the moment, he really didn’t care.

The color drained as he read the paper emerging from the printer.

PART TWO


Max felt his hands shaking a little as he clung to the freshly printed article in his hands.

‘ ROSWELL, N.M.------

The decomposed body discovered Sunday in Frasier Woods has been identified by dental records as a 46 year-old Roswell man who disappeared in 2000.

Despite bizarre skeletal deformities characteristic of a string of murders in the southwest, no cause of death has been identified.

Hank Whitmore was last seen in February 2000. Police records show a domestic disturbance occurred on the evening of February 12. Whitmore was reported missing on February 13. On February 19, the case was closed, with records showing that Whitmore indicated he was relocating to Las Cruces.

“There’s no evidence to suggest he ever made it here,” said Kathy Wilder, a representative of the Las Cruces police department. “We’re working closely with the Roswell sheriff’s department to figure out what happened between there and here.”

At the time of the disappearance, Whitmore was the court-appointed guardian to an underage minor. The minor was initially held in connection with the disappearance, but was later released.

Sources close to the investigation report a possible connection between the unidentified minor and the events at West Roswell High School graduation in May. The annual graduation event was marked by gunfire, and the subsequent disappearance of six Roswell teenagers. One of the missing graduates, Michael Guerin, 17, was known to be a minor emancipated from the foster system.

“We are not authorized to release any records identifying underage minors in court custody,” Chaves County DSS official Patricia Rodriguez said in a statement to reporters Tuesday.

An anonymous man who claimed to be a former coworker to Whitmore confirmed that Guerin was in Whitmore’s custody at one time.

Police declined to comment on any connection between the unidentified minor and the West Roswell incident. ‘



The first few paragraphs were bad enough, but there it was. Michael Guerin. In black and white. Connected with Hank’s death.

“We can’t show this to him,” he found himself saying quietly to Isabel, as Liz clung to his side, the two of them looking over Isabel’s shoulder. Isabel was rapidly printing out every news item she could find relating to the Whitmore body, in the five minutes she had left before her time expired.

“Can’t show it to him?” Liz repeated. “Max, are you nuts? You owe it to Michael to be honest with him. At the very least.”

“It was a long time ago,” Max said. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“Max,” Isabel said quietly, “you don’t think…”

Max stared at her. “I didn’t.”

“But…”

Liz looked back and forth between them. “Okay, you guys are scaring me now.”

“I’m scaring myself,” Isabel said quietly.

“Isabel, stop it,” Max hissed. “He couldn’t have.”

“I don’t know, Max…”

“We went through this at the time. He had a rock-solid alibi, Isabel. He was with Maria.”

“Wait, wait,” Liz said. “You don’t think Michael did something to Hank Whitmore?”

“He was scared,” Max whispered. “So scared. You know how paranoid Michael used to be about adults, that somebody would figure out about us… well, Hank figured it out. At least he saw Michael use his powers. It was his worst fear – that anybody would see him do it, and that it would be Hank. He had nightmares about that kind of thing.”

“Hank was dangerous, too,” Isabel said, her eyes staring through the screen as she clicked on another article. “He’d hurt Michael before, when he thought he was just some orphan kid. There’s no telling what he was capable of when he was scared of Michael.”

“You two are scaring me,” Liz said. She wound her arm around Max’s waist for reassurance. “Michael couldn’t have killed somebody, I mean…”

“He killed Agent Pierce,” Max said tightly.

“Which devastated him, Max. Am I right?”

Isabel glanced up at Max.

“He was never like that when Hank vanished,” Liz pointed out.

“When Hank vanished, he got emancipated,” Isabel countered. “It was a lot to deal with.”

“When Agent Pierce died, Michael was rescuing me and finding out about Tess and our destiny, and learning to trust the Valentis,” Max ticked off. “It was a lot, too. She’s right, Isabel. Michael wasn’t capable.”

Isabel sighed. “Then if we’re sure, do we have to show him this?”

“He deserves to know,” Liz said firmly.

The three of them looked up. Across the library, they could see Michael, his arm thrown around Maria, leaning into her ear and whispering something that was sending her into a fit of convulsive laughter.

“Let’s get out of here,” Max whispered.

Liz nodded to Isabel and scurried to the printer, which was delivering the last few articles Isabel had found, spitting out page after page of news reports from the previous week. She had a moment to scan them. The press in Roswell was all over this, the reporter who had made the connection between Hank and Michael was writing about three articles a day. But never any direct accusation. Just speculation. Lots of anonymous sources. And there… a quote from former sheriff, Deputy Jim Valenti. How funny that looked on paper, Deputy Valenti, former sheriff.

“We had every indication that Whitmore was in Las Cruces. There was no reason at the time to investigate further.”

Liz frowned. Hank and Michael’s names were already in this, and now Valenti? How long would it be before they named the rest of them? Only Liz hadn’t been named in the initial press coverage at graduation, still being a legal minor.

Not long. “Kyle Valenti, 18, Deputy Valenti’s son, was also reported missing in May and is believed to be with Guerin and the other missing teenagers.”

Oh, jeez. They were in for it now.

Liz grabbed the last article and hurried across the room to where Max and Isabel were rounding up the others. “Michael, you’re on plate duty,” Max said quietly as Michael, Maria and Kyle stashed the last of their magazines. Michael nodded with calm, and the six turned as one to stride out of the public library.

Liz tripped on Michael and Maria’s heels as they moved through the rotating doors. They had no idea. Michael had no idea. Liz turned to her side, where Max had somehow managed to move through the group and end up beside her. She gave him what she desperately hoped was a reassuring smile, but his expression told her she’d failed. She pursed her lips and turned away from him.

As Kyle unlocked the van, Michael ducked around back. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching – no one was. They’d backed the van up against a wall on purpose, so that nobody would see when he did this. He touched the license plate, concentrated on its structure, reached out into the metal, and summoned up a mental image of a Virginia license plate. He’d taken to watching cars on the highway while they drove, memorizing the details of legal license plates, and had a good twenty-two states committed to memory. He then gave the first combination of letters and numbers that popped into his head, passed his hand over the rest of the plate, checked to make sure it looked okay, and hopped into the van. Damn if he wasn’t getting good at it.

Isabel was driving, with Liz riding shotgun. Maria and Kyle sat in the back, leaving the seat beside Max free in the middle. Michael pulled the door closed behind him, climbed over the box of non-perishables they were living off of this week, and slid into the seat beside Max.

It was then that he noticed how solemn Max looked.

Max always looked solemn, to a certain extent, but Michael knew him well enough to tell when something was really wrong. Which it was now.

“What are you not telling us?” Michael asked immediately.

Max exchanged a glance with Liz in the front seat.

“Michael…” Max started. “First of all, I want you to stay cool. Okay?”

Now Michael glanced back at Maria, whose eyes had gone wide with alarm.

“As a cucumber, Maxwell. What is it?” Michael could hear the boredom in his own voice, though it was more like an attempt to regulate himself. He took Max’s words seriously. He focused on his heartbeat, trying to keep it steady.

“Isabel found something on the internet.”

“Okay…”

Max glanced at the papers Liz had thrust into his hands. He had turned them over. He didn’t want Michael to read it the way that they had, in black and white, on paper.

“It’s about Hank.”

Michael stiffened. He hadn’t heard Max even speak the name in over a year. As far as he was concerned, Hank Whitmore was dead.

“What about him?”

“He’s dead, Michael.”

“What?” Michael felt calm. Unusually calm. In fact, he wasn’t feeling anything. Anything. “What happened?”

“They don’t know. Well, they do. They found his body in the woods. Fused.”

Michael still felt nothing, but realized now it was more of a numbness. He wanted Maria to be sitting here with him, not Max.

“They said he never made it to Las Cruces… he never left Roswell.”

“Nasedo,” Maria said from the back. Michael was relieved, not only to have an excuse to look back and see her face, but also to have an explanation before anybody even had time to jump to a conclusion.

“Probably,” Max agreed, “but the authorities don’t know that.”

“My dad would,” Kyle spoke up. He exchanged a glance with Maria, who nodded.

“Yes, but what can he say about it?” Max asked. “This one’s already going to come down on him. He was sheriff at the time, he was the last one to see Hank Whitmore, and now his son’s run off with the suspected murderer.”

“Now that just doesn’t sound right, ‘run off with’…” Kyle mused, before staring down at his hands, dropping his point.

Suspected… Michael stared at the sheaf of paper in Max’s hands. “Gimme those.”

“I just want to talk to you about this first…”

But Michael had already snatched the first two away to skim them. Max sighed, but did nothing to stop him.

“They think I did it,” Michael said as he turned to the second page. “The police, the press… they’re all over this.”

“Michael, stay calm,” Max said evenly. Michael looked up.

“I’m calm,” he said.

“You’re too calm,” Maria piped up from the backseat. “Breathe, okay?”

Michael turned to glance at her, and read the concern on her face. It was enough to break him out of his deadly calm with a shudder. “Okay,” he agreed.

Chicken teriyaki. Michael had a sudden flash of chicken teriyaki. Hank used to make it every couple of weeks. It was his specialty. He was usually in a good mood when he made it.

“I didn’t,” Michael said aloud. He looked up and turned around to see four faces looking at him expectantly. “I didn’t do anything to him. You guys all have to know that.”

“We know,” Liz said. “Michael, we know.”

“I mean… you can ask Max and Isabel, they were there. They saw it. I threw stuff around, the gun went off, that was it. He was drunk off his ass, but he was in one piece when we left. And then, then he vanished.”

“Nasedo went to your house, then,” Maria said. “While you were… out.” He glanced back at her and saw her eyebrows lift. It was a relief.

“Valenti said something,” Michael said. “There were loud noises. Inhuman. I remember he said they were inhuman.”

He glanced to Max, who was staring him down.

“I just remember him using that word, okay? It’s hard to forget.”

“We have got to get in touch with your dad,” Max said to Kyle.

“I thought you said no contact,” Kyle said. “I mean… don’t get me wrong, I want to talk to my dad, but what’s changed? We’re still fugitives. Big deal. We keep doing what we’ve been doing all along.” Kyle licked his lips and glanced around.

“This is Michael’s name we’re talking about,” Maria reminded them.

“Forget that. I don’t care what people think about my name, I never even use it outside this van anymore,” Michael pointed out. He glanced back at Maria, however, to mouth a silent “Thank you,” to which she nodded.

“This whole story makes it more dangerous for us,” Max said in his authoritative voice, the one that always made people shut up and listen, even if they bitched about it afterwards. “Before, it was just the Special Unit that was onto us. This is everyday stuff. If Michael’s a wanted murderer, police departments everywhere could be looking for him before we know it.”

“This says they just want me for questioning,” Michael protested faintly. He stared down at the stack of articles in his lap.

“Yes, and you’ve vanished without a trace,” Max said. “It doesn’t look good. If they come to want you too badly…”

“…America’s Most Wanted, here we come,” Kyle finished. “Max, I agree with you. For once.” Kyle coughed. “But then how do we contact my dad?”

“I have an idea,” Max said.

“Oh, here we go,” Isabel spoke up from the driver’s seat. “Just so everybody knows, my brother has been working on this plan since we left Roswell. Don’t go thinking that he just came up with it on the spur of the moment.”

“Thank you, Isabel,” Max said, glaring at the front seat. “Hear me out, okay? Here’s what we’re going to do.”

The lights of the highway sped by at a frantic pace, almost as if they embodied the urgency in Liz’s driving.

Maria crouched in the backseat, her knees tucked to her chest, leaning against the window. They’d been passed a few times, but for the most part the few cars they met fell behind them, with the trees and streetlights they’d left behind.

Kyle sat silently listening to his walkman, riding shotgun. Max and Isabel were both sleeping restlessly in the middle, gearing up for their driving stretches.

And Michael sat beside her, leaning away from her against the window, curled underneath his jacket, invisible. Awake? Asleep? There was no way to tell. His breathing was measured, slow, but with Michael that didn’t necessarily answer the question.

They’d all moved around at the last rest stop, three hours before. Around eleven. It was two in the morning now, by Maria’s watch. And their goal was to drive all night. Try and get close to the border before they placed the call.

From far behind them, Maria heard a siren, and she sat up. She noticed Liz’s head perk up, too, in the front. Maria twisted around to stare out the back. The flashing lights grew closer. Closer. Too close.

“Maria…” Liz said quietly from the front.

“I see it. Move, move, get over to the right.”

Liz obeyed, changing lanes, and the police car breezed by them. Both girls instantly drooped their shoulders in relief.

“Are you about to have a heart attack?” Liz asked.

“No. Just had one. You?”

“Yeah, same.”

Maria breathed another sigh of relief and shifted position. She scooted her legs down to the floor, propping them between Michael’s legs. One of his legs flicked back a little when she brushed up against it, and after a moment he readjusted to lock her into place.

She leaned over on top of his jacket. “Knew you weren’t sleeping, spaceboy,” she whispered where his ear should be.

Michael grunted beneath her, and twisted away, showing her more of his back.

Maria sat back up. This wasn’t like him.

Well, it was. But not lately.

She bent down to the jacket and, rather than pick it up, crept underneath herself, until her face was above his, both of them still hidden from view.

She found herself face to face with him. At first he seemed annoyed with a little grunt, but after a moment he relaxed and brushed his lips against hers gently.

There was a salty taste to his mouth, and in the dim light she looked up at his eyes. They were red. Wet.

Maria leaned down again, pressing her lips against his. He returned the kiss briefly, then pulled away, such that he could.

She stared back at him, surprised that he would turn her away like this, and then softened when she had a moment to read his whole expression.

She leaned down, tucking her head underneath his chin, and settled down comfortably. After a moment, he wrapped his arms around her and clung to her, tightly.

His arms felt good around her. Comforting. Not that she was the one needing comfort now, but she could tell that just by being here, in his private space with him, she was a comfort to him.

Maria knew things about Michael he had never said, that he never could say. She knew, from her flashes, just what it was like to grow up without a family. He had never known affection. A hug, a kiss, a pat on the back… he never had it growing up. Every once in awhile he’d get a spontaneous hug from Max or Isabel, but there was always a timid feel to it. As if they were afraid to set him over the edge. Which was a valid fear; Michael was overwhelmed by Maria sometimes. Not that it stopped him wanting to get more. Now that she understood him more, she saw why he had been so hungry for her back when they first hooked up. He didn’t know what it was like to feel affection, and once he got it, it was like a drug.

Now, though, his mindset was far, far away from her, and she recognized that. Michael had been uncomfortably yanked back to a time in his life he continuously tried to pretend didn’t exist. He rarely said a word about Hank Whitmore to Maria, but she could feel Hank’s presence constantly. Particularly when Michael allowed her the rare flash, she saw Hank far more often than she let Michael know. And from knowing Hank through the flashes, she saw him in Michael constantly. No matter how much Michael tried to pretend it didn’t bother him, that he was capable of conquering his childhood just like everything else, Maria saw more than anyone just how much of a lie it was.

But she had never seen him like this.

Grieving.

She pulled her hand around and lifted it up to Michael’s face. He hadn’t shaved in four days now, and was starting to grow stubble. Maria liked it, it made him look dangerous. Not that Michael needed stubble for that effect.

She brought her hand back down, tucking it near her chin. Beneath his jacket, the air was stuffy and warm, but somehow cozy. Their breath, in rhythm together, echoed through the silent, stuffy space that defined their world for the moment.

“You know it’s okay,” she whispered to him, as softly as she could. “I’m here, Michael. I love you.”

“Thanks,” he whispered back, barely audible.

“I know you’re upset,” she whispered, searching for words. “Michael… I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere. Not anymore.”

“I know,” he whispered back. “And thank you.” There was a pause. “I don’t know what I’d…”

His voice trailed off, and they returned to silence.

She shifted her weight around, as his elbow was digging into her side. He pulled it back to allow her more comfort.

Their breathing fell into an identical rhythm, rising and falling together. In the darkness, with the world rushing by silently around them, Michael and Maria fell asleep in perfect harmony.

He’d been in this corridor many times before.

It was like the halls of West Roswell High, only darker. Michael was never one to hang around school after dark, except for the many times he was hiding in the corridors, running for his life…

Like now…

He could hear the footsteps. He didn’t know who was after him, but he knew they were dangerous. They wanted to kill the aliens. They were scared of him, but he was terrified of them.

He looked around for Max, it seemed like Max should be running too, but he was missing. Maybe they already captured him.

“Max?” Michael screamed. “Max!”

It was then he remembered that Max had gone home. Only Michael had detention. Detention for what? He couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter now. Max was the good one, Max wasn’t in trouble, Max was safe at home with Isabel and his parents. Dammit.

Michael was the one hiding, alone.

His chest heaved. His mouth was dry.

Maybe Maria would help him. She had detention too. Maybe they’d been caught making out in the eraser room, which was ridiculous, because he always locked the door. Really locked it, with his powers. He wasn’t sure. But he couldn’t find her now. He wanted to shout, but suddenly he realized that if he shouted again, they’d catch him.

His only recourse was to make a run for it. He spotted the nearest exit, popped out from his hiding place, and dashed for the door, running as hard as he could, his arms and legs pumping.

There was a house beside the school. He knew that house. A woman lived there, an older woman, a dignitary of some sort. She was calling to him, she told him to run as fast as he could. He started to run towards the house, the gleaming gold house in the distance, and it was then that a rough, cold hand grabbed his arm.

Michael whirled around. “No,” he whispered. “No, you’re dead.” He twisted around, trying to free himself. He felt the blood draining from his body, as if it was being absorbed into the cold hand.

“I’m not dead,” Hank said, leering over him, tall and dangerous, “I went to Las Cruces.”

“No. No, you didn’t.”

“I’m here, ain’t I?”

“Somebody help me!” Michael screamed.

“Nobody’s gonna help you. They all went home.” Hank pulled Michael in closer, as he struggled to get away. “Time to go home, Mickey.”

“No,” Michael whimpered. “I live in that house there…” He glanced to the gold house, and he could see the woman inside shutting the door. She didn’t know he was here. She couldn’t see him through the darkness. Her house was too bright. He glanced back toward the school, which had turned back into the elementary school. Dark.

Without another word, Hank grabbed Michael’s ear, and dragged him towards the truck.

“Let’s go get started on the experiments,” Hank said as he started up the truck.

As the truck pulled away, past the elementary school, Michael turned to look at the gold house. The woman inside had a baby in her arms, and she stared out at the truck as it drove off.

“Mama…” Michael whispered.

“Your parents left you in the desert,” Hank sneered.

“They’re coming back for me,” Michael said softly. He scrunched down in the seat and stared out at the passing streetlights. He pulled his legs closer to him; they were hanging off the seat. He couldn’t reach the floorboard. He was so small.

So small.

“Just you wait till we get home, boy.”

Maybe if he jumped out, he could run for the gold house. But didn’t he need a spaceship to get there? He couldn’t get a spaceship if Hank was right there, he couldn’t let Hank know the truth.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled quietly. He glanced to his side, to Hank bearing down on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” But he knew that Hank wouldn’t believe him. He never did.

Before he knew it, they were pulling into the trailer park. The truck came to a screeching halt, and Hank jumped out, made his way around to Michael’s side, and dragged Michael out.

Michael fought to get away, but he couldn’t. No matter how much he scratched, flailed, kicked and bit, Hank was pulling him into the trailer.

“I don’t live here anymore!” Michael screamed. He felt his teeth connect with Hank’s arm, he could taste the salty blood.

“You always live here,” Hank insisted calmly. “Time to come home, Mickey.”

“No!”

Hank flung him into the trailer, the white vastness of the trailer. Of the white room. “Ready to begin the experiments?” He came toward Michael, in his gleaming dark suit. “The subject is here.”

“No!” Michael was shaking, grasping, grasping hard to the thing in his arms… the pillow… the… Maria.

He was sweating in the back of the van, as he slowly regained consciousness. Maria pulled away from him.

“Just a dream,” she whispered. “Wake up. It’s okay.”

“Yeah,” Michael sighed. “Just a dream.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. It was just… just a dream.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“No,” he said immediately.

In the silence in the back of the van, Michael lay awake with Maria asleep in his arms for hours, as he envisioned the gold house on the hill. His mother. The woman who bore him in his previous life on Antar. He knew it was her. A memory he’d been searching for all his life. He could finally see her. And it was enough. For now.

He’d been in this corridor many times before.

It was like the halls of West Roswell High, only darker. Michael was never one to hang around school after dark, except for the many times he was hiding in the corridors, running for his life…

Like now…

He could hear the footsteps. He didn’t know who was after him, but he knew they were dangerous. They wanted to kill the aliens. They were scared of him, but he was terrified of them.

He looked around for Max, it seemed like Max should be running too, but he was missing. Maybe they already captured him.

“Max?” Michael screamed. “Max!”

It was then he remembered that Max had gone home. Only Michael had detention. Detention for what? He couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter now. Max was the good one, Max wasn’t in trouble, Max was safe at home with Isabel and his parents. Dammit.

Michael was the one hiding, alone.

His chest heaved. His mouth was dry.

Maybe Maria would help him. She had detention too. Maybe they’d been caught making out in the eraser room, which was ridiculous, because he always locked the door. Really locked it, with his powers. He wasn’t sure. But he couldn’t find her now. He wanted to shout, but suddenly he realized that if he shouted again, they’d catch him.

His only recourse was to make a run for it. He spotted the nearest exit, popped out from his hiding place, and dashed for the door, running as hard as he could, his arms and legs pumping.

There was a house beside the school. He knew that house. A woman lived there, an older woman, a dignitary of some sort. She was calling to him, she told him to run as fast as he could. He started to run towards the house, the gleaming gold house in the distance, and it was then that a rough, cold hand grabbed his arm.

Michael whirled around. “No,” he whispered. “No, you’re dead.” He twisted around, trying to free himself. He felt the blood draining from his body, as if it was being absorbed into the cold hand.

“I’m not dead,” Hank said, leering over him, tall and dangerous, “I went to Las Cruces.”

“No. No, you didn’t.”

“I’m here, ain’t I?”

“Somebody help me!” Michael screamed.

“Nobody’s gonna help you. They all went home.” Hank pulled Michael in closer, as he struggled to get away. “Time to go home, Mickey.”

“No,” Michael whimpered. “I live in that house there…” He glanced to the gold house, and he could see the woman inside shutting the door. She didn’t know he was here. She couldn’t see him through the darkness. Her house was too bright. He glanced back toward the school, which had turned back into the elementary school. Dark.

Without another word, Hank grabbed Michael’s ear, and dragged him towards the truck.

“Let’s go get started on the experiments,” Hank said as he started up the truck.

As the truck pulled away, past the elementary school, Michael turned to look at the gold house. The woman inside had a baby in her arms, and she stared out at the truck as it drove off.

“Mama…” Michael whispered.

“Your parents left you in the desert,” Hank sneered.

“They’re coming back for me,” Michael said softly. He scrunched down in the seat and stared out at the passing streetlights. He pulled his legs closer to him; they were hanging off the seat. He couldn’t reach the floorboard. He was so small.

So small.

“Just you wait till we get home, boy.”

Maybe if he jumped out, he could run for the gold house. But didn’t he need a spaceship to get there? He couldn’t get a spaceship if Hank was right there, he couldn’t let Hank know the truth.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled quietly. He glanced to his side, to Hank bearing down on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” But he knew that Hank wouldn’t believe him. He never did.

Before he knew it, they were pulling into the trailer park. The truck came to a screeching halt, and Hank jumped out, made his way around to Michael’s side, and dragged Michael out.

Michael fought to get away, but he couldn’t. No matter how much he scratched, flailed, kicked and bit, Hank was pulling him into the trailer.

“I don’t live here anymore!” Michael screamed. He felt his teeth connect with Hank’s arm, he could taste the salty blood.

“You always live here,” Hank insisted calmly. “Time to come home, Mickey.”

“No!”

Hank flung him into the trailer, the white vastness of the trailer. Of the white room. “Ready to begin the experiments?” He came toward Michael, in his gleaming dark suit. “The subject is here.”

“No!” Michael was shaking, grasping, grasping hard to the thing in his arms… the pillow… the… Maria.

He was sweating in the back of the van, as he slowly regained consciousness. Maria pulled away from him.

“Just a dream,” she whispered. “Wake up. It’s okay.”

“Yeah,” Michael sighed. “Just a dream.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. It was just… just a dream.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“No,” he said immediately.

In the silence in the back of the van, Michael lay awake with Maria asleep in his arms for hours, as he envisioned the gold house on the hill. His mother. The woman who bore him in his previous life on Antar. He knew it was her. A memory he’d been searching for all his life. He could finally see her. And it was enough. For now.

“You look… ravishing.” Jim smiled at the figure standing in his doorway.

“Oh, stop. You’ve seen this dress before,” she said, blushing.

“Not like that,” he said, watching intently as she swayed from side to side, showing off the curves. “Magnificent. Come on in, Amy.”

“Now look at this place,” she said, surveying the house. “Somebody did their spring cleaning. And it’s about time, with summer halfway over.”

“Do you want something to drink?” he asked, ignoring the last comment. “I have sauvignon blanc, or chardonnay.”

“Ooh, classy,” she said. “This is a step up from the usual Heineken.”

“I have that, too.”

“Well, I’ll just have a Heinie, then.”

“Okay, then,” Jim said, grinning, and strode into the kitchen. “Two Heinekens, coming up. Dinner’ll be ready in about ten minutes, how does that sound?”

“Delicious.”

“Good.”

As he opened the refrigerator to obtain the Heinekens, the phone started to ring. “Sorry! Meant to turn that darn ringer off,” he shouted.

“Hi, this is the Valentis. We’re not here…”

“You left Kyle’s voice on there,” Amy said quietly from behind him.

Jim shrugged and turned around to hand her a beer. “Just haven’t gotten around to changing the message,” he said. At least that’s what he tried to tell himself, every time he stopped himself from changing the message.

“I’m sure it’s nice to hear his voice every time somebody calls you,” she said, wistful. She took a slow sip of her beer, staring down at the floor.

“Yes,” he agreed. The machine shut off. No message. “I guess.”

“I go into Maria’s room all the time,” Amy said quietly. “Just sit there and look at her stuff. I know parents whose kids have died – well, you know the Whitmans, too – they can’t go in Alex’s room. It’s frozen in time. But Maria’s still out there, and I know that. And being around her belongings makes me feel like she’s coming back. Like she wouldn’t have left all this stuff here, if…” She gestured.

“I know,” Jim said. He found himself mesmerized by her dark eyes…

“I know you do,” Amy agreed.

The phone rang again.

“Maybe you ought to turn that thing off,” Amy suggested, leaning closer to him.

Jim frowned and moved toward the telephone. It rang a second time. The machine would pick it up on the fifth ring. But somebody didn’t want to leave a message…?

A third ring. “Hold on, Amy,” Jim said, and grabbed the phone before the fourth.

“Hello?”

“Is this line secure?”

Jim caught his breath at the voice. “As far as I know.”

“Are you alone?”

“No… I have company. Hold on.” Jim turned to Amy apologetically. “Amy, I have to take this call.” Her face fell.

“Is that who I think it is?” Max Evans asked.

“Hold on,” Jim said to Max. “Take out the dish when the timer goes off, and I’ll just be a few minutes, okay, hon?” he asked to Amy, who nodded in apparent confusion.

He walked back down the hallway, into Kyle’s unchanged bedroom, and closed the door.

“Where the hell are you?” he demanded in a low voice.

“Can’t tell you.”

“Are you on a secure line?”

“Yes. I can’t tell you more than that, either, but we’re fine.”

Jim sighed as he sat back on Kyle’s bed. “Then what are you calling for? I thought we agreed you had vanished.”

“We heard about what they found.”

“Oh,” Jim said, his eyes settling on the Buddha still perched on Kyle’s dresser. “That. What did you hear exactly?”

“We heard our friend’s name attached to it. We heard your name attached to it.”

“Good,” he said. “And know that some people around here desperately want to talk to your friend. His name’s popping up on some lists that aren’t connected to the lists you’re already on. Look, if it’s at all possible, you kids have to keep an even lower profile than before. Okay?”

“We just thought we should check in.” Jim noted his continual use of the third-person. Max had said he was stepping down as leader, but that was a near impossibility. Max still believed and acted as if he was the sole voice of the group. Good old Max.

“I’m glad you did. How is our mutual friend handling things?”

“Fine, I guess. Can we help you at all? We need you to quiet things down for us. It’s too much talk. Too much publicity.”

“Look, is he there?”

“Who? Mi… yes. Yes, he is.” Jim saw the catch in Max’s voice. He was trying so hard not to say any names over the phone.

“If I can just get some set answers, I’ll see what I can do, okay, son? Let me talk to him. I still don’t even know what I’m covering for.”

He heard a scuffling sound, and could hear conversation in the background. Liz and Isabel were talking about something. Light tones. They were cheerful. And then Michael came on the line.

“Yeah, I’m here,” Michael said. “What do you need to know?”

Jim’s eyes trailed over the trophies that lined Kyle’s walls. “You were never straight with me about what happened that night.”

“With all due respect, you were dogging my ass at the time.”

Jim had to laugh, though it was somewhat forced. He lowered his voice. “What am I covering for here exactly?”

“I actually was kinda straight with you. More or less. I was over at the Evans’ house…”

“No names!” Jim heard Max hiss from somewhere farther away.

“Sorry. Sorry. Anyway, I was over at their house, cause he and I had been having some problems. Uh, then I went back home, I guess, and he and I got into a fight again. They came over in the middle of it, just to check on me, and he was really drunk. He had a gun, he was gonna shoot at us, and I made the gun fire. You know. Blasted him. But not him, I didn’t blast him, I blasted the gun.”

“So the gunshots the neighbors heard, that was you.”

“Yeah. It just shot off in the kitchen, though. He, uh…” Michael paused. “I remember, he started yelling all this stuff, about how he knew I had powers, and then we ran off. I ended up at somebody else’s house, you know that, and I stayed there the rest of the night. That was it. I mean it. The only thing I did was blast the gun. And maybe throw a few things around. But I didn’t hurt him, I swear to you I didn’t. He was fine when we left, just really drunk.”

“And I believe you. You got any theories on this, then?”

“Yeah,” Michael said. “I think a certain shapeshifter killed him that night, and buried him then.”

“But I saw him after that,” Jim pointed out.

“No, you didn’t,” Michael corrected.

“True,” Jim agreed. “Showing up in my office to cover his tracks and make sure nobody ever looked for him ever again. It would fit his MO. He was covering for you kids.”

“And doing a shitty job of it. Go figure. So can you cover for us?”

“Well, the sheriff’s department has a whole file on him, some of it destroyed by yours truly – don’t tell my superiors that…”

“Not a problem.”

“But they already connected him to those other murders. It’s just a question of getting your name out of it.” If he even could. Just as Jim himself had once connected Max Evans to the Nasedo files, now his coworkers were starting to make the same connections with one Michael Guerin. And he knew just how far he had gotten with his hunch about Max, however wrong it had been. His fundamental hunch had been dead-on.

“Do it. Fast. I don’t like this.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Lay low, they want you real bad right now. It helps that you cleared up the facts, okay? Thank you for calling.”

“Thank you for fixing this.”

“Don’t thank me too prematurely.” Jim hesitated. “Is… can I talk to…”

There was a pause. He could hear Michael whispering. “We have twelve more minutes on this phone,” Jim heard Max say in the background.

“Yeah, hold on,” Michael said.

Jim waited a moment. In the silence, he could hear the sound of traffic. They were on the road. He heard a CD playing. The Cranberries. He could hear, faintly, Liz and Isabel’s voices, still engaged in conversation. And then he heard the voice from his answering machine. “Dad?”

Jim leaned back on the bed, more because he felt himself melting than because he was tired. “Kyle…” No names, he reminded himself. No names.

“How are you, Dad? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, son… What have you been up to?”

“Just the usual,” Kyle said weakly. “Running from the law, saving lives, changing identities. You know.”

“The usual,” Jim said, cracking a smile. “You’re healthy? Everyone’s healthy?”

“We’re fine. No illness. No injury. I’m eating my veggies. Don’t worry about me.”

“Why, should I be worried?”

“I’m fine, Dad.” He heard the plaintiveness in Kyle’s tone.

Good old Kyle… Same old Kyle…

“You get any of that, uh, stuff yet?” Jim asked carefully.

“Naw. I’m still waiting. Could be a while yet. How about you?”

“Nothing here.” He paused, and lowered his voice even further. He didn’t want any chance of his words carrying past the door. “There’s something you should know, son… I’m fixing to propose to someone soon. Tonight.”

There was dead silence for a moment on the other end of the line. Then Kyle cleared his throat. “Would this be anyone I know?”

“Amy.”

Again, silence for a moment. “You’re dating her again?”

“Yeah, it pretty much started right after you left town. She’s been pretty shaken up by the whole thing. As you could imagine. How’s her girl?”

“Pretty happy, misses her mom, though. You can tell her that.” Kyle paused. “No. You can’t.”

“She’s all alone now, you know that.”

“How soon do you think you’ll…”

“Why, you think you can come back for it?”

“Dad,” Kyle said in a low tone, “we can’t come back. They’re still looking for these guys, and I’m with them now.” Kyle cleared his throat. “I just want to know when I have to start treating her like a sister.”

“Like a what?” Jim could hear a squeal in the background.

“You can start now. You will take care of Maria.”

“Hush,” Kyle hissed to Maria. “I am, Dad, I am.”

“Hopefully by the end of the year. I don’t know, I haven’t even…”

The doorknob turned, and Jim jumped. Amy stood in the doorway, glaring at him.

“You said Maria’s name,” she said.

Jim licked his lips. “Amy, just give me a minute, okay?”

“Who is that on the phone?” she demanded.

“It’s work, hon.”

“You said Maria’s name. I heard it.”

“No, that’s not what you heard.” Maybe, just maybe he could talk himself out of this one… dammit.

“It is. I know you said Maria’s name. Who are you talking to?” Her jaw set, Amy approached him and reached for the phone.

He yanked it away. “Amy, wait for me in the kitchen.”

“Who is this?” Amy had already grabbed the phone and was holding it to her ear.

“Deputy Lazano…” the voice said on the other end, trying to drop into a deeper timbre than it was capable of.

Amy’s jaw dropped. “You’re no deputy,” she said into the phone. “Kyle Valenti. Where are you?”

“I need to speak to Deputy Valenti,” Kyle said, trying again. “This is departmental business.”

“Oh, no way, ‘Deputy Lazano’. I want to speak to my daughter right now.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t know what you’re… oh, hell.” Kyle put the phone to his chest and tried to ignore the glare Max was giving him. “Hey… just take this call.”

Jim watched as Amy paced the room, one hand on the phone, the other on her hip.

“Hello?” Maria asked.

“Maria!”

“Mom!”

In the van, Maria glanced anxiously first at Michael, and then at Max, who was now glowering at her. Max leaned over to whisper something to Michael, who shook his head and put his hand up to silence Max.

“Where the hell are you?”

“I can’t tell you that, Mom. Don’t say my name, uh, we’re not a hundred percent sure it’s safe.”

“Do you know what I have been going through here?”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Not knowing where you are, what you’re doing… and to find out that Michael, and Max are the…”

Maria closed her eyes. “Shut up! We don’t know that it’s secure. No names, no identifiers.”

“I’ll shut up when I feel like it. How could you not tell me about Michael? How long have you known?”

“Um, I’ve known since the shooting. You remember. Before he and I were dating, I knew what he was when we started dating.”

Max leaned over and grabbed Maria’s arm. “No names!” he hissed. She shook him off, and Michael continued to quietly appease him.

“So all those times you vanished with him to god-knows-where, you knew what he was?”

“Most of the times we vanished, it was to save the planet, Mom.”

“All those road trips? Vegas? Tell me you weren’t actually doing under-aged gambling.”

“No, Vegas really was just a road trip. I didn’t gamble, though, I told you the truth about that.”

“And Michael?”

“Well, yeah, he gambled. But he was emancipated.”

“I don’t care about that. How is he? Did you hear about…”

Maria smiled wryly. “Yeah, we heard. He’s fine. We’re, we’re together again.” She glanced up. Michael quickly looked away. He didn’t want to be the subject of conversation.

“Good,” Amy said. “Tell him to take care of you.”

“He is.” As well as he ever could.

“You never told me what he was...” She trailed off.

“We couldn’t! Look how you’re overreacting. Mom, I need to go.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” Amy snapped.

“This phone call is almost up.”

“Are you living somewhere? Moving?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Are you safe?” Amy begged, her voice cracking.

“We’re all safe as long as nobody finds us. We’re safe as long as you don’t know where we are.”

“God, Maria, I miss you so much,” Amy said, and back in the Valenti house Jim reached up to catch her arm as she passed him. He pulled her down on top of Kyle’s bed, and put his arm over her shoulders.

In the van, Maria fought to keep her composure. “I miss you too…” She was losing the battle.

“Are you ever going to come home?”

“I don’t know,” Maria said, and found herself fighting back tears. It was the one question she didn’t even ask herself.

“I love you.”

“I love you too… Goodbye.” Maria flicked the phone off.

Michael, sitting beside her, uncomfortably put his hand on her arm. She shook him off and raised her eyes to meet Max’s steely glare.

“Why can’t I tell her where we are?” Maria demanded. “She’s so scared.”

“It’s a risk we can’t take,” Max said.

“He’s right,” Michael admitted. “We have to play it safe, Maria. It’s not worth getting the Special Unit back on our tail.”

“So? They probably tracked that call anyway.”

“And it’ll take them some time to figure it out,” Max pointed out. “By the time they connect with the authorities, we’ll be across the border. Gimme the phone.”

Maria reluctantly handed it over. She folded her arms against her chest, still giving Max the look of death.

“Next gas station, Isabel,” Max ordered. “We gotta get rid of this thing.”

“We’re stopping anyway, we need gas,” Isabel said icily.

Behind her, Max pulled up his hands in a sacrificial position. Maria exchanged a smirk with Michael, quietly amused, before turning to Kyle.

“What exactly did your dad say?” she demanded.

“Nothing,” Kyle said, scrunching down in his seat. “Didn’t say anything.”

“Something about Maria being your sister?” Michael offered helpfully.

Kyle glared at him. “Nothing!”

Michael held up his hand, aiming his palm dangerously at Kyle.

“Whoa!” Kyle shouted, straightening up and raising his hands in self-defense. “Slow down there, boy! No alien powers! I can’t defend myself yet.”

Michael pulled his hand back down. “Kidding.”

“I sincerely hope so,” Kyle said. “I give up. My dad,” he sighed, “is dating her mom again.” He pointed at Maria.

*~*~*

“Roger that. We’re sending the description out now. We have a few guys in the area, shouldn’t take too long.”


“No way,” Maria said.

“Well, how else do you explain her presence at our house on a Saturday night?”

“Dropping off alien keyrings?” Michael suggested.

Maria and Kyle both ignored him this time. “What else did he say?” Maria pressed. “Tell me, or I’ll make Michael blast you, for real this time.”

“I’ll do it, too,” Michael agreed, wiggling his fingers to emphasize his palm.

“Really not funny now,” Max whispered to him, out of earshot of the others. “Stop it.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Stupid alien powers,” he said. “He-“

“What did you say?” Isabel asked from the front seat. “Need I remind you who, or rather what is driving this car?”

“I love aliens!” Kyle proclaimed loudly. “Aliens are my friends. Look,” he said, more serious, “he told me this in confidence, so if by any chance you talk to your mom again…”

“…Which she won’t,” Max interjected.

“…You can’t say a thing,” Kyle continued, ignoring Max.

“What?” Maria asked, feeling a wave of trepidation. “What is it?” She was already afraid that she knew the answer. In fact, she was certain that she did.

“My dad,” Kyle said, and then stopped. “I can’t say it.”

“What?” Maria demanded. “Say it.”

“He… I can’t get it out.”

“Can I say it?” Isabel asked from the front seat. “His dad’s planning to propose to your mom.”

“What?” Kyle asked. “How did you…”

“You’re obvious, Valenti. And I’ve been there.” With a self-satisfied smile, Isabel checked the rearview mirror to change lanes onto the exit ramp.

“Oh, no,” Maria groaned.

“Tell me about it,” Kyle agreed.

“We’ve been afraid of this for years,” Maria said.

“I mean, who’d ever think my dad… and your mom…” Kyle shook his head. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“I was so scared in high school, I used to have nightmares about your and your dad moving in with us,” Maria said.

“What do you mean?” Kyle asked. “You’d have moved in with us.”

“But we have the extra bedroom,” Maria shot back. “Where was I supposed to sleep, in the bathtub?”

“Good thing they waited until you guys took off to go through with it,” Liz remarked as the van turned into the gas station.

“Who said they’re going through with it?” Maria asked. “Apparently my mother doesn’t know about this yet.”

“Of course she’s gonna say yes,” Kyle said.

“I don’t know,” Maria said. “After my father left, she swore off commitment.”

”But she’ll commit to my dad ,” Kyle said.

Maria merely cast her eyes up to the ceiling of the van, as it rolled up to a pump. “Sure she will.” As Isabel turned off the engine, Maria hopped out of the van, her long skirt flapping behind her.

“What do you mean by that?” Kyle yelled, leaping out after her. Isabel climbed out for the gas pump.

Michael and Max exchanged a glance, then looked to Liz in the front seat. “I’ll referee,” Liz volunteered, jumping out after Kyle and Maria.

Max turned to look at Michael.

“So, guess this means I’m not proposing to Maria anytime soon,” Michael said.

“Why, marriage a touchy subject now?” Max asked. He began wiping the cell phone with his shirt fabric, attempting to rid it of any telltale fingerprints.

“No, cause I’m not doing anything to make Kyle Valenti my brother-in-law.” Michael shrugged and scratched his eyebrow.

Max snorted. “Michael…”

“But seriously.”

“Right. Seriously. I don’t think Valenti’s going to be able to do much about this.”

Michael sighed. “I gotta say, for once I agree with you, Maxwell. It’s out of his hands.”

“I guess this calls for you laying extra low for now. Maybe we can try changing your appearance some.” Max shoved the phone into the Wal-Mart bag it came in, and crumpled the bag in his lap.

“What it needs is somebody to go in there and change the facts.”

Max’s brow lowered. “No. Michael, no.”

“We change our appearances, go back to Roswell, duck into the sheriff’s office, and fix the evidence. Change it. Destroy it.”

“And give them a bright neon sign that we’re in the area.”

“Then we take off.”

“It’ll never work,” Max said. “They’ll remember what they saw. It’s not like you can destroy your social services file and nobody will remember you. You’ve drawn attention.”

“You and me, Maxwell. The others can stay up here, in case something happens, and we’ll be in and out in no time. They don’t even have to know where we are. We could make it look like the department misplaced the files or something. Valenti’ll tell us what we need to destroy.”

“You’re insane. We’re not leaving anybody anywhere. And we’re not going anywhere near Roswell.”

“Or we could change the facts, make it look like they misread the data.”

“Are you listening to me?” Max shook his head. “Hold on, I gotta ditch this.” He started for the door, but Michael grabbed his arm.

“I didn’t kill him, Maxwell.”

“I know you didn’t,” Max said calmly.

“Tell me. Say it and look me in the eyes.”

Max looked up at him. “I know you didn’t kill Hank.” His eyes cast down to his lap on the last word.

Michael leaned back, his mouth hanging open.

“You don’t believe that,” he said slowly. “You think I did it. You think I’d lie about that?”

“I don’t! I mean, I know what he was like, but I know what you’re like, too... You couldn’t have.” Now Max was careful to keep his eyes trained on Michael’s face.

No, Maxwell, Michael thought to himself, you really don’t know what he was like at all. Or me, for that matter, if you’re really so sure I couldn’t have… He pushed the thought away. “If you’re so sure I didn’t do it, then help me go mess with the evidence to prove it.”

“No, messing with the evidence makes you look guilty, Michael,” Max said seriously. “Do you even realize what you’re saying? Get a grip. I don’t think you did it. Now let me go get rid of the phone.”

“Not here, doofus. Isabel’s using the credit card to buy the gas and food.” Isabel had access to a card under an account name that went to a friend of Jesse’s in Boston. It was hopefully impossible to track, and had come in handy more often than not.

Max sighed, not wanting to admit defeat to Michael. “How would we get to Roswell without the others?”

“Public transportation. Take the bus.”

“And if we get into trouble? How do we get out of town?”

“It’s not like we don’t have friends in Roswell.”

Max shook his head. “We can’t put them at risk. We shouldn’t have even contacted them.”

Michael glanced out the window in time to see Maria inside the gas station whacking Kyle with her purse, while he cringed in mock protest and Liz doubled over in laughter at something. “Hmm.”

“You said it yourself, Michael. We’re already fugitives, and Valenti said the department is pretty sure Nasedo did it. You never use your name anymore. Why do you have to take care of this?”

Because I don’t want them to think I’m Nasedo the way Valenti thought you were? Because all of Roswell… Michael leaned back. “Forget it.”

“I’m sorry, Michael.” He looked sincere. Maybe he really was.

Michael suddenly sat up. “I want a Snickers,” he said, vaguely offering an explanation before jumping out of the van himself. He crossed the parking lot, careful to avoid the muddy puddles on the way. He noticed a patrol car sitting discreetly to the side of the station. His heart skipped a beat. They couldn’t have tracked them so soon… no, he reminded himself, they couldn’t. There was no way anyone could have tracked them so soon. No way.

He walked into the bright flourescence of the gas station. He could see the short heads of Kyle, Maria and Liz sticking up on the other side of the snack aisle. The store was practically empty. Good for not being sighted, not good for not drawing attention.

He leaned over to study the snack selection. He didn’t really want a candy bar, he was hungrier than that. Maybe some Combos. Or beef jerky. Something with some force and fat behind it.

“What’d you and Max talk about?” His head shot up to see Maria standing quietly beside him.

“Nothing,” he said.

“Come on. I could see you two yelling in there.”

Michael stared at her. If she could, the patrol car could. He hadn’t even thought about it.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said to Maria. “So, uh, how’s your mom?”

Maria snorted. “Losing her mind, apparently. She asked about you, though.”

“Yeah? In a good way?”

“Yeah. In a good way.”

Michael lowered his voice as far as it went, leaning over so that he could speak into Maria’s ear. “She didn’t… ask about all the stuff in the paper, did she?”

Maria shook her head. “But we didn’t really have time.”

“Sorry…” Michael said. “Look. You know we have to be careful.”

“Yeah, I know,” Maria said.

“I guess she’ll be fine with Valenti there to take care of her, huh?” He straightened back up.

“My mom’s taken care of herself for years,” Maria said. She folded her arms against her chest.

“I know, I know,” Michael said quickly. “But she won’t be alone, right?”

Maria stared at him. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s my fault.”

“Huh?” He wasn’t following.

“If I was there, she wouldn’t even be considering this. Mom doesn’t do relationships well. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“But if it’s going to happen with anybody, at least it’s with Valenti, right? He’s a good guy, Maria.”

“I know,” Maria said. “But they’re complete opposites. It won’t work, and she’s going to be left lonely and miserable again.”

“You don’t know that.” Michael followed her gaze to Kyle, who was poring over the beverage selection with Liz.

“I know my mother,” Maria said. She turned around, grabbed a bag of cheese curls, and stormed towards the cash register where Isabel was gathering the group’s supplies.

Michael sighed and picked up a bag of pretzels before wandering over to join Kyle and Liz by the drink display. Which also happened to be in spying distance of the patrol car.

“So what are you guys getting?” Michael asked as he approached.

“Oh, um, I was gonna get a 7-Up,” Liz said immediately, in that assuredly fake tone that Michael knew meant they’d been talking about something else. Liz was a horrible liar. “Is Maria okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine, I think talking to her mom was a little much for her,” Michael said.

Liz sighed. “I’ll go talk to her,” she said, grabbing for an apple juice.

Kyle turned to Michael as Liz scampered after Maria. “You see that car out there too?” he asked quietly.

“I did,” Michael said. “They couldn’t have tracked us this soon, could they?”

“I don’t see how they could,” Kyle said. He gave a weak smile. “I guess we’re just jumpy.”

“You say anything to Liz?”

Kyle shook his head. “Naw, I didn’t want to alarm her. Maybe we should ask Max what to do.”

“Right,” Michael said. “He’ll tell us to lay low and run. We’re already doing that.” Michael tossed his pretzels at Kyle. “Get me a twenty ounce coke. I’ll see you back at the car.”

“Hold on,” Kyle said. “Where are you going?”

“I’m gonna go see if they’re watching us or not.”

“By yourself?”

“More inconspicuous that way.” Michael started for the door. Behind him, he heard Kyle take a breath as though he was going to protest, but he stopped. There was no use arguing with Michael in one of these moods. And Michael himself knew it, and was proud of it.

He stopped as though he was checking out the price of ice in the machine in front of the store. And glanced to his left. He could see the shadows of about three men in the car. He noticed an air pump. Hey, maybe they could use a little air in the van’s tires. Kyle said it was fine, but Michael wasn’t a hundred percent sure he wanted his safety riding on Kyle Valenti’s assurances. Not that it had been a problem yet, but hey. He wandered over to the air pump, and on his way, saw that one of the guys in the car was on the radio.

And another was turning to look right at him . Their eyes locked, and Michael saw exactly what was going on.

Oh, boy. These guys weren’t even subtle.

Michael changed his mind halfway to the air pump, and set off at a brisk pace for the store. He barged through the doors, where Isabel was buying food with her credit card. Kyle, Maria and Liz were helping to gather the bounty into bags.

“Let’s go,” Michael said.

“We’re going, Michael, hold on,” Isabel said impatiently.

“Now,” Michael said. He looked out to the patrol car again, and saw two of the men getting out. Including the one who had been staring at him.

Kyle got it, and grabbed the food, bustling Maria and Liz toward the door. Isabel, still confused, was bending over to sign the credit card receipt as Michael took off behind Maria and Liz.

“Isabel, go!” Michael said. He stopped halfway through the door and turned around as Isabel handed her receipt to the confused clerk.

“What’s the rush?” Isabel asked, but one look at his concerned face finally clued her in, and she hurried to catch up. The two walked briskly into the parking lot, towards the van, but not before the two men called out to them.

“Hold on! You there!”

Michael glanced to Isabel, who shook her head worriedly.

The door to the van was hanging open, waiting for them. Max leaned out, holding the door open, looking behind them with concern.

Michael reached the van.

“Act normal,” Max hissed to Michael.

“Shut up! Let’s go!”

“Talk to them. Don’t attract attention, remember?”

With a worried glance to Isabel, Michael turned around and strode back to the two patrolmen, who were approaching him looking rather official. Not reassuring.

“Sorry, guys, didn’t realize you were talking to me,” he said, trying to play innocent.

“Is that your car there?” the blond one asked.

Michael glanced back at the van. He wanted to say it belonged to his friend, but who would be better than him to pose as the owner? He might as well fend this one off. “Yeah, yeah, it’s mine.”

“Virginia, huh? Long drive to Oklahoma.”

“Road trip.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the others. “Summer vacation. You know.”

“Do you mind if we take a look at your driver’s license?” the blond one asked.

Michael hoped that his exterior didn’t reveal the jolt of fear he felt at that. This wasn’t going well. “Sure, sure,” he said. “It’s in the car.”

The men followed him to the van, where Michael climbed through the door that Max was still holding. “What’s going on?” Max hissed.

“They want to see my ID,” Michael said. His wallet was in his pocket, and he bent down into the back as if he was digging for it. “They were staring at me. I think they’re suspicious.” He wiggled to conceal his pocket from view of the officers before he pulled the wallet out discreetly.

He opened it to pull out his license, and passed his hand over it. Nothing. He looked up, worried. “I can’t.” Too nervous.

“Give me that,” Max said. Michael pushed himself up to clamber out of the van, and as he maneuvered his way out, he brushed the card along the back of Max’s seat. Max touched the license momentarily before Michael straightened up. As he did, he checked it out. Oh, shit. He’d done a Florida license.

“The plate says Virginia!” Michael hissed.

Max shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know how to do a Virginia license.”

Michael closed his eyes briefly before pulling out of the van and handing his forged drivers’ license to the officers. He didn’t know how to do a Virginia ID either, even if he was composed enough to make an alteration at the moment. Which he wasn’t.

“David?” the blond one asked as he studied the license. He glanced up at Michael.

It took Michael a moment to catch on. “Oh, right,” he said, and sought to cover up his blunder. “Um, I kinda go by my nickname.”

“What’s that?”

“Henry,” he said, without missing a beat.

“David Kyle Strong?” the darker-haired one asked, peering over at the license.

‘Kyle’? What was Max thinking? “Henry was my dad’s name.”

The blond one nodded. “I understand, but we’re gonna have to call this in, okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” Michael said, trying to sound bored and not panicked. “Can I go sit with my friends?”

“Why don’t you come over here with us?” the darker-haired one said.

Michael felt his mouth go dry. The way the man was looking at him, sizing him up… he knew immediately that they weren’t just randomly selecting him to call his license in. “Yeah, can I at least go get my coke out of the car?”

“This’ll just take a second, Henry,” the guy replied.

“Right,” Michael said, blinking at them and trying to drown out his interior monologue. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit…

He followed the men to the car. Shit shit shit.

“I just bought the car,” he said, trying to cover himself. “It still belongs to my aunt from Virginia. I’m licensed in Florida, but my family’s all in Virginia, so I’m with my friends from Virginia, it’s where my mom lives…” He felt like he was almost babbling.

The blond one stood outside with him while the dark-haired one climbed back into the car to call the numbers in.

“Settle down, Henry,” the guy said.

“Right,” Michael said. “Sorry. I’ve just been drinking, um, a lot of coffee.”

He was trying too hard. He needed to relax.

He heard the van door slam and turned instantly, afraid they were leaving without him. No, Kyle Valenti was striding towards him. Kyle? Why Kyle? He figured they’d sent Kyle for his law enforcement experience. Not that being descended from a line of law enforcement officials helped much. All Kyle knew about was girls, sports, and cars. And Buddha.

“What’s going on?” Kyle asked.

“They’re just running our plate, no big deal,” Michael said. “They were confused, too, because my license doesn’t say Henry, which I go by. Henry.”

Kyle got it. “Right. Of course. Listen, if we’re gonna make it to New York this week, we gotta get going soon, Henry.”

Michael turned to the officers. “How much longer is this gonna take, guys?”

The blond one leaned over to whisper something to his companions. The other men descended from the car. “Just about done,” the blond guy said.

“What’s going on?” Kyle asked again nervously.

The men walked to either side of Michael, who tensed, prepared to run. But run where?

“We’re going to have to ask you to come with us, young man,” the brown-haired one said as he reached out to grab Michael’s arm.

Michael jerked away on instinct, glancing to Kyle for help, but Kyle’s expression reminded him. Nowhere to go. Act normal. Act innocent.

“Why?” Michael asked nervously. “You already ran it? That was fast.”

“Just get into the car, please.”

“Wait, wait. Don’t you have to read him his rights or something? Where are you taking him?” Kyle demanded. “We’re following you.”

“Fine,” the officer said. “Look, kid, you’re not under arrest. We just need to hold on to you until we get some more information back.”

“Information from where?” Michael asked, trying to sound confused.

“Could you just get into the car, please? The rest of you can follow us to the station.”

The door slammed again, and this time Maria and Isabel had emerged from the van, running up to investigate.

“What’s going on?” Isabel asked.

“They’re taking… Henry down to the station while they run some information,” Kyle said.

Maria’s eyes went wide. Michael made eye contact with her, and tried to give her a reassuring look. But she was panicking just as much as he was. It was no help. He was no help, on the verge of freaking out himself.

“There has to be some mistake,” Isabel said. “This is all a big misunderstanding. Henry hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“He’s not under arrest,” the brown-haired guy repeated.

“Then let him ride with us,” Kyle said.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the officer said. “I have to ask you to get into the car now.”

Maria moved forward, trying to grab for Michael, as if to pull him away, but Kyle held her back. “We’ll see him at the station,” he whispered.

Maria fought to breathe. “See you at the station,” she said, trying to keep the shakiness out of her voice. Michael nodded, and shot her a half-smile as he clambered into the car between the officers. Maria swallowed hard.

The three of them returned to the car, where Max and Liz were waiting expectantly.

“What the hell was that?” Max asked.

“Drive, Max,” Kyle said, as they all leapt in, grabbing for their seatbelts. “Michael’s in trouble.”

Michael scratched at his arm impatiently and glanced around the room. Real nice set-up, white plastered walls that were falling apart, concrete floor, folding table that was also falling apart. How was anyone supposed to take the officials seriously when this was your welcome?

He glanced toward the window. One little window, high up, barred. Not enough to slip through, even if he could melt the bars. His only options of escape were to try and melt a hole to the outside, and he was pretty sure there was a dumpster on the other side of the wall beneath the window (judging from the smell), or to go out the way he came in. The way that the officers were all waiting.

The door opened and a female officer came through. “Mr. Strong?”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

He peered around behind her. Two big burly guys blocking the way. So much for that idea. For now.

“We’ve received a request from officials in another state, we’re going to transfer you down there to be arraigned.”

His heart skipped a beat. “Where?”

“I think you know where.”

“I don’t.”

“Ever been to Roswell, New Mexico?”

The feeling of dread that had been churning in his stomach reached the boiling point. “Isn’t that where all the aliens are from?”

“So they say.”

“Nope,” Michael said, trying his hardest to act detached, “never been there.”

“Well, they’re asking for you. You’re sure your name is David Strong?”

“Yeah, yeah, I go by Henry.”

The woman nodded. “Well, Henry, apparently there’s been a case of identify confusion. We’ve got some folks claiming you’re a dead ringer for somebody they want. We’re gonna keep you here for the rest of the evening, and send you back in the morning. Just let them sort it out down there, and everything should be fine. They’ll get you back up here.”

“What about my friends?” Michael demanded. “Where are they?”

“Your friends never made it here,” she said. “We’ll try to contact them and let them know you’ve been transferred.”

They never showed up. They never showed up? Then where the hell were they? Michael knew they wouldn’t abandon him. Would they?

What if it came down to saving their own asses, trying to protect the remaining two of the Royal Four? Trying to keep their hero mission going? Max had let it be known time and time again that he was sick of covering for Michael’s stupidity.

Which is what this was. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If he’d moved faster, if he’d caught on quicker, if he’d alerted the group instead of just conspiring with Kyle.

If he had ever tried to follow up himself on what happened to Hank Whitmore.

Because Hank was his problem. Never anyone else’s. Michael had spent years dealing with Hank, keeping him at arm’s length. Using him for food and shelter, and a home in the same school district as Max and Isabel, keeping him from figuring out what Michael was.

And it had gotten out of control to the point that Nasedo had stepped in to take care of it.

It was Michael’s own fault, after all. If the others left him here to rot, he had no one to blame but himself. This time. At last.

“Are you ready?” the officer asked.

He exhaled, trying to let go. “Yeah,” Michael said. “Yeah, I guess. Let’s go.”

A few minutes earlier…

“How did they do that?” Isabel yelled, pounding the dashboard. “We just made the call! We changed the plates, we bought the phone, what did we do wrong?”

“I think maybe they can track us that fast,” Kyle said. “I don’t know. Global-positioning crap? I don’t know how else they could have done it. Whatever it was, they’re on top of us. They know he’s wanted. They got his description.”

“How are we going to get Michael out of there?” Maria asked, worried.

“We’re going to do this carefully, and not overreact,” Max said from the driver’s seat as he steered the van. “Let’s wait and see if they’re charging him with anything.”

“Uh-uh,” Maria said. “Now’s the time to act, Max. Before they charge him. He’s not even in handcuffs yet. He can still get out of there. Not once the Special Unit gets a hold of him.”

“How many minutes are left on the phone?” Max demanded.

“Like, three,” Maria said.

“It’s wrapped up in the bag in the backseat. Do you see it?”

Maria, Kyle and Liz began frantically searching the floorboards, turning over the accumulated junk of the last leg of their endless road trip. “Here it is,” Liz said, holding it up triumphantly.

“Kyle, call your dad back,” Max ordered. “Tell him what happened.”

“No,” Liz said. “Max, they have to be listening to his phone if they found us like this. And now they know that phone. If you call, it’ll alert them that Michael’s in custody, and exactly where we are.”

“Pay phone,” Kyle said immediately. “Find a pay phone. We’ll call my dad’s cell.”

“We should have done that in the first place,” Isabel fretted.

“They’re just as likely to be listening to his cell,” Max reminded them.

“Well, we know for certain they’re tapping his landline now,” Liz said. “And tracking our cell. I don’t know, maybe we should throw the phone out now, keep moving, and find a pay phone somewhere further on.”

“They know which way we’re going,” Isabel pointed out.

“Then we go another way,” Liz said. “Backtrack or something.”

“We have to keep following the patrol car,” Maria insisted, her voice rising in timbre. “We are not losing track of Michael.”

“Okay,” Max said, raising his hand to call attention and work through the rising tide of the girls’ voices. “Okay, a plan. Maria, Isabel. When we get to the police station, you two will get out. Isabel, see if you can change both of your appearances before you get out of the van. Don’t ask about Michael, just come up with an excuse to be there and keep a lookout to see if they move him. The rest of us will go dump the phone and call Valenti’s cell to alert him and figure out what our next step should be.”

“We need to get him out of there now,” Maria argued.

“No, we need to figure out exactly why they want him in Roswell. Valenti’s on our side, and maybe he can help swing things our way and get us out of this without causing a stir.”

“They want him in Roswell for killing a man and blowing up an air force base, it’s pretty cut and dry,” Isabel pointed out. “Maria’s right.”

“No,” Max said, “They’re not with the Special Unit. If so, they’d want all of us. We need to lay low and keep them from connecting with the Special Unit.”

There was silence for a moment as they all processed this.

“Sheriff’s department doesn’t bug phones,” Kyle said. “They don’t have the budget for it.”

“Maybe the Special Unit’s stepping in on the Whitmore investigation,” Liz said. “I mean, if you want to find all of us, here’s the way to get us. Get Michael, and…”

“How long do you think it’ll take the Special Unit to get out to Oklahoma?” Maria asked. “Let’s get Michael out before they get here. They want him dead.”

“No,” Max said, “no. They’re playing by conventional rules. They won’t kill him in front of the Roswell sheriff’s department.”

Maria choked loudly.

Max caught Liz’s worried glance and pressed on. “If we can get Michael off legally, there’s nothing they can do. Any evidence they have linking him to the air force explosion is weak at best.”

“As long as they don’t find us,” Isabel said, her voice strangely high.

“There, look, they’re pulling in,” Maria said, leaning over Isabel to point at the police station.

“You girls ready?” Max asked.

Isabel turned around and waved her hand over Maria’s head, resulting in short, stick-straight blond hair, before changing her own to long blond hair.

“Wow, flashback,” Kyle muttered.

Maria caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror and frowned, but her appearance wasn’t her primary area of concern right now. She had a flash of an idea, and dove into her duffel bag, rummaging through until she found what she was looking for and slid it onto her finger.

“Faces?” Max asked.

Isabel sighed. “This is the hard part.” She passed her hand over her own face, wincing a little, before emerging with thinner lips, and a broader nose. Kyle frowned at her. “Maria, this’ll hurt a bit,” she said.

“Do it,” Maria said immediately. She held her breath as Isabel changed her appearance.

“Wow, that’s freaky,” Kyle muttered.

Maria gasped as Isabel removed her hand. “You okay?” Isabel asked, concerned.

“Yeah,” Maria said through clenched teeth. It was excruciating. It was as if every molecule in her face had been rearranged, which wasn’t true – Isabel had changed as little as possible for that very reason. Still, it was hardly pleasurable. Normally, she’d be howling up a storm. But pain didn’t matter now.

Pain was irrelevant when Michael was at stake. “Let’s go,” Maria said.

The girls hopped out of the van and sauntered toward the police station.

chapter 16

Despite the fact that the five occupants of the Volkswagen van were all awake, there wasn’t a hint of conversation in the car at all. Everyone was too focused on their thoughts to say anything to anyone else.

Max glanced at Liz, sitting beside him, staring out the window. She’d been awfully distant ever since he announced they were going back to Roswell. Her reaction, a calm “oh,” hadn’t been what he expected, and ever since she’d been fairly quiet. Although he’d heard her voice talking in a low tone to Maria in the bathroom at the last rest stop. He wanted to ask what was on her mind, but she looked as if she didn’t want to let him know.

Back to Roswell. The thought terrified him. The Special Unit was more determined to get them than they’d ever been under Agent Pierce’s watch. Pierce hadn’t really wanted to kill Max, just to study him. And torture him. At least the current leadership wasn’t into the whole pain thing. They just wanted to wipe them out. And Max had no intention of himself or anyone else getting wiped out anytime soon.

Especially not Michael.

It sickened him to think of how helpless Michael was at the moment, but he was even further sickened at the thought of what could go wrong if they tried to bust Michael out prematurely. All they had to do was get to Roswell, then they’d at least have someone in the sheriff’s department on their side. Even if he wasn’t the sheriff anymore.

Anything they did was a crapshoot. Max was used to gambling with their very existence. There were too many options right now, but the one that made the most sense, the one that sounded the safest for all concerned, was to wait for Roswell.

Which meant going home.

Max had thought he was through with Roswell. He was ready to be done. But here they were, headed down the highway towards their childhood homes. And back onto the radar of the ones who sought to end their lives.

He just hoped that this crapshoot would be a winning one.

Behind him, Maria was staring at her hand, at the plastic red ring on her hand. Her face ached even more since Isabel had changed it back. They’d debated keeping their painful disguises, but the girls were just too traumatized by what they saw in the mirror to leave it that way. “As long as I’m in this much pain,” Maria had complained, “can you at least fix this?”

So now she looked like herself again, long brown hair and familiar features. But the one thing that retained its change was the red ring on her hand.

She knew that the only reason Michael had any romantic tendencies at all was because she had badgered them into his thoroughly masculine, hardened nature. So when he showed the rare glimmer of whimsy, she had all the more reason to be appreciative. Michael always spoke best without words, and this last time he’d spoken the best…

Maria reached up to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. It wasn’t the last time. He’d been in danger before, they’d gotten him out of it before. It was just… she’d never in her life been so unsure of what was going to happen next. With so much at stake.

She twisted the ring around her finger anxiously.

Kyle tapped his fingers idly on the steering wheel. He was getting used to maneuvering the van around the interstate; in fact, it was beginning to feel like a second skin. They’d been inside it for weeks now, as they wandered aimlessly from place to place. Now, they were going home, if briefly.

Kyle knew he’d made the right choice, leaving town with the others. It gave him a future, it gave him a meaning. It gave him a journey. He would only find fulfillment by venturing forth and exploring his potential.

But at the same time, part of him didn’t want to journey forth. Part of him didn’t even want spiritual fulfillment. He just wanted his own bed, his own TV. His own refrigerator, his own house.

His own father.

Something was wrong. He’d heard it in the last conversation with his father. He knew when his dad was not well, and that had been it. He’d sounded drunk. Jim Valenti didn’t get drunk like that. He was a robust drinker, that was for sure, but he didn’t get hammered. Kyle got hammered, or he used to before he started down his spiritual path, but his father didn’t.

He glanced in the rearview mirror at Maria, who was fingering the ridiculous-looking plastic ring on her hand, and wondered what they were getting themselves into once they reached Roswell city limits.

Beside Kyle, in the front seat, Isabel was the only one in the car not thinking so much about their return to Roswell. What she was looking for wasn’t in Roswell anymore.

Roswell wasn’t home any longer. Her parents weren’t her parents now that they were in on the alien conspiracy. Her parents were the safe humans, the ones who treated her like a human. Not these people who calmly discussed hybrid genetics and Antarian politics such that they understood it.

She’d tried to give them a brief primer over dinner a couple of days before Max’s graduation. They were still reeling from learning the truth about their children, dealing with baby Zan, and the shock of the Special Unit’s invasion into their privacy. Still, they’d taken the whole thing pretty well. Her mother had milked her for information on their family, what little they knew of it. She told Diane what they knew about their father’s death and Zan’s reign, along with their betrayal. She’d managed even to choke out the details of Vilandra’s role in the whole affair – at that point, they’d had to process so much that her parents were relatively unshaken to learn of her past history of betrayal. Followed, of course, by a long-winded self-preserving spiel from Isabel about how they’d established that they were different people from their former selves. Her father had gone into a long analysis of human inherited ruler systems that seemed similar to what they knew of the Antarian system, and Jesse had chimed in with similar political catastrophes to Zan’s assassination…

Jesse…

Jesse was in Boston now. Someone else lived in their apartment. He’d told her through an e-mail that he sold all their furniture. Someone else was sleeping in their bed. His mother had joined him from Roswell, and they’d sold his childhood home. The Ramirez family was getting as far away from Roswell, far away from the aliens as possible.

Isabel’s Roswell wasn’t there anymore. She didn’t know quite what it was that they were returning to.

Liz, for her part, was filled with trepidation. She had fed-exed her journal to her parents weeks before, knowing that they would never see her again. All of her secrets, all the things she only put on paper to help herself accept them, everything was revealed.

She knew at the time that you just don’t do that with your parents, but had thought there was no chance of her ever seeing them again. And if she was going to take their only daughter from them, the least she could do was give them the part of her that they never saw.

But what if she did see them again? Max had been quietly warning her that none of them could see their families. But what if she just… ran into her mother on the street or something? Now that her parents knew just how dishonest she’d been with them, perfect Liz, their only child. To find out that she was in Roswell and hadn’t contacted them? It would be the ultimate betrayal.

In the front seat, Kyle was the one to break the silence. “Guys,” he said.

“Five miles to the New Mexico state line.”

Across the van, each and every rider took a deep breath.

“I need to see Hanson.”

Deputy Alvarez leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes at Deputy Valenti.

“He’s busy.”

Jim nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure he is. Listen, is he in his office?”

“No.”

Jim glanced at the office, his old office, where a light was shining behind the frosted glass.

“Left his light on?”

“You’re not on duty till three, Valenti.”

“I’m aware of that,” Jim said tightly. With a sigh, he walked straight past Alvarez to Hanson’s office.

“Valenti!” Alvarez called after him. “That’s not-“

Ignoring him, Jim burst open the door.

The room somehow didn’t feel the same as it had when it was his office. The same flags, the same furniture, but a different feel. Hanson had rearranged it all. Kyle’s picture had once held a prominent place on this desk; now there was no sign of it.

Hanson turned to acknowledge him from the corner, by the filing cabinets. “Deputy Valenti?”

“Sheriff,” Jim greeted him. “You have a second?”

Hanson folded his arms, concealing the file in his arms. “Well, I’m busy.”

“It’s important.”

“So’s this.”

“The prisoner transfer.”

Hanson immediately moved to the door and closed it in one swift move.

“Valenti…”

“I keep my ears peeled when it comes to Kyle’s friends, sheriff.”

Hanson nodded sympathetically. “I can understand.”

“Did you tell the bureau yet?”

Hanson narrowed his eyes. “I know what you’re doing, Valenti.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Protecting your son. I hope you remember what your duties to this department are.”

“Hanson,” Valenti said, and stopped himself. “Sheriff. I know what you’re facing, because I went through the same thing in your position. Let me assure you that there’s a right side and a wrong side to this.”

“With the right side being your son’s?”

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation. “I’m not asking you to do anything illegal, Hanson. Just… don’t inform the bureau. Not yet. Hold the prisoner, do whatever you want, but give me a chance to make my case.”

“They want this Guerin kid bad,” Hanson said. “And his friends. Now, I don’t know what in the world your son is doing running off with them, but somebody somewhere thinks he’s a danger. And I’m inclined to agree. And frankly, based on the information I have, I’m not sure it’s safe for us to detain the kid without any help.”

“He won’t go anywhere,” Valenti said. “I’ll make sure of it, Hanson. I know the kid, I have a rapport with him.”

“So I recall,” Hanson said dryly. “And didn’t he date your girlfriend’s daughter?”

“Yeah,” Jim said. “Ex-girlfriend. As of now.”

Hanson straightened up. “I thought… what happened?”

Jim shook his head. “Never mind that. He’s not gonna hurt anybody, he’s not gonna run away as long as he can trust me and you can trust me. Understand?”

“No,” Hanson said. “Jim, I don’t understand any of this. Something has been going on with that Guerin kid and his friends for years. I know that, you know that. And you’ve put your job on the line for them before. Now, if you’re going to ask that I lie to a federal department, I have to know why.”

Jim took in a deep breath. “I can’t tell you.”

“Then I’m going to report that we have him.”

“No,” Valenti said. “No! Wait till he gets here. Let me talk to him, find out what I can tell you.”

“You’re taking orders from an eighteen-year-old fugitive now?”

“It’s complicated,” Valenti said. He stared at the worn carpet on the floor. He had sworn up and down to Michael, Max and Isabel that he wouldn’t reveal their secret… He stared back up at Hanson. Protecting the kids was the most important. Once this was straightened out, they’d never be seen near Roswell again.

“I think you’d better sit down for this,” he said slowly.


His hands shaking, Hanson opened the door leading down to the holding cells.

“Sheriff, are you okay?” Jim asked, observing his white knuckles clutching the doorknob.

“Fine, fine,” Hanson said, a little too quickly. “Fine. Jim. Deputy. Valenti. Um. This way.”

Jim decided not to mention that he knew the way to the holding cells, having worked in the department for twenty years. Not worth mentioning.

He stopped and waited for Hanson to stop as well.

“You’re sure you’re comfortable with this?” Jim asked seriously.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Hanson asked, his voice unusually high.

“You trust me, right?” Jim asked.

Hanson gulped. “With my life,” he said, his voice rising again on the last word.

Jim squinted at him. “Wait here,” he said.

“No problem,” Hanson said immediately, relieved to be left behind. Jim took one last look at him and then turned to head down the corridor himself, shaking his head. At least he’d had the benefit of a guessing game for months before he finally learned the truth. Hanson had just had his world turned upside down. It had been enough to turn Kyle to Buddhism, drive Maria, Liz and Alex to set up an elaborate disinformation campaign, and send Diane Evans into a deep depression. Hanson could be allowed a little nervousness.

Jim unlocked the door to the cell, walked inside, and locked it behind him before he looked up.

“Mr. Guerin,” he greeted the familiar tall figure in the corner. He was crouched on the bunk, his knees tucked up to his chest, staring up at the window.

Michael turned around to look up at him, but didn’t say a word. He looked almost frightened.

Jim lowered his voice. “No bugs in here, Michael, I checked the place out myself. And Hanson’s on our side for the moment.”

Michael narrowed his eyes at him.

“I talked to the others last night, they’ll get here sometime today.”

Jim took a step back to study Michael’s expression. It was blank. Completely blank. A little suspicious, untrusting, but not a hint of…

…Recognition.

Jim shifted into a more official position. “Mr. Guerin, would you like to use the telephone?”

Michael shook his head. “I’m fine, thank you, sir,” he whispered.

Jim nodded. “Certainly.”

He turned around, let himself out of the cell, and exhaled a strong breath as he reached Hanson. “Let’s go,” he said. The two of them left the corridor and closed the door behind them. Jim noticed as he closed the door that his knuckles were nearly as white as Hanson’s. “We have a complication,” Jim said in a low tone.

Hanson folded his arms and stared back at him. “I can’t wait to hear,” he said.

“That boy in there.”

“The…” Hanson lowered his voice and glanced around. “The ‘alien’?”

“Yes,” Jim said. “Him.”

“What about him?”

Jim glanced around. He couldn’t believe he was about to say what he was about to say, but it had to be said. Sooner or later. Hanson had to know. He was going to have a cow, but he had to know.

“That boy is most definitely not Michael Guerin.”

“Before we start setting up camp, can we just talk for a second?” Max asked.

“Fearless leader,” Isabel sighed. “Shoot.”

Max glanced at her. “Thank you Isabel,” he said in a monotone. He twisted around in his seat and settled his gaze on the teenagers behind him.

“There are eyes and ears all over this town right now. We know who we can trust, but we don’t know how safe they are. I want everyone to remember that contacting anyone – anyone – puts ourselves and that person at risk.”

“Oh, gee, thanks, guess that makes my dad a target,” Kyle said.

Max shook his head. “We didn’t have a choice, Kyle. If anything happens to your dad because of this I’m truly sorry, but we’re going to make sure that won’t happen.”

Kyle fell back in his seat. “Thanks… I guess.”

“We need Valenti on this. But everyone else – our parents,” he said with a glance at Isabel, “your parents. Friends, family. I know how much you want to see them, but we can’t.”

Liz shot a look at Maria, whose eyes were growing wide as flying saucers. “Max… there has to be a safe way we can do it. At least a private meeting, or…”

“No,” Max said. “We have no guarantees. If you love them, you’ll leave them alone.” He glanced downward.

Maria’s mouth dropped open. “You didn’t hear my mom on that phone the other night,” she said. “She is devastated . Max, she needs to see me.”

“And she got to hear your voice,” Max said. “She’s lucky. Isabel and I won’t have anything to do with our parents. Or Liz.”

Isabel exchanged a glance with Liz, whose steely expression met her own. “Max, I hope you realize you have just thoroughly pissed off everyone in this car.” She reached for the door, swung it open, and jumped out of the car in a flurry.

Kyle glanced after her, opened his mouth to say something, and then stopped. There was no point. He would get to contact his father, after all.

Liz looked to Maria, whose eyes were tearing up. “’Ria,” she whispered.

Maria shook her head, trying to keep herself from completely dissolving into tears. “I – I can’t. Not here.” She followed Isabel, and was followed in turn by Kyle.

Max sighed and glanced back at Liz. “What is it they’re not understanding here?” he asked.

“What is it you’re not understanding, Max?” Liz exploded at her husband. “We’re home. As long as we’re going to partially expose ourselves anyway, you might as well let us talk to our families. Or can you just give your own up that easily?”

“Liz-“

Liz shook her head. “I don’t want to hear it,” she said, and stormed out of the van herself, leaving Max alone. Alone and befuddled.

Liz walked around to the back of the van, where Kyle and Isabel were scouring the campsite. “Should we set the tent up in the corner there, or over there?” Isabel asked, pointing.

Kyle made a face. “Let’s see, we parked right here, so oh yeah, as far away from the car as possible.” He turned to Liz and waved his hand apologetically. “Isabel, Maria and I actually plan on sleeping tonight.”

“What’s that s’posed to mean?” Liz asked, giving a short laugh.

“Well,” Kyle said, “let’s just say we know it’s been a few days since you two have had some private time.”

“Ah,” Liz said, her smile fading. She glanced up to the van, where Max was sitting by himself, staring into his lap.

“In fact,” Isabel said, “how about if you two take the tent way over there? The rest of us can get some peace and quiet in the van. Otherwise, we’ll all spend the night covering our ears in the tent to keep out the sound of rocking van.”

“Isabel!” Liz shrieked, covering her mouth. “I cannot believe you!”

“Yeah, well,” Kyle said, “we couldn’t believe you guys at that motel in Illinois.”

“Oh, we were so not making noise,” Liz said.

Kyle shrugged and looked to Isabel. “You so were,” Isabel said. “He and I were throwing pillows at the wall all night.”

Liz covered her mouth in a failed attempt to hide her blushing. “Whatever,” she said. She was about to turn to Maria to level a similar complaint against Maria and Michael when she thought the better of it. Now was not the time. “Maria, you want to help me pitch the tent?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Maria said quietly.

She pulled her aside, marching her best friend across the gravel driveway of the manicured campsite, as Kyle and Isabel took out the tent. “We’re gonna get him out of there, okay?”

Maria sniffed a little. “I know,” she said.

“I know it’s hard to be away from him…”

“Why can’t I see my mother?” Maria blurted out. “I mean, here I am dealing with an insane amount of Michael issues-“

“You guys are doing so well! Well, aside from him being in jail.”

Maria ignored her. “-and Mom’s doing god-knows-what with Jim Valenti, and Michael’s gone, and I didn’t get to say goodbye to my house, and I just want to see my mom!”

Liz placed her hands on Maria’s shoulders. “’Ria. Maria. I know, I wish I could see my parents, too…”

Maria lowered her voice. “Then why don’t we, Liz?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Max is gonna be busy with getting Michael out, and he won’t really need us. It’s all political. What are we gonna do? I tell you what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna go find my mom, and your mom and dad, and get to tell them goodbye like we never got the chance to do.”

Liz lowered her hands to grab Maria’s wrists. “Max said-“

“Fuck Max!” Maria hissed. “If he doesn’t care about his parents, it’s not my problem. If my mom messes up her life again, it is my problem.” She pulled her arms away from Liz.

“Calm down, Maria.”

“No, I have every right to be upset. Who does he think he is? He said he wasn’t the king anymore. Then why is he acting like it? I’m an adult, and I want to go see my mother. What’s the problem with that?”

Liz glanced back toward the van. Max was looking in their direction with some concern. “Maria, I agree with you completely, but we have to stick together.” She glanced back to Maria, who was shaking in anger.

Liz heaved a sigh. “I’ll see what I can do,” she said, and trudged back up to the van as Max hopped out.

“Hey, Max, can I talk to you for a sec?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said cheerfully, apparently oblivious.

“Um, maybe-“ she gestured towards the woods, away from where Kyle and Isabel were already pitching the tent.

“Yeah, yeah,” Max said, and followed her off the campsite into the forested area. She led him a few feet away until she was sure they were out of hearing range, and then she whirled around in one quick movement.

“You can’t do this to us,” Liz said. “Maria is going crazy. Max, I’m going crazy. There has to be a way for us to contact our parents safely.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Max said. “Believe me, I want to see my parents.” From his casual tone, she wasn’t quite sure he understood where they were coming from. “But it’s just too risky. It’s risky enough that we’re here.”

“Everything is a risk, Max,” Liz said. “It’s a question of what risks are worth it. And this is worth it.”

“I’m sorry, Liz,” Max said, shaking his head. He wasn’t budging.

Liz sighed and glanced down. “Then I guess that’s that.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, then,” she said, looking back up at him, “I’m sorry too, Max.” With that, she turned and strode back to the campsite. Max watched her go, wishing he had more of an answer.

But he didn’t.
A few hours earlier…

Michael was jolted awake by the bright white flash in front of the police car.

“What the hell-?” he heard one officer ask, before everything fell silent. Eerily silent.

Yet eerily bright. He glanced around, unable to see anything. This was weird. Nuclear bomb? He didn’t even want to think about it, though he was still a little nervous about current events. No, the men were just craning from the light, frozen. Frozen. Not moving.

It was then that the door dissolved beside him, and he saw a tall silhouetted figure staring at him.

“Rath,” it said, in a low female voice.

Michael blinked against the harsh light. “No,” he said, and then hastily corrected himself. “That’s not my name anymore.”

“Come with us,” the figure said, reaching for him.

“I can’t see,” he said.

“Take my hand.”

Okay, this was fucked up. Michael glanced to the front seat, where the officers were still frozen. He mentally ran a checklist in his mind. They knew his name. They were clearly alien-related. That much was for sure. Possibly Antarians themselves. Anything beat heading back to Roswell and jail again. He’d spent plenty of time in that jail, didn’t need any more. Which left one option. He reached out and felt a cold, rubbery hand wrap around his own, guiding him out of the car.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“We don’t have much time,” she (?) said.

Not leaving him a choice. He followed the hand where it led him, away from the car, up a ramp, into a…

…Surely not.

This had to still be a dream. He reached over with his free hand and pinched himself. And it hurt.

He tried to summon an image of Maria into the dream. That worked sometimes. But not this time. It still felt… real. Just fucked up.

…He was not walking up into a…

A…

“What the hell is that thing?” he asked.

The figure turned back to him against the white brightness of the… the…

“The vehicle,” it said. “Don’t worry, we’re not going far.”

Michael, speechless, could only follow, up the cold metal of the ramp, and into the vehicle, which swung shut behind him, leaving him in darkness.

A darkness that was pierced by a normal light, still dim to his now-blinded eyes, but one in which he could see.

He glanced around, trying to figure out what the spaceship looked like, and was disappointed to see that it looked like the back of an average shipping truck. Not the spiffiest thing in the world, but he could manage. Definitely not as cool as being in a real spaceship. He glanced around to survey his surroundings. Three folding chairs were propped in the middle of the open area, one of which held a middle-aged, balding man. A young girl was settling beside him into the second seat, presumably the one who had just “rescued” him. At least he hoped this was a rescue.

He glanced at their faces. The girl’s tiny, button nose was framed by cascading flaxen hair, and the man looked surprisingly trustworthy. All surprisingly human. As were their surroundings. Completely mundane.

“Rath, we welcome you,” the man said. “We have been searching for you.”

“I think you have the wrong guy,” he said. “He’s up in New York-“

“No,” man said with a snap. “We don’t want him. He’s a defective. It’s you we want.”

“What are you guys?”

“I am Rivir,” the man said. “This is Solia,” the young girl, whose rubbery hands looked surprisingly normal in this light. “You must know what we are.”

Michael reached out to sense their essences as best he could among the confusion. “You’re… you’ve taken on human bodies.”

“Yes.”

“I thought that took up large amounts of natural resources or something.”

“Not if you’re using the Granilith.”

“How did you…?”

“Politics later.”

He felt a rising panic. “Taking on human bodies. That’s dangerous.”

“We’ve done our proper preparations,” Solia assured him. “The humans will not be harmed.” She smiled at him. “We know how much affection you feel for humans, Rath.”

“Yeah,” he said, uncomfortable.

“We were surprised to find you a prisoner to them.”

Michael glanced back at the entrance he’d come in through. The cabin was rumbling right now, like it was a truck driving down the highway. Maybe it was.

“Long story,” he said, and surveyed his companions. “What are you guys really?”

“We are from Antar,” Solia said.

“Yeah, I figured that.” With the whole glowing-motif, and bodily possession, not exactly terrestrial behavior.

“We came for you.”

Michael waited a beat. This was getting redundant. “I see that,” he said.

“We are here to help you.”

“Wait a sec,” he said slowly, a hunch settling on him. “Are you guys Michael-worshippers?”

“Michael-what?” Rivir asked, surprised.

“Courtney. She said, uh, she came from a cult, that thought I should be in charge. That’s what you guys are?”

“Yes,” Solia said, leaning back in her chair and smiling. “That’s it exactly. The one you called Courtney was our scout among the Skins.”

“Oh, jeez,” Michael said, exhaling as he sat down on the fourth chair to join the group. “You guys sure picked some good timing.”

“Why were the humans abducting you, Rath?” Solia asked with concern. “Were they planning to harm you?”

“No, no,” he said, “and would you call me Michael? Rath is somebody else.” He noticed how uncomfortable they seemed with this notion. “Sorry, sorry, but… we need to lay that down on the table right now.”

“As you wish, Michael,” Rivir said with a nod.

“My friends,” he said suddenly. “They think I’m in that car. They’re gonna try and rescue me.”

“Everything will be taken care of, Michael,” Rivir said with a reassuring smile. “We issued a replacement. No one will notice.”

“My friends will,” Michael said.

“It does not matter,” Solia said, leaning over to take his hand. “You are with us now, Michael. Everything else is forgotten.”

“No,” Michael said slowly, “it’s not.”

“But your people need you, Michael,” Solia said. He noticed for the first time how silky the hair on her human incarnation was. Unlike Larek, Solia actually had good taste in the selection of human hosts. “Now is our chance. The people of Antar were waiting for the return of Zan, and all that returned in the Granolith was Ava and a human baby. Kivar has taken ill, and the realm is uncertain. It’s the perfect time for your return.”

“Without my friends?” Michael asked.

“You cannot tell them,” Rivir said urgently. “Zan and Vilandra will not allow it.”

“They’re Max and Isabel,” Michael said, “and in case you didn’t know, there are a few humans involved, too.”

“We know about the human girl,” Solia said, and was that a hint of sadness in her eyes? “But that is unimportant now.”

“Not to me it isn’t.”

“Rath,” Rivir said, and corrected himself. “Michael. Before you make any decisions involving millions of lives, I beg you to meet with someone.”

“She has been waiting to see you for a long, long time,” Solia agreed, her head bobbing eagerly.

“Who?” Michael asked. He felt the color drain from his face as a nagging suspicion took hold…

“She is waiting for us in the house we are using,” Solia added, excited. “She wasn’t able to travel.”

“Who is it?” Michael demanded.

“Your mother. Rath, your mother is ready to see you.”

The thunder was close, and it was loud. Too loud. Between the thunder and the rain drizzling down onto the roof of the tent, it was enough to keep Max from falling asleep. It had to have been an hour since they’d finished cleaning up after the quick dinner in the van. Quicker than usual because nobody – not his sister, not his wife, no one – was speaking to Max. He’d attempted to start a few conversations, but all he’d gotten was a sympathetic shrug from Kyle and evil glares from the girls.

He rolled over on the air mattress to steal a glance at Liz. She had turned away from him, facing the side of the tent. He watched her back, moving slowly in and out… her breathing was too fast for her to be asleep. He reached out gently to pick up a strand of hair that had slipped onto the mattress, and dropped it back into place. She shifted uncomfortably.

“Liz,” he hissed.

“Mmm,” she grunted.

“You awake?”

“I am now,” she said, clearly unhappy.

Max scooted closer to her and gently moved his arm over her side. He moved his body up against hers.

“Mmm,” Liz said again. “Not now, Max.” She shifted further to her side of the bed.

Max pulled his arm away and rolled over onto his back to stare at the ceiling of the tent. The moon was almost full, and had come out from behind the rain clouds enough that he could see the silhouettes of the rain drops landing and sliding down the tent, streaks of water striping the roof in assorted designs.

He thought of his mother and father, alone in their large house, without their children, without their grandchild, just the two of them. But then, they were used to being alone. He and Isabel had both moved out long before they left town. It wasn’t like it was anything new to them. And they’d been together for years, alone, trying to conceive their own children before they finally settled for adopting two strange six-year-olds. Who had subsequently abandoned them.

He started trying to notice the new raindrops. Figure out their rate. They were dying out, the short trails were far outnumbered by the long trails dripping down the sides of the tent. Each new drop arrived with a satisfying plop, before silently beginning its march down into darkness.

The sound was monotonous. A constant splatter on the tent. Enough to fade away into white noise, each small drop insignificant against the larger picture. The greater good. Some things had to be sacrificed for the greater good, especially when lives were on the line.

He thought of Liz’s parents, who also had said goodbye to their daughter when they sent her to boarding school. They, too, had time to prepare. They’d been given extra time with her when she dropped out of school. It was a bonus. It wasn’t like she’d been stolen away…

Drip… drip… drip…

Maria’s mom, where the hell had she been for the past year? He knew from talking to Maria that Amy had dropped out of her life completely. She was never the most hands-on parent to begin with, and the two had been growing apart for some time. So surely it hadn’t been as much of a shock when Maria finally vanished. Granted, she was upset, but she could manage. She could grow to accept it. And if she had Jim Valenti with her, then it would be okay. If the two of them could find each other in the mess that the aliens had made of Roswell, then everything had to be for the best.

Didn’t it?

And somehow, Max didn’t believe a word he told himself. But he knew that maybe if he said it enough times, it would make sense. It would be conceivable.

A bright flash lit up the tent, and Max counted. One… two… three… rumble. The thunder was three miles away.

He thought of his parents again, alone in their house, alone again. He thought of all the work that had gone into his adoption, all the years of pain and love Philip and Diane Evans put into raising two strange children that were never completely theirs. And for all their effort, all those years, in the end, all that remained was the two of them, alone again.

In other words, it had all been for nothing.

And in the end, their heartbreak was his own fault. Never mind all the good they’d tried to do for him.

And it wasn’t just them. It was Amy. Jeff. Liz. Diane. Isabel. Maria. Philip. Nancy. All of them, betrayed by Max. Brokenhearted, by Max. He stole another glance at Liz, breathing evenly on the air mattress, pushing away from him, and he somehow didn’t blame her in the least.

But at the same time, he knew he had no choice. At least, no choice that didn’t lead to the ending of lives. And at the moment, he didn’t see that as much of a choice. He didn’t see the option.

Drip…

Michael squinted against the bright light of sunrise that poured through the opening rear of the truck. He hadn’t realized how dim the light inside the truck was.

“How long have you waited for this?” Solia asked, standing at his elbow.

“A long time,” Michael admitted, somewhat uncomfortably. “Who are those guys?” Two figures were setting up the ramp of the truck so that they could descend safely.

“They are shapeshifters,” Rivir said. “They are of no consequence.”

Right, Michael thought to himself, shapeshifters. After the whole Los Angeles fiasco, he and Max had come to the conclusion that shapeshifters, Langley and Nasedo included, were considered an inferior race on Antar. It wasn’t a concept his human-raised mind was comfortable with but, he reminded himself, if this worked out the way Solia and Rivir wanted it to, perhaps his first act as leader could be to go about changing that.

Then again, he wasn’t sure that was how he wanted it to play out. Not yet.

Rivir clamped his hand on Michael’s shoulder. Michael automatically flinched away, leaving Rivir to uncomfortably pull his hand back to himself.

“We have waited for this for a long time as well,” he said.

With the ramp in place, Michael found Solia and Rivir both staring at him, waiting for him to make the first move. He took a deep breath and started down the ramp, moving into the open air.

He found himself in a field, about twenty yards wide, surrounded by trees. And there, in the middle of the field, was a house. He knew it immediately. It was the golden house, the one he had seen in his dream.

Which begged the question.

“So how the hell did you guys get a house?” Michael asked, turning to face Solia and Rivir, who had followed him down the ramp.

“It belongs to the family we inhabited,” Solia said proudly.

Michael shook his head in disbelief. These people were ruthless. He could almost identify with that.

Michael took a step towards the house. And another. And another. Then he stopped.

“I can’t,” he said as he turned to Solia, in a panic.

She placed her small hand on his arm, in a way that invoked Maria and her tender touch. Maria. She was far away, and if these people had their way he would never…

“You can,” she said. She was right. Michael turned again to approach the house. He had waited long enough for this.

“Hello,” Michael said quietly, as he reached the porch. “Hello?” He glanced at Solia for support.

“Inside,” she said. He reached for the screen door and pulled it open with a creak. He stepped inside. “Living room,” Solia said.

Michael looked around briefly, surveying the quaint country home, the floral patterns, the hard wood. And immediately located the living room, to the right off the front entryway. Lemonade was set up on a coffee table, fresh flowers sprouting beside the glasses of fresh ice. It was everything that he’d…

It’s not her home, he reminded himself. They’ve stolen it. Yet everything was perfect, except for the woman asleep on the couch.

He glanced back to Solia, looking for an explanation. “I come all this way and she’s napping?”

“Wake her,” Solia said with a smile.

Michael coughed. “Um… hello?” he called hesitantly.

Rivir shook his head. “ Wake her,” he said. He demonstrated with his hands and placed them on Michael’s temple. “You can do it.” He removed his hands and gave an encouraging nod.

With a stare at them – these guys were rapidly climbing his list of weird aliens he didn’t fully understand, which was a long list to be fair – Michael approached the woman on the couch. She had silver hair, but didn’t seem much older than forty. He had to remind himself that this wasn’t his mother, it was just a vessel.

He placed his hands on her temple. Rivir wanted him to do something, something alien. He reached into his mind. “Mother…” he called, silently, reaching in to hers.

Her eyes flew open, sending him tumbling back, where he bumped against the coffee table, upsetting a little of the lemonade.

“Rath,” she said.

“Are you…”

She merely nodded. Not a hug, not a touch, not a smile.

“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to meet you,” he blurted out.

“I’m sure that it’s been the length of your human existence,” she said, at least somewhat kindly, as she sat up.

“I…” He didn’t know what to say.

“Rath, please take a seat,” she said. Solia and Rivir immediately claimed flanking armchairs.

Michael remained standing. “Your name?” he asked.

Solia stared at him in alarm. “You don’t remember her name?”

“I don’t remember much of anything,” Michael admitted.

“Then how do we know he’s who he says he is?” the older woman asked Rivir.

“He is,” Solia blurted out. “He’s the one we want.”

“My name,” the woman said, “is Delaji.”

Delaji. The name didn’t ring a bell. He had hoped somehow that being here with her, hearing her name, would cause everything to come flooding back, would somehow give him that childhood with a nurturing parent that he had never had in this lifetime. “My name,” he said, “is Michael. Rath is my past, I know that. But I’m not who I used to be.”

Delaji sighed and reached for the pitcher. “I had so hoped for more,” she said. “Lemonade?”

“No thanks,” Michael said, eyeing the pitcher with suspicion. He was thirsty – he hadn’t had anything to drink since he’d been detained the day before – but didn’t trust anything he hadn’t made with his own hands at this point. And that he could see to later. Creating food was sort of a new hobby for him, and one he was getting better at. “What exactly do you want from me?”

Delaji shot a glance at Solia, who was already sipping a glass of lemonade. “You didn’t tell him?”

“They told me,” Michael said, not wanting to see Solia get chastened, “that Kivar is weakening and you want Rath to return to the throne.”

“Then you know what we want,” Delaji said simply. “Michael, please sit down.”

“Not yet,” he said. “How do I know you’re who you say you are, anyway? I can’t trust just anyone.”

“Michael, sit down,” Delaji repeated. “I can give you what you need.”

“What’s that?”

“Knowledge,” she said. “Your past. Come here.”

He had to obey. He didn’t know what else to do. Slowly, Michael moved toward the couch and settled onto the flower prints. The woman reached her hands out, toward his face. Michael started at the cold feel of her hands on his flesh.

But then he relaxed, as the flood of information started.

Rath as a young child, playing in the courtyards of the central palace. His playmate, the prince Zan, who always had an army of guards following his every move.

Delaji as a mother, as an imposing figure at the dinner table. Not a nurturer, not a giver. She was a politician. A dignitary, who worked closely with Zan and Vilandra’s father, the king. He felt a wave of disappointment, and he knew Delaji could see it in the midst of their connection. She wasn’t Max and Isabel’s mother. But it made sense. As much as he had wanted that kind of parent, he knew that he wouldn’t be who he was if he’d had it. Deep down, he’d always known that. No one could love him in that way.

He saw Vilandra, and her beauty took his breath away. Yet he also saw how cold she was, how distant. How she could never care for him. Not the way Maria did, not even the way Isabel did. And he was resigned to the fact that the great beauty felt nothing for him.

And he saw, through his mother’s eyes, the overwhelming sheer numbers of the people who wanted him. Who cried out for him. Who rallied behind her to bring him home…

He pulled away, breaking the connection. “They don’t want me,” he said quickly, gasping for breath. “You want Rath. They’re asking for Rath. Not for Michael. Rath.”

“No,” Solia said. “No, Michael. It’s you they want. They want Rath.”

“It’s not me!” he said, leaping up from the couch.

“It is you, it is you,” Solia repeated. “You’re everything he was and more.”

“You don’t know that,” Michael said, jabbing his finger at her.

“He’s right,” Delaji said to the others, rising to join him, and suddenly he realized how tall this body was. “He’s not what he was.”

“What do you mean?” Rivir cried out.

“We,” she sighed, “were wrong. He is right. He is not Rath. He does not know how to lead the way my son did.”

“Now, hold on a sec,” Michael said. He wasn’t sure he wanted her to agree with him so quickly. He wondered if Antarians were familiar with reverse psychology.

“That can’t be,” Solia said. “It’s impossible. He’s the heir.”

“He is untrained,” Delaji said simply.

“Then let me train him,” Rivir said.

“He does not wish it,” Delaji said, casting her hand at Michael with derision. “Let us find someone who wishes it more. Perhaps the defective one.”

“You don’t want him,” Michael said, knowing even as he did that he was stepping right into their parade.

“Why not?” Delaji asked. “If he has the desire to lead, we can accept his flaws.”

“He killed Zan,” Michael said. “His king. He killed him, in cold blood. He’s unstable.”

Rivir looked at him with curiosity. “Rath killed many men in his former life. And we have no love for Zan.”

“Train me,” Michael said quickly, causing all three heads to whip around in his direction.

“Are you certain?” Rivir asked.

He took a deep breath, reminded himself that he did have reason to beg a higher being for mercy, and spoke. “Train me,” Michael repeated. “I have to know if I’m capable.”

“And if we train you,” Rivir said, “and Honorable Delaji finds you acceptable, will you return to Antar with us?”

“If I don’t say yes, will you still train me?”

Rivir fixed him with a steely gaze.

“Train me,” Michael repeated. “And then let me decide.”

“What do you mean it’s not Michael?” Max asked, incredulous.

Valenti shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’ll slip you in there myself, but I tell you it’s not him. He didn’t know me at all.”

The five remaining members of the Pod Squad, as Kyle had taken to calling them lately, were gathered with Jim Valenti at one of their favorite neutral desert meeting spots, by the river. Free of bugs, free of any manmade objects for that matter, and the ability to see what was around for miles. Kyle and his father had enjoyed a brief, private reunion before the rest of the group intruded to get down to business.

“Wait, wait,” Maria said. “You said he didn’t know you. This is Spaceboy we’re talking about. Maybe he was just rude.”

“That would be his M.O.,” Kyle agreed with a short laugh.

“I don’t want to alarm any of you,” Valenti said, “but it was more than that. I mean, he didn’t recognize me. It was like I was a complete stranger. It was… it was like he used to react to me before I knew your… secret.”

Maria’s hands fluttered up beside her head. “No. No, that’s not possible. Michael was in the custody of the police from the time he left Oklahoma until he arrived in Roswell, right? And it was him when he left, I - I know it.”

“You’re absolutely sure it was him?” Max asked suspiciously.

“Yes!” Maria said. She wrung her hands. “Okay, look. I didn’t really want to share my personal life with you people, but… he gave me this ring in Texas, and I had it on in the police station in Oklahoma, and he made it turn red.”

“You didn’t talk to him in the police station,” Isabel said.

“No, he did it from across the room.”

There was a moment of silence as this registered.

“He can do that?” Isabel asked.

“Yeah,” Maria said, “apparently he can now. It was definitely Michael, I know it was.”

“Maybe Maria should visit him,” Kyle suggested hesitantly.

“No,” Isabel spoke up. “Too dangerous.”

“I could wear a disguise again,” Maria ventured.

They all stared at her. “You would do that?” Isabel asked.

“Course I would,” Maria said, her voice trembling a little at the thought. “It’s Michael. And practice makes perfect, right, Isabel?” She gave a slight laugh and punched Isabel on the shoulder.

“Don’t do that again,” Isabel said, rubbing her shoulder and glaring. She then sighed. “We could try it again. Maybe it won’t hurt as much.”

“What, the punch?” Kyle asked.

“No, the shapeshifting,” Isabel said, exasperated.

“Could we… not call it that?” Maria asked. “Some of us aren’t alien.”

“Yeah, well some of us are,” Kyle said. Isabel rolled her eyes and started to say something.

“Guys,” Max said, using his authoritative voice. “We need to first confirm that Michael’s missing, and then figure out why. Maria, we don’t need you to… change appearances again, all we need is for Isabel to dreamwalk Michael and figure out where he is.”

“Oh, yeah, all we need,” Isabel scoffed. “Do you know how much of a pain in the ass Michael is about me dreamwalking him? He hates it.”

“I think in this case he’d make an exception,” Valenti pointed out.

Isabel sighed. “I’ll try it,” she said. “If Maria’s willing to have me wrench her face again, it’s the least I can do. And trust me, there may be some face-wrenching involved here if Michael isn’t extremely understanding. Anybody got a picture?”

“Please,” Maria said. “I have, like, twenty back at the campsite.”

“Maria, you see him all the time.”

“I know,” Maria said defensively. “I… just like a few pictures, that’s all.”

“Is that what’s taking up all that room in your duffel bag? Cause we don’t have an infinite amount of space, you know.”

“Guys,” Liz said, speaking up, “we need to get out of here.”

“Why?” Max asked immediately.

Liz tensed her shoulders. “Somebody’s coming up the road from Roswell.”

“You saw that?” Max asked as the others ran for their vehicles – the kids for the van, Valenti for the patrol cruiser.

She grabbed Max’s jacket by the shoulder and jerked. “Come on!” She dragged him into the car, where Maria was already in the driver’s seat.

“If we lose you, we’ll stay in touch!” Max yelled to Valenti before diving into the van and slamming the door shut. The second the door was in motion the van was too, lurching over the gravel and dust, on the move again, eager to get out of the way before they could be discovered.

Panting for breath as he felt the door latch, Max braced himself against the seat and turned to Liz. “Nice talent you have there,” he said.

“Buckle your seatbelt,” was all she said before leaning forward to intently watch their progress.

Max sighed and fell into his seat.

This was definitely Michael’s dream, because she was in one of his foster homes. She remembered this one, with the Danes family. They had about eight foster kids, the house was a zoo, and Michael had been pretty happy to run free and be unbothered. It was a relatively happy placement as far as his placements went, until he started fighting with one of their natural-born kids and had to go. The kid was a jerk, it was his own fault, but Michael still got screwed over. Really screwed over – it was right after that he got placed with Hank for the last time. The house was a two-story ranch building, with a swimming pool out back. She remembered the one time she’d been over. The Danes family had a pool party, a birthday for one of the kids or another. Michael had begged her and Max to come because he had to be there and didn’t want to be alone, but Max had a baseball game. Michael didn’t know how to swim, she’d spent the whole time teaching him in between gorging on hot dogs and root beer and birthday cake. It wasn’t an unpleasant memory at all, save for the one obnoxious kid who’d pestered them the whole time.

She looked around until she saw him. He was sitting at the kitchen table, leaning his chin on his palms. He was younger than his current age, too – about twelve. Vulnerable. That was a key.

Michael had always been one of the most bizarre dreamers she knew. She figured that was why he was so adamant about Isabel not dream-walking him. He was truly afraid of what she’d see, and for the most part she respected it.

She decided to sit back and wait, hide and analyze, not announce herself until she knew more about his state of mind.

There was a woman baking bread at the counter. A domestic dream. Michael having a domestic dream? Isabel found her dream-self squinting at the kitchen. Something new every day, she thought.

“Mom,” Michael said, and Isabel actually startled as he said it. To hear that word coming out of Michael’s mouth… “When are my friends coming?”

“They’ll be here later,” she said, kneading the bread dough.

“But I’m lonely,” he said.

At once Isabel wondered if she was in the wrong dream. This didn’t sound like Michael at all.

“You’re always lonely,” the mother-figure said, and Isabel relaxed. Michael was just being unusually self-reflective tonight.

“Maybe they’re scared. Of me.”

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Michael frowned in response to this.

“No,” Isabel said, stepping forward to reveal herself. “They’re worried.”

Michael stared at her, and she saw the mother-figure slipping out of his consciousness. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for the party,” she said, trying to seem subconscious.

“No,” he said, and he seemed to age before her eyes to his current self, his hair curling down to his shoulders, “no, you’re dream-walking me. I know you. You’re really here. I’m dreaming, but you’re…” He pointed his finger at her. “Get out!” he barked. His hand flattened into a dangerous position…

“No, Michael, wait,” Isabel said. “I haven’t seen enough, don’t wake up yet. Where are you?” She pleaded with him. “You’re supposed to be in jail, but Valenti says it’s not you. Are you in Roswell?”

“We’re on the run, we can’t go back,” Michael said, looking at her as though she was brain-damaged. “The Special Unit will catch us.”

“I know that,” Isabel said patiently. “But you were arrested, remember? Extradited? We’re in Roswell to get you out, but we don’t think you’re where you’re supposed to be.”

Michael paused, processing. Trying to remember. “I escaped,” he said finally.

“How? Where are you? We’ll come get you.”

“No,” he said.

Isabel squinted at him. “Why not?”

“Because.” He turned to the living room, and she noticed for the first time a dark-haired child. A very familiar dark-haired child.

Isabel moved closer, and the little boy turned to look at her. “No, messing with the evidence makes you look guilty, Michael,” he said matter-of-factly.

“What did you say, Max?” she asked the boy.

“I know you didn’t kill Hank,” Child-Max said, uncomfortably. He glanced at his lap, worried.

A blond girl appeared, from the dining room. “He’s safe with us,” she said.

Isabel frowned. “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m taking care of him now.” She crossed her arms and approached Isabel, fuming.

“Oh, no you’re not,” Isabel said automatically.

“He doesn’t need you, Vilandra. He never did.”

“Okay, hold on,” Isabel said. She pointed at the intrusion. “Michael, is she real or is she part of the dream?” Because if she was part of the dream, Michael was holding on to something she wasn’t sure she wanted to know about…

“Oh, I’m real,” the girl said, still advancing. “I’m more real to him than you are. You, you were always a dream, something he couldn’t achieve. You thought you were above him, when the truth was that you were far, far below.”

Isabel grabbed Michael’s arm and pulled him closer to her. “Michael,” she whispered, “tell me who she is. I’m really weirded out right now.”

“Solia,” he said slowly, glancing back and forth between the two girls. “She’s Solia.” He trembled a little in Isabel’s grip.

“And I’m Isabel,” Isabel said slowly. “And your friends are all in Roswell right now, worried about you. Max, Liz, Kyle. Maria,” she said, emphasizing the last.

“Michael, they don’t matter any more,” Solia said.

Isabel glared at her as Michael pulled away. “Who the hell are you to tell him that? Michael, listen to me. We do care about you. We need to know where you are.”

Michael turned back to her, and she saw a flash of recognition cross his face. “I don’t know,” he said. “I was taken on the way to Roswell, Solia and the others. They’re friends, they’re training me-“

And with that, Isabel’s eyes flew open and she found herself shoved out of the dream. Someone had pushed her out, or woken Michael up suddenly. Or both. She was lying down on a sleeping bag in the van, staring at the picture of Michael in his security guard uniform that Maria had provided. She sat up immediately, and looked around. Maria was lying next to her, eyes wide open, unable to sleep.

“Maria,” Isabel said.

Maria pulled herself up. “What is it?” she asked.

Isabel blinked, trying to process everything she’d seen. “I’m not sure,” she said slowly. “I’m not sure.” Then everything clicked into place. She gave Maria a reassuring pat on the shoulder before proceeding with the news. It was all she could do in the circumstances.

“Solia,” she said. “We have to figure out who Solia is.”

The van bounced down the gravel away from the campsite, leaving Kyle, Liz and Maria in its wake.

“So,” Maria said, clapping her hands together, “now that Max and Isabel took the van, how are we going to get into town without them?”

Liz and Kyle stared at her. “Are you joking us?” Kyle asked.

“Now that Fearless Leader is out of sight, I’m disobeying his orders.”

“Maria,” Kyle said slowly, “I don’t agree with Max either. But…”

“But nothing,” Maria said. “You got to see your dad.”

“Briefly,” Kyle agreed.

“And I’m going to see my mom.”

Liz stared from one to the other, torn. “It won’t take them long, Maria.”

“To find a way to covertly call Langley in Los Angeles discreetly, interrogate him for information on this Solia freak, visit the sheriff’s department, convince Sheriff Hanson not to have a heart attack, and visit the fake-Michael, all without alerting the Special Unit?” Maria smirked. “It’ll take them long enough.”

“We don’t have a car,” Liz said.

Maria produced the cell phone from her back pocket and brandished it. “I have three more minutes.”

“No way,” Kyle said immediately. “Definitely not. They’re tracking that phone. It’s how Michael got arrested in the first place.”

“We don’t know that,” Maria snapped, the nerve clearly touched. “I call my mom, I guarantee she’s out here in ten minutes. Liz, you want her to contact your parents or not?”

“No,” Liz said. “I don’t want my parents in danger. Like your mom is gonna be, like we’re all gonna be. Maria, think about what you’re saying.”

“I have,” Maria said. “I’ve been thinking about this ever since we left Roswell to begin with. I want to see my mom for real, give her an actual goodbye. She at least deserves that. One last… wedding gift or something.”

“You didn’t know?” Kyle burst out, then stopped himself. “No. Of course you wouldn’t.”

“What?” Maria asked, suspiciously.

“There’s not going to be a wedding. My dad told me when we met up out in the desert.”

“What?” Maria shrieked. Liz put her hands on Maria’s shoulders to calm her. “Why not?”

“Well,” Kyle said apologetically, “I don’t think he even proposed. Your mom kinda… dumped him.”

“She did what?” Maria asked, her face turning red.

“You were right,” Kyle said. “I should have… dammit.”

“She said no?” Maria asked. “But that’s her one chance at happiness!”

“You thought it was a bad idea,” Liz reminded her.

“That’s when I thought she was going through with it.” Maria whipped out the cell phone. “That’s it,” she said, “Screw the risk, I’m calling Mom.”

Liz reached for the phone out of habit, but Kyle shook his head at her. Maria held the phone away from the two of them.

“My boyfriend,” she said, “is missing, possibly captive to aliens of unknown purposes. My mother is making the third biggest mistake of her life. I can’t do a damn thing about him, but I’m calling her.”

“So he definitely has boyfriend status again?” Kyle whispered to Liz as Maria marched off with the cell phone.

Liz threw up her hands and returned to the tent, leaving Kyle standing alone in the gravel drive.

Maria dug her sneaker into the mud as the phone rang. Once… twice… three times…

“Hello?”

“Mom!”

“Maria! Where are you?”

“I’m nearby, Mom,” she said. “Listen, come quick before anybody can catch up with you… to the place where we spent my eleventh birthday, but the number is the month of my weird cousin’s birthday and the letter of Dad’s middle name.” She held her breath, hoping her mother was quicker than the Special Unit.

There was a moment of silence as Amy processed this. “Okay,” she said. “Okay. I’ll be there soon.”

“If anyone is following you, don’t come.”

“Okay,” Amy said. “Who else is-“

“Bye,” Maria said, and hung up the phone. She stared at the piece of plastic and computer in her hand, which was trembling just a little. She’d either just exposed them all, or done the best thing she would ever do for her mother. Or hell, even possibly both.

“Don’t ever call me,” Langley’s voice said with a snap. “I don’t want to be connected to you.”

“I’m on a pay phone, you should be fine,” Max said, rolling his eyes at Isabel, who shrugged. She had never met Langley herself, she had no idea how exasperating the shapeshifter could be. Which made it even more frustrating for Max.

“Langley,” Max said, switching into order-mode, “Tell me what you know about someone from Antar named Solia.”

“Solia,” Langley said immediately and resentfully, “was an ally of yours when you were alive. She was a member of a diplomatic family that supported you. But you should know, her clan was more closely allied with that of Rath. Who you know better by another name.”

“I know,” Max said. “What are you getting at?”

“After your death and my expulsion,” Langley said, “or so I’ve been told by my contacts, Solia is involved with a faction that wants to return a different hybrid leader to Antar.” The sound of a phone rang in the background.

Max felt his breath catch in his throat. “Are they allied with me or not?”

“No, that’s what I’m trying to tell you,” Langley said. “They despise you, Max. It’s Michael they want as ruler of Antar.” His voice faded, as he presumably held the phone down. “Margo, would you hold my calls for just ten minutes please, baby? This shouldn’t take long.”

Max made a face and pulled the phone down to whisper to Isabel. “Solia’s part of a faction that thinks Michael should be king.”

“What?” Isabel said, and barked a laugh. “You’re kidding me.”

“I am not,” Langley said. “Shut her up and listen to me, Max. She’s not dangerous to you as long as you’re bumming around this planet. But try and return, and she could be a player.”

“She already is a player,” Max said. “We think she has Michael.”

There was a pause. Langley cleared his throat. “Lucky for him,” Langley said. “Maybe he’ll get what he always wanted and go home.”

“He doesn’t want to go home now,” Max said. He didn’t notice Isabel shifting uncomfortably beside him.

“You know that for sure?” Langley asked. “I watched you kids for years. He’s not a happy earthling.”

“He’s an even worse king,” Max said. “He had the royal seal for a few days, and it was a disaster. He threatened our friends, almost killed some people. But we need him here.”

“That would be Rath,” Langley said. “Loyal as hell, but you don’t want to be on his bad side.”

“That’s not Michael,” Max said. “Got it? It’s not our Michael. He has a human side, too.” The loyal part for sure, but the cold-blooded killer… it wasn’t Michael. It was there, under the surface, but it wasn’t him.

“But was he happy?” Langley waited out Max’s pause. “I know Rath, and I know Michael better than I want to. Your friend may just have turned on you, Max.”

“No,” Max said. “Tell me where to find Solia.”

“You can’t find her,” Langley said simply. “If she’s here, she’s taken on a human body and I don’t know any more than you do.”

“Then how do we get Michael back?”

“Can’t help you there, either,” Langley said, and was that a smile Max heard over the phone? “Just remember that there’s a side to him beyond the little boy you grew up with.”

“I know that, too,” Max said. “Real help you’ve been there, Langley.”

“It’s my job,” Langley said with a sigh. “Now go away and leave me alone.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Max said before hanging up. He turned to Isabel. “Michael wouldn’t just abandon us.”

Isabel wrung her hands nervously as the two turned to walk away from the pay phone by the Falafel Hut. “I don’t know, Max. He’s dealing with a lot with the whole Hank thing.”

Max shook his head. “I just don’t see it in him. He’d tell us first.”

Isabel fixed him with a glare. “Are we still talking about Michael Guerin?”

Max sighed. “You may have a point. But… he’d say goodbye.”

“Again…”

“He would,” Max repeated emphatically, “say goodbye.” Max unlocked the driver’s seat of the van and hopped in, then reached over to open the passenger side for Isabel.

“Even if he’s working with our enemies?” Isabel asked, giving him a bright smile. “Oh, yeah, sure, bye guys, love you much, now sit tight while I go re-conquer our home planet .” She climbed into the seat in a huff.

“Well, we still have one person in Roswell who might know where Michael is. Ready to go check it out?”

“If I say no, can we leave now?”

“No.”

“Okay then.”

“If that’s the Special Unit in that car, I am never going to forgive you,” Liz whispered fiercely to Maria.

“If that’s the Special Unit, it won’t matter, because we’ll all be dead within the week. But if that’s my Mom, we’re about to have a nice mother-daughter reunion, so would you kindly step aside?” Maria asked.

“No,” Liz said, “cause I want to see your mom, too.”

The three teenagers stood at the lip of the campsite, watching the car approaching slowly from a distance. They were secreted behind a particularly large tree, just in case it proved to be an unfamiliar car so that they could conceal themselves.

“Speaking frankly as the son of the man she just broke up with in what I understand to be a rather nasty manner,” Kyle said, “I think I’ll be over there.” He pointed to another large tree.

“Suit yourself,” Maria said, her eyes riveted to the car, which had sped up.

“Or maybe not,” Kyle said, suddenly changing his mind about revealing his hiding place.

The three fell into silence as the car rambled up the road, kicking up a storm of dust behind it. Maria caught her breath sharply as she recognized the Jetta, and she strained on her tiptoes to make sure there wasn’t a car behind it. Kyle turned around, trying to conceal himself completely behind the tree, and debated silently whether to just stay there should Amy DeLuca emerge from the car.

A minute later, the familiar red car rolled into the parking spot of the camping site. Maria started towards it, but Liz held her back, waiting until it was clear that Amy was indeed the driver, and was alone.

And once it was clear, Maria crept out from behind the tree, her friends still concealed behind her.

“Over here,” she said, and Amy jumped, whirled around. Her hand flew up to her heart, as if to catch it and keep it in place. Maria started to move towards her mother, but not before the barrage began.

“Where the hell have you been? Why did you leave without saying goodbye? Do you know how worried I am? How worried we all are? How dangerous it is to be on your own? You didn’t even have to go with them, and…”

She was cut off by Maria collapsing into her arms, fighting back tears, and suddenly Amy found herself stunned into silence.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Maria said, choking through her dry eyes.

“Well,” Amy said, trying to stay calm herself, “you better be.”

Maria pulled back and indicated the picnic table to the side of the campsite. “C’mere, let’s sit down.”

Amy glanced around. “Is it just us here?”

“Depends on if you were followed or not.”

“Not. I watched the whole time. Not a soul behind me once I left city limits.”

“All clear, guys,” Maria said, and Liz crept out from behind the tree.

“Elizabeth,” Amy greeted her. “That’s it?”

Liz shot a look to the other figure behind the tree, and Kyle guiltily tiptoed out.

“Ah,” Amy said. “Humans only?”

Maria took her mother by the hand and pulled her over to the picnic table. “Didn’t you hear what’s going on?”

“I know Michael’s wanted for murder,” Amy said. “A murder that I apparently helped provide an alibi for.”

Maria stared at her as they sat down. “You didn’t hear?”

“What?” Liz and Kyle took the opportunity to discreetly scamper over to the cooler and start rooting for snacks.

“They arrested him, somebody spotted him when we were in Oklahoma.”

“He’s in jail?” Amy asked. She threw her hands up, a gesture Maria had picked up from her to begin with. “I’m obviously in the loop.”

“Well, we don’t think he is, it’s an imposter,” Maria said. She paused. “Long story.”

“Is this another alien thing?” Amy asked.

Maria sighed. “Mom, I am so sorry I never told you about that, but you understand why, right, and yes it is an alien thing,” she said, rushing through. “Well, probably. Everything else is.”

“I can’t believe Jim didn’t tell me he was in jail,” Amy said, shaking her head.

“He’s not, didn’t you hear what I just said?” Maria asked. “Jeez. And speaking of which, what the hell is going on with you and Jim Valenti ?”

Amy glanced across the campsite at Kyle, and caught his glance as he looked up from the cooler. Sheepishly, Kyle dove back into the cooler with increased vigor. Amy lowered her voice. “Nothing, anymore.”

“Why not?” Maria demanded. “I thought you two were doing so well.”

“We hadn’t dated in over a year when you left, honey,” Amy said, perplexed.

“No, no. Kyle told me.”

“Kyle told you?” Amy glanced back to Kyle, who had pulled out a root beer and was closing the cooler, trying to avoid eye contact with the DeLucas.

“His dad told him.”

“And that’s exactly it,” Amy said quietly. “You and Kyle are here, together. And he can talk to Kyle and not let me know about you? I can’t handle the dishonesty.”

“It’s for your own safety,” Maria said, uncomfortably. “It’s dangerous to have any contact with us.”

“Then what am I doing now?”

“Putting yourself in danger.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

“No problem, Mom,” Maria said, and cracked a smile. “How’s everybody doing?”

“Well, your cousin Sean should be out again in a couple of months.”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Figures. You’re not gonna let him mooch again, are you?”

“No, it’s Aunt Susan’s turn. Sean’s parents don’t trust me anymore, anyway. Liz’s parents – is she going to meet with them, by the way?”

Maria shrugged. “Probably not, she doesn’t approve of me meeting with you.”

“Right,” Amy said. “Well, they’re beside themselves, too. Especially with that journal – did you know the kind of stuff Liz put down in there?”

“I never read it myself,” Maria said, “but I mean, I know what she’s been through in the last few years.”

“It’s like a… a science-fiction romance or something,” Amy said. “It’s the craziest thing. It made us all question what we know about ourselves, about our lives.”

“I know,” Maria said, skipping the obvious point that it was a science-fact romance. “Remember, I had to find out, too.”

“I mean,” Amy said, “and don’t take this the wrong way Maria, but have you even thought about the fact that your boyfriend – is he still your boyfriend, by the way?”

“Yes, Mom,” Maria said, exasperated.

“I figured if you abandoned me for him you’d be dating him again. Anyway, have you even considered that he’s not… I don’t want to be offensive here… he’s not the same, um, species?”

“Mom!” Maria yelled, drawing Liz and Kyle’s attention. “I should never have called you.”

“It’s not like this is even a racial issue, honey,” Amy said. “It’s just… if you have different cellular structures, can you even, um…”

Maria stared at her. “Do you want to know?”

“Do I?”

“Probably not,” Maria sighed.

“Oh god…”

“Mom, I think you should marry Jim Valenti,” Maria burst out.

Amy stared at her. “What?”

“I do, I’ve been thinking about it, and you two could be a good thing for each other. I mean, you’ve been through all the same stuff, growing up in Roswell, divorce, single parenthood, your kids running off with aliens.”

“Slow down there. We’re not exactly talking marriage yet.”

“You’re not?”

“Of course not, we’ve just been dating for a couple of months.”

“Then…” Maria counted through her facts. “Oh.” She’d just let the cat out of the bag in a big way. “You dumped him, huh?”

“I did,” Amy nodded.

“Go back to him,” Maria begged. “I don’t want you to be alone, Mom.”

“I’m not alone,” Amy laughed. “I have friends, Maria.”

“But what you don’t have is a Jim Valenti.”

“I don’t need a man, Maria. You of all people should know that.”

“But you need somebody, Mom. You need a family.”

Amy just looked at her. “You’re my family.”

Maria bit her lip and looked down. “I’m not coming home,” she said firmly. “You’re my family, too, Mom, but I have another family now.”

“Are you and Michael talking marriage? Because I want to know if you are.”

“No,” Maria said, exasperated to be on the other side of this conversation. “But… I mean, I guess there’s some commitment there. That we all left together. We’re linked. I’m linked to them now, if I go home the Special Unit will use me to get at them. It’s not a choice anymore.”

“Maria…”

“I made my choice already, Mom, it’s too late. I’m sorry.”

“Go! Now!”

At Valenti’s whispered command, Max and Isabel darted out from behind the dumpster and through the service exit into the sheriff’s department headquarters.

“This way,” Valenti said, motioning them down the corridor.

“Is it clear?” Max asked.

“All clear,” Valenti said. “Hanson’s waiting, come on.”

They scurried down the corridor to the sheriff’s office. Isabel had a brief flash of déjà vu, only it was awkward to have Deputy Valenti bringing them here to see Sheriff Hanson, and not vice versa.

“Sheriff,” Max greeted him as he entered.

He did a double-take as he noticed Hanson steadily aiming a firearm in their direction. Max quickly turned to Valenti, who held up a cautionary hand. No powers. Hanson wasn’t going to fire unless he felt threatened, and clearly doing anything to disarm him would put him in that position.

Hanson nodded to the two of them. “Max, Isabel. The Evanses. Nice to see you again, it’s not often we get federally wanted fugitives in our offices. Unchained.”

Isabel threw a glance to Max, but he shook his head. No powers.

“Do you know exactly what we’re wanted for?” Max asked.

“No, and that’s the funny thing,” Hanson said. “To hear the FBI reports, you’d think it was terrorist-related, the way they talk. But you kids don’t strike me as the type. And my deputy here, who I happen to hold in fairly high regard, tells me it’s not exactly on the up-and-up. Now, as somebody who takes his government very seriously, I need to know exactly what it is I’m covering for here.” He continued to level the gun at them.

Max sat down across from Hanson, and nodded to Isabel to do the same thing. “Valenti told you about us.”

“He told me something about you. Is it true?”

Max took a deep breath. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“Believe me, I don’t think they’d believe me.”

It was the second time he’d been forced to reveal himself to the sheriff of Roswell. Almost starting to feel like an old hat. “Isabel, Michael and I are hybrids. We’re part human, part alien.”

“From where?” Hanson demanded.

“It’s a planet called Antar.”

“How did you get here?”

“We were created by our mother…” Max shot a look to Isabel, who shrugged. This was where it got hard to explain. “We lived past lives, on Antar, and were killed. So our mother made us into part-humans to be born again, and sent us here. But our ship crashed.”

“In Roswell.”

“Yes.”

“In 1947.”

“Yes.”

“And you just… made yourselves look like human teenagers?”

“No.” Max sighed. “We were incubated until 1989, and that’s when we came out of our pods.”

“When you were adopted.”

“Right,” he said, relieved. “Isabel and I were adopted together, you knew that, and then Michael was put in foster care.”

“There’s three of you?”

“Yes,” Max said, figuring Tess would take too long to explain.

“Normal human kids.”

“Mostly.”

Hanson’s hands were beginning to tremble on the gun just a bit. “Mostly.”

“We, um, can do some things that are unique.”

“Like what?”

With a glance at Valenti, who shrugged and nodded, Max reached to the seat of his chair and changed the wooden seat into a metal one. When he noticed Hanson’s eyes slowly widening, he hastily changed it back. No need to tempt the gun.

“Parlor tricks? You do parlor tricks,” Hanson said.

“And… other things,” Max said.

“Like what?”

Max took a deep breath. “Isabel can see other people’s dreams. Michael can explode things, and apparently can do the same trick as I just did, but from a distance.” According to Maria, anyway. “I can manipulate the human body – it’s how I saved Liz Parker…” Hanson wouldn’t know about Kyle and Jim Valenti’s shootings, no need to elaborate. “And I can create a protective energy shield.”

“A what?”

“It, um, keeps anything from getting through. I mean, if I wanted, I could put it up right now and you couldn’t shoot us. But I’m trying to trust you here, Sheriff, and I need you to trust me.”

Slowly, Hanson lowered his gun. He eyed Max and Isabel suspiciously, as though he were waiting for an energy blast to immediately spring forth. When they remained still, he relaxed a bit. “So the kid. How much of a danger is he?”

Max and Isabel exchanged a glance. “Michael’s a good guy,” Max said, trying to be honest without spelling out just how dangerous Michael was capable of being. “But we don’t know that it’s Michael in there.”

“If not Michael, then what?”

“There are different kinds of aliens,” Isabel said in a bored tone, speaking for the first time. “We know two other races from our planet besides ours. There’s a group we call shapeshifters, who can assume the shape of different humans. And another group we call Skins, who take on human-like husks. You probably have a shapeshifter in there.”

Hanson reached for the gun again. “And how dangerous is a shapeshifter?”

“If he’s trying to pretend he’s Michael, probably not much,” Max said. “If he wanted to get out, he’d be dangerous.”

“What would we do then?”

“Call the Special Unit,” Max said matter-of-factly. “But first, let us see him.”

“How do I know this isn’t a plot to break your friend out using your special alien powers?”

Max tightened his expression. “You have to trust us.”

“Given that you just confessed that you’ve been lying for most of your lives, how do I do that?”

“How do you not do that?” Valenti asked. “Come on, Hanson. Sheriff. A story like that, you’ve seen the evidence in front of you. What else are you going to do?”

All Hanson could do was stare.

Without a word, Valenti ushered the prisoner into the private visitation room. Across the glass, Max and Isabel exchanged a look. It looked like Michael, that was for sure. Right down to the mole between his eyebrows. A perfect replica. Rath, the Dupe?

“Hello, Michael,” Max said, staring into the familiar eyes. Whoever this was, it wasn’t Rath. He didn’t have that angry, sarcastic, taunting stare that the New York Dupe had.

“Sure took you long enough to get down here,” the prisoner grumbled. More than a perfect replica.

“Right, well, we’re here now,” Isabel said. “Chill out.”

“Chill out?” he asked, disgusted. Disgusted? Or confused? Max wasn’t sure.

“I thought you’d be happy to see us,” Max said.

“Yeah, nice to see you,” the prisoner said. He sure did sound like Michael, too.

“Michael,” Isabel whispered, lowering her voice. This was the kicker. She took a deep breath. “I just want you to know that everything’s going to be okay. You know. With the baby.”

Max tried not to show the shock that hit him. He realized after a second what Isabel was doing, but he wished to hell she’d warned him first. Cause damn if it wasn’t funny.

“Yeah,” “Michael” said, not really reacting. “That’s good.”

Max had to put his hand up to his mouth to cover up the loud snort that was rearing up in the pit of his stomach.

“Don’t you even want to know if it’s a boy or a girl?” she asked.

“Which one?” he asked, slightly interested.

“Yeah, which one was it again, Isabel?” Max asked from behind his hand.

“A boy,” she said without thinking. “If it’s all right with you, Michael, if we don’t get you out of here, I thought I’d give him your name. You know. To remember his father by.”

“Excuse me,” Max said, “I think I’m overcome with emotion. I’ll be right back.” He dove out of the chair and around the corner, where he silently fell back against the wall and slid down it, convulsing. He knew he shouldn’t be laughing. He was scared to death. But it was almost like Isabel’s prank nudged him into that release that he needed so badly. Everything he was hiding, deep down, came boiling to the surface in his laughter.

Isabel could see him sliding down and tried to ignore his poor acting job.

“I think I’ll be able to raise him just fine on my own,” Isabel continued, haughtily. “I just thought you should know.”

“Yeah, you’ll do fine on your own,” “Michael” said. “You know, I should have known I couldn’t trust you. Leaving me alone to rot here.”

“It’s your own damn fault,” Isabel said. “Next time you decide to kill a human, cover your tracks better.”

“Michael” opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. Because he doesn’t know the details, Isabel thought, satisfied. She’d seen enough. She glanced around the corner, where Max was still trying to control his fit. “Max, do you have anything else you want to say to Michael?”

“No, no,” Max said. He stood up and straightened out. He coughed twice, snorted one more time, then took a deep breath and returned. “Take care, Michael.”

“Yeah, you too, Max. Isabel,” “Michael” said.

Once they were out of sight, Max grabbed Isabel and dragged her back down to Hanson’s office, where Valenti was waiting.

“Next time, tell me before you do that!” he yelled.

“I came up with it at the last minute,” she said coolly. “Some actor you are. Stay in character next time, huh?”

“What?” Valenti asked quizzically. He stared back and forth from one Evans to the other.

“Ask Mommie Dearest here,” Max said, before collapsing into giggles again.

“I was doing some investigative questioning,” Isabel said with a straight face. She sighed and crossed her arms. “Max, do you back me up on my conclusion? For god’s sakes, get it together.”

Max took another deep breath and straightened back up. “Yes,” he said. “Um, yes…” He snorted yet again. “It’s not Michael,” he said, before bursting into laughter again. “A baby!” Isabel rolled her eyes and smacked the back of his head.

Valenti watched the alien siblings and shook his head. Sometimes they didn’t realize just how human they were. And sometimes, he realized ruefully and sadly, he didn’t realize just how young they were.
Michael shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs that it felt like were invading every corner of his brain. Only they weren’t cobwebs. They were thoughts. Thoughts of political structure and history. Psychology – Antarian psychology – and behavior. Politics and battlements. More than he had ever, ever wanted to know about his home planet.

“Ready to proceed?” Rivir asked him, eagerly. For an old man, he certainly was full of energy. But Michael had to remind himself that he had no way of knowing how old Rivir really was. Even if he asked, it wasn’t like it would translate into a scale he was familiar with. He already knew that lifespans on Antar were vastly different from those on Earth, the ones he was used to. Otherwise, how would his mother still be alive? If he’d died – died in time to be cloned and resurrected and sent to Earth for a 1947 spaceship crash, well… it boggled his mind what Earth year she must have been born in.

“No,” Michael said honestly. “I need a break, man.”

“Done,” Rivir said. “Solia,” he called, “his highness would like his meal.”

“It’s ready,” Solia called back. With a nod to Michael, Rivir stood and led the way into the dining room. Michael got yet another case of the creeps – this was someone else’s house, someone else’s china, and they were here illegally. Well, if he got caught, it could be one more thing on his record.

He started to sit, but Delaji pointed to the head of the table. “Please,” she said.

“No, no,” he said. “I mean… I’m used to human custom. And if you’re the head of the family, you should sit there… I think.” Or so Isabel had drilled into his head before just about every meal he’d ever eaten at the Evans household.

Isabel. He looked up to see Solia, and it came flooding back, bursting through hours of images of Antarian militaries and histories. Michael froze.

“You are the head of this family, Michael,” Delaji said. “Please, you sit.”

“No,” he said.

“But you must,” Solia pleaded.

“No, I mean… you. You were in my dream last night!”

“It is possible,” Solia said. “You may have been thinking about me.” She smiled.

“No. You were there . That wasn’t me. That was you, because Isabel was there, too.”

Solia shook her head. “You must have misunderstood. Please, sit for the meal.”

“I know the difference,” he said huskily. “I’ve had practice. I know why Isabel was dreamwalking me. Why were you doing it?”

“Sit, my son,” Delaji said. Her words had a surprising effect on him, forcing him into the chare. Docile.

This isn’t right, a thought flickered in the back of his mind. Something is wrong.

He found himself reaching for the food. He didn’t recognize it, but it smelled sweet and spicy. They knew what he liked.

No. Wrong. He forced himself to grind to a halt. “You were trying to push me away from her,” he said. Again, with every ounce of strength he had left, he pulled himself back to a standing position.

“Michael,” Solia said.

“No! Stay out of my mind! And keep away from my friends.”

Delaji rose to join him. “You know what Vilandra did.”

“I know what Vilandra did,” Michael sighed. “She was engaged to me, she fell in love with Kivar, she betrayed us, he betrayed her, we were all toast. Yeah, I know that. But that’s not Isabel. Isabel and I grew up together. She’s practically my sister .”

“She was trying to control you,” Solia said. “Like she always has.”

“No,” Michael said slowly. “You were trying to control me. Isabel was trying to find me. You don’t know me, and you don’t know her.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rivir rise from his chair as well, and extend his hand. Michael raised his hand back, narrowed his anger at Solia into a force, and directed it out from his hand. Not a strong one, he was gaining more control lately. A small one, just enough to knock Rivir back and keep him from disabling Michael.

“Stop,” Delaji commanded, and he did. Without thinking. Without analyzing. Just reacting. “Sit.” He did, but not before he recognized what was happening. “Eat,” and the food was in his mouth, the delicious food, satisfying his dry taste buds and filling him up.

Solia rushed to help Rivir to his feet. The two of them stared at Michael as they rose together.

Michael ground the fork against the table to keep it from rising to his mouth again. “You’re imprisoning me here,” he said to Delaji.

“No,” she said. “You are our leader. Not our prisoner.”

“Then I say I want to call my friends,” he said.. “Let them know where I am.”

“They know where you are,” Solia reminded him, still clinging to Rivir. “You are in a prison in Roswell.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said, rolling his eyes. At least that he could control. “You can’t fool them.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Delaji said. “We know Max Evans is inconsequential. And by the time he’s able to do something, we’ll be back on Antar.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he said in a low tone. He didn’t like the way this was going at all.

“Fine,” Rivir said. “You don’t have anything to say about it.”

“You’re my mother?” Michael asked, turning to Delaji. “You know, I spent a hell of a long time trying to find you. This, this is really disappointing.”

“I’m sorry,” Delaji said. “I waited a long time for you.”

Another thought was pressing in the back of his mind. “How long?”

“Years, my son.”

And then it burst forth, releasing itself. Only a few times had he had these sudden bursts of memory, breaking through barriers he couldn’t control, like the time he remembered how Kivar betrayed Vilandra at the last minute. They didn’t come frequently enough for his taste. But he remembered now. “You,” he said. “You… died … when we did.”

“She died in the first invasion,” Solia said darkly. “By Kivar’s own hands. You remember.”

“I do,” Michael said slowly. He stared at her. “Then…?”

“From you,” Rivir said. “You channeled her. Michael, you are capable of much more than you have ever realized. Let me teach you.”

Michael stared back and forth from his teacher to his mother. His dead mother. But not dead.

He was trapped. He wasn’t in charge. But he was capable of much more than he had ever realized.

Much, much more.

Maria was the first to break the uncomfortable silence around the campfire.

“It’s not him, is it?” she asked, her hands trembling slightly on the stick holding her hot dog. “He wasn’t there.”

“No,” Isabel said quietly, settling into her place on the log. The light from the flames flickered off her skin. “It’s an impostor.”

“How?” Kyle burst out. “How do you find somebody who looks just like Michael to play him in jail?”

“Shapeshifters, Kyle,” Maria said matter-of-factly. It was perfectly understandable; Kyle’s only experience with shapeshifters was with Nasedo, who had basically remained in one form the entire time Kyle had known him. He hadn’t been around for the guessing games the kids had played.

Max choked back another giggle, causing three humans to stare at him with disgust.

“Sorry,” Kyle said, in a voice indicating that he wasn’t, really.

“I’m not laughing at you,” Max promised. “It’s just…” He broke into a short laugh again, and got it back. “Isabel, just tell them what you did to catch him.”

Isabel sighed. “I told him we were having a baby,” she said. “What I want to know, is who would put a shapeshifter in jail and why would Michael… why are you all laughing?”

“I sincerely hope the reason you used that was that there’s zero chance of you and Michael having a baby,” Maria said through her giggles.

“God,” Isabel sniffed, “no. There’s no chance. I mean, no offense Maria, but… no.”

“It’s fine, then,” Maria said with a smile, before she snickered again.

“And he just bought that you were pregnant?” Liz asked.

Isabel nodded. “Totally played along, like he knew the whole time. The real Michael would have hit the roof.”

“Nice detective work,” Kyle nodded approvingly.

“Would you people stay with me?” Isabel snapped. “Michael is still missing.” The thought was enough to sober them up. “So far we have a shapeshifter in Roswell, and this mysterious Solia person who was in his dream. Michael said she took him.”

“Valenti talked to the guys who drove him down,” added a sobered Max. “They said their car died briefly in Texas. He said they were uncomfortable, like maybe it was more than that.”

“A UFO?” Liz asked quietly.

Max met her gaze and nodded. He felt a shiver down his spine – it was the first time they’d really connected in a couple of days. He tried to hold the eye contact, but she glanced toward Maria.

“No way is it a UFO,” Maria said, shaking her head violently. “He’s still on this planet. He has to be.”

“If they kidnapped him yesterday,” Liz began.

“Abducted,” Maria said darkly.

“Yeah, okay,” Liz continued. “We have no way of knowing how far they’ve gotten. What we need is more information.”

“What we need is a vision,” Kyle said. “Can’t you, you know, touch Isabel or something?”

Liz shook her head. “I can’t control these flashes, you know? They just sort of happen. And I’ve never gotten anything from Michael.”

Isabel sat up. “That’s not a bad idea,” she said.

Kyle blinked. “I missed the idea.”

“That’s cause I just came up with it,” Isabel said. “Liz, maybe you and I can visit Michael together. Like we did with Max in New York, but maybe more powerful. We still don’t know the extent of your new powers; maybe you and I together can get more information from him. He knows what’s going on, maybe he can tell us.”

Maria cleared her throat.

Max nodded. “That could work,” he said. “You don’t think this Solia character is a risk?”

“If she is, I can handle it,” Isabel said firmly.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We don’t know what a full-blooded Antarian could do in a dream. What if she does something to hurt you there?”

Maria cleared her throat louder.

“Max, nobody knows dreams like I do,” Isabel said. “It’s Michael’s dream. We’d be safe.”

“Dammit,” Maria said loudly, “nobody is organizing a group trip to visit Michael without me!”

Four heads turned to look at her.

“I mean,” she said, shrinking back, “I want to go too.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Isabel admitted. “Michael responds to Maria in ways he doesn’t respond to the rest of us.”

“Ahem,” Maria said.

Isabel sighed. “I’m agreeing with you, so chill out. You know what I mean.”

“More information,” Max agreed. “Let’s do it. We don’t have any other options.”

Liz bit into her hot dog and made a face.

“What’s wrong?” Kyle asked.

Liz shook her head. “Nothing… it’s just.”

Kyle looked at his own hot dog and nodded. “We need our cook back.”

Liz nodded in vehement agreement.

“Maria,” Michael called out. He looked across the desert, but all he could see was sand and red stone. Stones, cut into symbols. Symbols he’d seen before. He didn’t care about the symbols. All he wanted was Maria. But she wasn’t here.

He saw a figure approaching, blond hair blowing in the wind. Maria? No, he reminded himself, Maria had brown hair now. Not that it mattered. Solia. It was Solia.

“I’m here,” Solia said.

“No,” he said. She moved forward to lay a hand on his chest. He shoved it away. “Where’s Maria?”

“I’m here,” a voice said from behind him. He whirled around.

Liz, Maria and Isabel were standing together, their clothes flapping slightly in the wind. Maria’s hair was the right color. He breathed a sign of relief.

“Michael, before you say anything, we’re here to help you,” Isabel said quickly. “I’m sorry to do it like this, but we just don’t have any other way to contact you.”

“Maria,” was all that he said. He moved forward and took her into his arms. It felt right. It felt safe. He relaxed into her, as she melted into his embrace. For the first time since he’d been arrested, he felt safe. He glanced down. “I’m dreaming?” he asked her quietly.

She looked up at him and nodded. “But I’m real,” she assured him.

“I know,” he said. He turned around, turning her with him, to face Solia. Her face had darkened, and she glared at Michael and Maria.

“Get out,” Solia ordered to Maria.

“She stays,” Michael said. He tightened his arms around Maria. “They all stay.”

“Maybe you should get out,” Isabel said, approaching Solia.

Solia raised her hand, and a thunderous bolt of energy struck out. It landed between Isabel and Liz, pushing them in opposite directions.

“No!” Michael shouted.

Maria pulled his head down, his ear close to her. “This is your dream,” she reminded him in a low hiss. “Make her leave.” She clung to his chest.

Michael nodded and took a deep breath. Get rid of Solia. Get rid of her. He’d managed to kick Isabel out of his dreams before. He could do this. He stepped away from Maria, and in a flash he blasted towards Solia with all his might. It was the dream plane, he could do it. He wouldn’t hurt her.

Solia lit up like a nuclear explosion, light blinding him. He buried his eyes in Maria’s shoulder to protect them, and looked up to see Solia… still standing there.

“Get back,” he whispered to Maria, and turned to reach for Isabel. She understood at once. The two royals joined hands, faced Solia, and reached out.

“Get out,” Michael said fiercely. Together, with Isabel, they reached out and blasted again. And this time, when the energy cleared, there was no Solia.

“Is she really gone?” Maria asked, looking around the dream desert.

“Not necessarily,” Isabel said, “but at least she’s hiding. We have to talk fast. Michael, do you know what’s happened to you?”

He thought for a minute. “Yes,” he said finally. He understood everything. Somehow, seeing Maria here, and knowing how far away she really was, was a sobering thought. It brought lucidity into his dream. With Maria, everything was clear. “Solia, Delaji and Rivir. They’re keeping me captive.”

“You’re there against your will?” Maria asked him, moving back to him.

“Yeah, of course I am,” Michael said, staring at her, confused. Why else wouldn’t he be…?

“Where are you?” Liz demanded.

“I don’t know,” he said truthfully.

“We think you were abducted in Texas,” Isabel said. “Are you still on the ground?”

“Yes,” he said. “We’re in a house.” He thought for a moment. “We didn’t go very far. We’re here.” He changed the desert to the field with the house in the middle. “I’m inside. I can’t go out. At first I thought they were my friends, but they’re not.”

“Who are they?” Isabel asked. “What faction are they?”

“They’re Rath-worshippers,” he said.

“Rath-what?” Isabel said.

“Michael-worshippers,” Maria corrected. “He’s just trying to be modest, god knows why, maybe cause he’s dreaming. You know, like Courtney.”

“No,” Isabel said, “I don’t know.”

“I never told them,” Michael said.

“You what?” Maria pulled away.

“Hey, do you blame me?” he said. “It’s kind of a sensitive subject. Yeah, you know Courtney was obsessed with me.”

“She wanted you to be the ruler,” Isabel noted dutifully.

“She wasn’t the only one, there’s a whole cult of them. And these guys are them.”

“So if they worship you, what’s the problem?” Liz asked.

“Problem is, they want him to go back and lead. Now,” Isabel said. “Why can’t they take the Dupe?”

“They want me,” Michael said.

“Lucky you,” Maria said, dragging her toe in the dream-grass.

“Look,” he said, “I need to get out of here. They’re gonna take me back to Antar. This one,” and he summoned an image of Delaji, “she’s controlling me. When she tells me to do something, I have to do it.”

Isabel peered at the image. “Michael,” she whispered.

“What?”

“I know her. I mean, I sense… who is she?”

“She’s Delaji,” he said. He paused. “How do you know her?” he prodded.

“I don’t recognize her,” she continued.

“She’s taken over a human body,” he agreed.

Isabel gaped. “Is that…”

“What?” Liz prodded nervously.

“It’s his mother . His alien mother.”

Michael’s silence confirmed it. Maria stared at the woman. “Your mother.”

“There’s more,” he said slowly, casting his eyes at the grass. “But it doesn’t matter now.”

“How are we going to find you?” Liz asked desperately. “We know what it looks like. So what? You could be anywhere in Texas, Michael. Can’t you give us anything more to go on?”

His mouth dropped open, as he racked his brain and shook his head.

“She’s controlling you,” Isabel said slowly. “Michael, you can escape. You’re stronger than her. You’re in your own body, she’s in someone else’s. You can do it.”

“No,” Michael said. He felt a shiver pass through his body. “She’s too strong.”

“Then you need to be stronger,” Isabel said. She took a deep breath and glanced back and forth from Liz to Maria and back. “You ready now?”

“How?” Michael asked.

“We’re here,” Isabel said. “We can join with you, Michael, and maybe the short burst of energy will be enough.”

“No!” A shriek came from inside the house, and Solia came barreling out, her hair wild, her eyes flashing. “You can’t take-!”

Michael awoke with a start. He was in the guest room in the house. He was sweating. He looked down at his arms, expecting to see Maria there, but she wasn’t. She’d just been there. Quickly, before it could slip his memory, he walked himself through the dream. Solia would try to block it, but he was stronger. Isabel. Liz. Maria. They had visited him. They were trying to find him.

They wanted to help him escape.

You’re stronger than her.

You’re there against your will?

We can join with you.

A knock sounded on the door, and Solia peeked in. Her hair was back in position, and she was wearing a long pink nightgown.

“Good morning,” she greeted him with a smile.

He felt it beginning. He felt her invading his mind, he felt images from the dream rushing away.

“No,” he moaned. “Please, no…”

He held on to the one image. Maria, in his arms. He’d held Maria in his arms. Maria. Maria DeLuca. She was there. She wanted him with her. She was trying to find him. The barrage passed, and he sighed. Maria was still there.

What was he trying to remember about Maria?

It would come back to him. Maria in his arms. Maria and…

It came back to him in a flash. Maria, Liz and Isabel were trying to help him. Good enough.

“Breakfast ready yet?” he asked.

Solia tilted her head to the side and stared at him.

Jim was just stirring the microwave macaroni when he heard a knock at the door. “Hold on,” he said. Surely the kids weren’t daring enough to come into town… He shoved the bowl back into the microwave, hit the express-cook button a couple of times, and set the fork down before going to open the door.

“Hi,” he said, surprised, staring back at Amy DeLuca. “Um, Amy, I wasn’t expecting…” He glanced down at his housecoat and slippers.

“Can it,” Amy said, pushing by him into the house. “Let’s talk.”

Jim cast a forlorn look at the microwave, decided in a flash of a second that Amy was more important than Easy Mac at the moment, and followed her to the couch.

They both stared at each other for a second. Jim shifted uncomfortably beneath his housecoat, Amy pursed her lips.

“So,” Jim started, “you wanted to… talk?”

Amy sighed and put her face down in her hands. “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

He waited patiently.

She stared back. “This is the part where you’re supposed to apologize to me.”

“It is?” he asked immediately, and then immediately regretted it. “I mean… Amy, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept it from you, but the kids’ safety is my highest priority.”

“And I’m sorry,” she said slowly, “because their safety should be my priority too. Key word is should be. I can’t help it. I’m the mother bear. And my cub is out there on the run from the law with an alien.”

Jim gave a short laugh. “It’s not every cub that does that.”

“No, in fact, it’s pretty much yours, mine, and the Parkers’ cubs. I know you’re doing everything you can to protect them.”

He nodded to her. “It’s not an easy job.”

“I know,” she said. “I know it’s not easy.” She hesitated, shifting her weight and landing a little closer to him. “Michael Guerin… is it true he’s been arrested?” The microwave sounded a loud beep, which both chose to ignore.

Jim paused. “Um. In the interest of the kids’ safety, or in the mother bear interest?”

“Let’s start with the kids’ safety and see where it gets us.”

“Yes,” he said simply. “Yes, Michael’s being detained in connection with the Whitmore murder. We’re keeping the FBI from questioning him for the moment, though.”

Amy stared at him. “And mother bear?”

“Mother bear should know that Michael is far from here. Where exactly, we don’t know, and who the hell is sitting in jail, we don’t know. But your daughter’s boyfriend is not in jail, that much I can tell you.”

“I just can’t believe they go through this every day,” she wondered.

“Not like this exactly,” Jim said. “And not every day. But it’s been a pretty constant stream of weirdness, that I can tell you.”

“What if they ever came back to Roswell?” she asked slowly. “Would you tell me?”

Jim paused. Did she know? Could she possibly know? It occurred to him, knowing Maria DeLuca, and seeing the way the kids were all shooting glares at Max during their meeting in the desert, that it was entirely possible that she did. “Probably not,” he said. “The fewer people who know where they are, the better.”

Amy looked down at her hands. “I know, Jim.”

“It’s for the best,” he said gently.

“No, I mean, I know. I saw Maria, and Kyle, and Liz last night. Maria told me everything, about the fake Michael in jail.”

“You saw them?” He sighed. “Max doesn’t know.”

“No, Max wasn’t there.”

“Because he was at the jail with me,” Jim thought out loud. “The kids are having some differences of opinions, I would say.”

“So I gathered.”

“You know that the more you involve yourself in this…”

“…The more risk I put myself in. Sure, Jim, I know. But this is my baby girl we’re talking about.”

He sighed. “Amy…”

“Jim.”

“I don’t want to see you get caught up in this as well. It hasn’t been easy. If it wasn’t for Max’s abilities, Liz, Kyle and I would all be dead by now. Alex Whitman did die for this.”

“But I am caught up in it,” she said. “I have been all along. I was mindwarped by Tess, too, don’t forget.”

“I haven’t.”

“I have. I don’t even know what happened to me during the day she mindwarped me. I have real memories, and fake memories, and I don’t know the difference, and… my point is, Jim, we’re all involved in this. Together. You can’t keep this from me.”

“Amy, it’s for the…”

“Jim, we are together. Us. You and me. You can’t keep this from me,” she repeated.

“What do you want me to do?”

“I want to be a part of this with you,” she said softly. She took his hand. “And I mean with you.”

Jim looked down at her hand, gently stroking his, and looked back up at her. Dammit, why did he have to be in his housecoat and slippers? “Amy…”

“Why did you cook dinner for me the other night?” she asked quietly. “You never cook. You’re afraid of the kitchen.”

Jim swallowed, hard. “Why did I… cook?”

“Was there… was there something you wanted to say?”

“Maybe, but…” He glanced down at his slippers. “Forget it.”

“No,” she said urgently, scooting closer and leaning in. “Jim. I have to know. I have to hear it.”

He started laughing. He wasn’t sure why, it just seemed like the right thing to do. “Amy…”

“Jim.”

“I can’t tell you now!”

“Why not?”

“Because… because it’s 12:30 in the afternoon on a Saturday, and I’m in my pajamas. And I have Easy Mac waiting for me in the microwave.”

“So the Easy Mac is more important to you than me?”

“No,” he said automatically. “Okay, fine then. Wait here.” He leapt up from the couch, and dashed to his room. He’d put it away in his sock drawer after she left that night, thinking he would have to return it. Fortunately, it hadn’t come down to that. He yanked the door open and rifled through. It had to be here. Where was it? His hand closed around the small velvet box, and he breathed a small prayer before dashing back to the living room.

He skidded to a halt, practically tripping over his own feet, and landing at Amy’s. He looked up to register the expression of shock on her face.

“Is this what you expected?” he asked.

At first she shook her head no, then she looked around and nodded, then could only put her hands to her face, still not quite believing what she was seeing.

“Amy DeLuca,” he said seriously. He snapped the box open, revealing the diamond ring inside. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to make a family with you. I want to come home to you every night, and wake up with you every morning.”

“Oh…” she managed to gasp out. Jim glanced down at his slippers again, but pressed on. It didn’t matter what he was wearing. She would see him in everything.

“Will you be my wife?”

“Where did you get this ring?” she asked.

His face fell a little. “I bought it,” he said. “Don’t you like it?”

“I do, I mean…”

“Well, then?”

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to answer me?”

Amy stared back at him. “Oh!” she said, startled. “I forgot I had to… I mean, of course. Of course, Jim.” And she smiled, her eyes lit up.

He could hardly breathe. He’d only done this once before, and at the time hadn’t been half as sure as he was now. This was right. This was perfect. He gently tugged the ring out of its resting spot, and slid it onto Amy’s finger. The fit was perfect.

He moved closer, his lips brushing against hers, and they were together. And it was good.

“How much longer is that gonna take?” Max asked Kyle, staring down at the semi-collapsed tent.

Kyle squinted at him. “With you guys sitting on your asses talking strategy, another ten minutes. Pitch in and maybe we could all trim it down to five?”

“Right,” Max said, and returned to Isabel’s side by the picnic table as Kyle and Liz continued striking the tent. “Give us a minute.” Kyle rolled his eyes at Liz.

“Ten minutes,” Kyle mouthed to Liz, unseen by Max, as he yanked another stake out of the ground. Liz grinned back at him, shaking her own stakes into the bag.

Max straddled the picnic seat and leaned in closer to Isabel.

“I think if the five of us join together, maybe we can keep the connection when he wakes up,” Isabel said quietly to her brother. “Michael’s a hard one to get to, but once Maria was there, it was like he was having a lucid dream. And Michael’s dreams aren’t usually lucid.”

“I thought he never let you dream-walk him.” He’d always been adamant about it. Once, in middle school, he’d gone a month without speaking to her after she dream-walked him. Max had been stuck in the middle until he finally forced them to make up.

“Not for long. I’d only ever gotten in for a few moments here and there. But he has really messed-up dreams.” Isabel shuddered, remembering Solia flying at them from the house. She had to remind herself that Solia wasn’t part of Michael’s dreams. She was an intruder.

Max nodded. “Yeah, figures. So getting in isn’t a problem?”

Isabel waved her hand impatiently. “No, not with Maria. That’s what I’m trying to say. He wasn’t much help when it came to telling us where they’re keeping him. The only way we’re going to figure out where Michael is, is if we can help him break the control they’ve put on him and he can get out.”

Max sat up straight. “What control?”

Isabel sighed. “It’s like… it’s like you and Langley. Only she’s doing it to Michael.”

“Who’s doing it to Michael?”

“His mother.”

“His what?” Max’s jaw dropped almost to the picnic bench.

“Max, focus. Michael’s mother is one of his captors. And he told us she has some kind of hold on him. He has to do what she tells him. And the girl, this Solia person, she’s mind-raping him. Like Nicholas.”

“Mind-raping?” Max asked, making a face.

Isabel sighed again. “She’s stealing his memories, I think. That’s the sense I got from his dream. I don’t think he remembers me dream-walking him from before. Between the two of them, they’ve got a pretty solid hold on him.”

“If his mother is there,” Max said quietly, “how do we know he doesn’t want to stay?”

“He doesn’t,” Isabel said firmly.

“I mean, here we’re on the run. Our lives are in danger. He’s wanted for murder, of a man who he didn’t even know was dead, and I think it’s tearing him up more than he lets on. And-“ Max glanced around and lowered his voice even more. “I know he cares about Maria, but after everything they’ve been through in the last few months…”

“After everything they’ve been through, he wants her more than ever,” Isabel hissed. “Don’t ask me to explain it, I don’t get it, either. But he wants to get out. Wants to be with us. And he doesn’t have the power to. But if the five of us link, maybe we can keep the connection going when he wakes up, and help him walk out. We can get him to the nearest road and he can hitch a ride somewhere and wait for us. Something.”

Max shook his head. “These people aren’t going to let him get away easily. And I don’t like the idea of Michael just wandering the countryside alone waiting for us to pick him up and trying to avoid them at the same time.”

“Then what do you propose?” Isabel asked, leaning back against the table. “Think fast, Max, because it’s almost time to hit the road and we need a plan. A real one.”

Max leaned back, closing his eyes.

Isabel gave him a few seconds. She glanced over at the tent, where Kyle and Liz were pulling apart the support beams. Maria was gathering up their leftover garbage to be dumped as they left the campsite. Maria’s eyes were slightly brighter than they’d been since Michael’s “abduction”, though she was still somewhat sullen. The dreamtime visit the night before had been good for her. Isabel could only hope it had done the same for Michael. She hated to see him so confused, so helpless. So angry. Not that these were new emotions for Michael by any means.

She glanced back at her brother. “What have you got?”

Max’s eyes snapped open. “You broke my train of thought.”

“Sorry,” Isabel said, not meaning it. “Do you have an actual plan, or do we go with mine?”

“We go back to the location where he was abducted,” Max said firmly. “He can’t have gotten too far from there, and it’s the only lead we have.” He took a deep breath. “And then, once we’re in place, then the five of us join and dreamwalk him.”

Isabel leaned back, satisfied. “That was my plan, Max.”

“Yeah, but I came up with the going back to Texas part.”

She smirked at him. “That was part of my plan, I just didn’t mention it. Because I thought it goes without saying that we would get as close as possible before we broke him out.”

Max made a face at her, swung his legs over the picnic bench, and jumped to his feet. “Need any more help?” he called to Kyle, who was packing up the last of the tent.

“Yeah, now that you mention it, you could turn the van on,” Kyle said. “We’re all done here.”

Max jogged to the van and pushed his way past Liz, trying to open the door for her.

“Max, what are you doing?” Liz asked, as she jumped away to avoid colliding with him.

“Being a gentleman?” he said.

She shook her head. “Leave it.”

He stared at her for a moment, and lowered his voice. “Liz, what is going on?”

She tossed her hair back. “Never mind.” Staring down at her tennis shoes, she pushed past him and hopped into the van.

Max stared at her for a moment before walking around to the driver’s door, climbing in and turning on the car. The rest of the group fell in behind them, taking what seats they could. Maria and Liz in the middle, Kyle riding shotgun, Isabel in the back.

“We got everything?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah, we just have to stop by the dumpsters on the way out and get rid of this stuff,” Maria said, indicating the trash bag in her hands.

“Anything incriminating in there?” Max asked, as the van backed out of the campsite.

Maria sighed. “We don’t even create incriminating trash anymore.”

“Genetics,” he said automatically. “Hair, skin follicles. We can’t leave any evidence we were in Roswell. I’ll nuke it when we get to the dumpster, don’t worry.”

“And don’t you think nuked garbage is just a little bit incriminating?” Isabel asked.

“Good point,” Kyle observed.

“Fine, okay, we’ll just toss it,” Max said, exasperated. “Everybody ready? Say goodbye to Roswell.”

In the middle seat, Maria glanced over at Liz and laid her hand on her friend’s arm. Liz glanced back and gave her a small smile before leaning over to the window. She watched as the trees slipped away, and the desert of Roswell disappeared onto the horizon, leaving her parents far, far behind.

“Can’t you go any faster? Aren’t these things supposed to chase, like, up to 120 miles an hour or something?”

Jim sighed. “Amy, you know, once you get past 75 on a 35 mile an hour road, you’re asking for it. Especially when you’re in a trooper vehicle.”

Amy shoved herself back in the seat. “So, turn on your siren or something. Hurry up.”

He shook his head. “You’re really asking for it, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, well, maybe you can give me what I deserve later on,” she giggled, scooting closer to him.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Um, right, I’ll go faster,” he said, before a small smile crept across his face.

“Turn here, turn here,” she yelled suddenly, and he slammed on the brakes. The car skidded somewhat as he turned abruptly into the campground. “They’re on the Cactus Loop.”

The trooper vehicle rumbled along the road, kicking up dust behind it. Jim held his breath as they rolled down the Cactus Loop. “How much further?” he asked.

“Right up here,” she said. “That’s it, that’s it! That’s their site.”

He squinted. “Do you see the van?”

“No,” Amy said, defeated, as the campsite approached. “They’re gone.”

Jim shook his head. “They can’t be.”

He pulled the car into their abandoned campsite.

“This was definitely it,” Amy said, hopping out. “This was their site.”

Jim climbed out to follow her, and looked around. “They sure cleaned up pretty good.”

“Where did they go?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I suppose they’re off to rescue Michael.”

The two of them stared around at the empty site. Amy moved to Jim’s side and pressed up against him, threading her arms beneath his. He embraced her back.

“Do you think they’ll come back?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I don’t know.” He pulled his arms tightly around her, staring at the empty space that had been occupied by their children.

******

Michael pulled his knees to his chest, and tucked his forehead between them.

Maria. Maria was trying to help him. He held onto the image, locking it into his brain. Burning it into his brain. It was the one thing keeping him grounded.

He still knew who the others were… Max, Isabel. Liz? Alex? He was confused. He could feel it slipping away, and it infuriated him.

He heard a banging on the door from outside. “Michael? Rath!”

He had to shut it out. Keep the things in his mind that he was supposed to… The important things. What was important? Not the natural resources of Antar, that was for sure. Or the history of the Five Worlds.

“Open the door!”

He squeezed his eyes shut. Tight. Red and blue spiderwebs erupted across his field of vision. Voices echoed in his head. Blocking the commands.

“I have this, like, really weak bladder condition, and I drank a big gulp at the last station, and it had caffeine, you know...”

“Michael. You have to open this door and let us in. We can only help you if you let us.”

“There's a reason that we're together. We're family. So go if you want to, but no matter where or how far, we will always be connected…”

“You opened the door, and you came out… why…?”

“God, he needs me right now, not strangers.”

“No, today’s Friday. Hello. Where are you?”

“Sometimes I let that get in the way of letting you know how much... how much you mean to me.”

“Emotions are a weakness, Michael. Focus.”

“Michael!” He inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the voice coming from outside the room. “Are you all right in there?”

“That's how relationships work, and whether you like it or not, we are in a relationship!”

He raised his head slightly to look at the door. The bookshelves had been molded flat against it. He’d discovered something quite interesting: aliens inhabiting human bodies, for all their mindwarping abilities, weren’t able to change molecular structure. Very interesting. Liz, the scientist, would love it.

“But why didn't you just destroy this, Michael? Because anyone that found this would know all about you.”

“No wonder your parents left you in the desert – who’d want ya?”

“You still owe me for that lunch.”

He opened his mouth and let out a scream. He kept screaming until he felt it in his toes, until it seemed like the pure force of it would drive back whoever it was at the door. He kept screaming until he felt pain in the back of his throat, and kept screaming beyond that. Until he had to stop and gasp for breath.

The voices all fell silent for a moment, and then the rapping started up again.

“Michael! Let us in!”

Maria. Maria was trying to help him.

Where the hell was she?

“Call me that again and I’ll really kick your ass.” The last words hung in the air, ominously. As if…

He heard a whisper from inches away. “Michael! It’s gonna be okay!” This time, the voice wasn’t coming from inside his head. It wasn’t coming from outside the door.

It was in the room.

Michael looked up, afraid of what he would see.

It wasn’t clear. It wasn’t coherent. But he saw it.

“You’re stronger than them,” the figure before him said. “I know you are. I know you.”

“You’re not here, you can’t be, I can’t,” Michael breathed, and the tall, skinny figure faded from his sight at his command.

Suddenly, the pounding on the other side of the door fell silent. Michael lifted his head from his knees and glanced in the direction of the door. He waited, not breathing, not moving, to see what was coming.

“You’re good,” Solia’s voice came from the other side of the door. “You’re really good, Michael.”

He took in a sharp gasp of air, realizing suddenly that his lungs needed oxygen. Oxygen. He was on Earth. He was human. He was part human. Not on Antar. Not yet.

“Get out of my mind!” he screamed.

“Okay,” she said softly. “Okay, you win. I’m out.”

Michael stared at the door. “What did you say?”

“I’m done. You truly are the great leader. You’ve defeated me. Now open the door.”

“No,” he said. He shook his head, covering his ears with his hands. “No, you’re trying to trick me.”

“My son,” and it was Delaji’s voice. He tried not to hear it, tried not to listen. “Listen to me.”

“You’re dead,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’re dead. Hank is dead. Alex is dead.” He had to say it again, to remind himself. Convince himself. “Alex is dead.”

“I am here,” she said simply. “I am here because of you.”

It was the one big question that remained in his mind. How had he done it? What was this person? If she truly was his mother, who had – and he remembered this clearly now – who had indeed perished shortly before him, then how was she here?

She had perished before him. It was a good point. He was dead, too, but that didn’t stop him.

“Who are you?” he asked slowly.

”You know who I am,” her voice responded clearly.

“Tell me how you got here.”

“I inhabited this body.”

“How? Solia and Rivir just came down and possessed a body. How did you get that one?”

“You know.”

Michael stared at the door. “I brought you here.”

“You did.”

“But how-?” And who was the-?

“We will tell you what you want to know. Open the door.”

Michael stared down at his hands. They were obeying. But only, he reminded himself, because he wanted to. Because he had to have the answer.

“On the road again,” Kyle sang softly to himself, tapping his fingers on his knee. “Goin’ places that I’ve never been, seein’ things that I might never see again…” He trailed off, glancing to one side hopefully.

Not a response. Maria, in the backseat beside him, was still staring out the window. Max and Liz were together in front, but silently, as Max drove. And Isabel was taking advantage of the extra room in the car to do the laundry in the middle seat, melding dirt out of everyone’s extra clothes, and altering the girls’ clothes according to a Marie Claire she’d picked up at their last refueling stop.

Kyle started up again. “On the road again, like a band of gypsies we go down the highway…”

“Kyle?” Maria snapped suddenly, causing everyone except for Max to turn around and stare at her. “Hush.”

“Right,” Kyle said. “Sorry.” He continued to tap the rhythm on his knee. For some reason, he’d had the song stuck in his head for days now. It wasn’t like he was that bad a singer, after all, his father’d had minimal success as a country singer, right?

He heaved a sigh and turned back to Maria. “How ya doin’?” he asked.

Maria shrugged silently.

Kyle nodded, and turned to stare out his own window. He’d promised his father he would treat Maria like a sister, and even though the engagement hadn’t taken place after all, it was still a promise he’d made.

Part of him had always wondered what it would like to have a sibling. For awhile he’d had Tess, a sort of foster sister, and for all the hell that it turned out to be in the end, it hadn’t been too bad for a few months. Having a female presence around the house again, having an ally against his father sometimes, having a companion when he used to be alone.

But for all the fun they’d had together, Tess was never really his sister. She’d betrayed him and murdered his friend. She’d betrayed all of them, but he couldn’t help feeling that for all the pain Tess had caused, he had suffered more than the others. He’d had a sister. She was family. And then she was gone.

And now Maria, Maria DeLuca who he’d known since fourth grade, who he’d shared secrets with, road-tripped to Las Vegas with, dated her best friend, run away with… now she was so close to becoming his sister. A real sister. Not that it mattered, everyone in the van was a sort of brother or sister to him now, but it did matter. To him, anyway. He’d said he would treat her like a sister. Starting now.

“Worried about Michael?” Kyle asked in a hushed tone, trying to keep his voice from carrying to the front of the van.

Maria looked up and stared at him for a moment. “Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked softly.

“Sorry,” Kyle said, looking back down at his hands. “Of course you are. I just meant… dammit.” They lapsed back into silence. He found his fingers tapping the rhythm of the song again. On the road again… just can’t wait to get on the road again…

He glanced back over at Maria just in time to see a distressed look come over her face. She was clutching at her stomach, just a little…

“You okay?” he asked. When she didn’t respond, he sat straight up and leaned over Isabel and her laundry. “Max! Pull over!”

Max obeyed, clicking the turn signal on and checking behind him. “Why? What’s wrong?”

The van rolled to a stop on the shoulder of the road. “I think I’m gonna be sick,” Maria mumbled, confirming what Kyle had sensed.

Isabel immediately grabbed the clean laundry into a pile and moved it out of the way. “Anybody got a sick bag?”

“Would you open the door already? Get her some fresh air,” Kyle ordered. He snatched the rest of the laundry so Isabel could maneuver the door open. Kyle dumped the laundry on his former seat and clambered over Maria so he could assist her out of the van.

She leaned into his arms as he helped her climb out onto the grass beside the shoulder, and immediately fell into a crouching position, then settled into the grass Indian-style. She tilted her head back, gasping for fresh air.

“Is she okay?” Liz asked, walking up beside Kyle.

Maria shook her head, still trying to settle her stomach.

“It just came over her all of a sudden,” he said in a low voice. “Maybe something she ate? Or just general road sickness?”

Maria waved her hand to shush them, and Kyle and Liz took a few steps away. “We all had deli sandwiches for lunch, you really think that could have made her sick?” Liz whispered.

“Maybe it’s just nerves,” Kyle said, as Max strode up to them.

“How is she?” Max asked, concerned. They all glanced to Maria, a few feet away, trembling as she fought to pull herself to her feet.

“Maria, wait, sweetie, sit a little longer,” Liz said, moving back to her side.

“No,” Maria said weakly. “I’ll be fine… we can’t stop. Sitting here isn’t getting us any closer…” She scrunched her face up, then moved a couple of steps from Liz, her back turned to the group, as she finally vomited onto the grass.

“Oh!” Liz gasped. “Max, get the paper towels out of the van.” Max immediately turned to obey. Kyle stood to the side, helplessly, as Liz rushed to her friend’s side, pulling her hair back as Maria continued to throw up. He had a thought, and turned to join Max back at the van, going through the supplies.

“I’m sorry,” Maria choked, practically in tears. “We need to go… not be sitting here…” She gagged again.

Kyle rooted through the groceries, and emerged with a bottle of water, which he shoved into Isabel’s hands. “Can you chill that?” Isabel closed her hand around the bottle and concentrated. Kyle could feel the molecules slowing in his grasp. Alien powers never failed to give him a sense of awe and fear at the same time. Someday, he reminded himself… “Thanks,” Kyle said gratefully, and moved back to join Maria and Liz.

“Water,” Kyle said, thrusting the bottle out where Maria could take it. “Take a sip.”

Maria coughed a little and reached for the bottle, sipping. “Thanks, Kyle,” she murmured.

“You okay?” Liz asked, concerned.

Maria nodded, taking a longer sip of the water. “I’m fine, let’s go,” she said.

“No, no,” Liz said, dabbing at her shirt with a paper towel. “You need to rest for a minute or two. Isabel, can you?” Isabel had finally tended to her laundry properly and stepped out of the van. Making a slight face, she reached forward to Maria’s shirt and passed her hand over it, removing the small trace of mess.

“Thanks,” Maria said. “I’m fine, okay? We need to get moving.”

“She’s right,” Isabel said. “Michael needs us.” The words caused another look of distress to cross Maria’s face, and she gagged again. Liz waved a hand at Isabel to hush her.

Kyle moved to Maria’s side, and put his hand on her shoulder. “Long, deep breaths,” he said in a soft voice. “Calms the body. Focus.”

He held his own breath, afraid she would turn around and blast him, but instead she nodded and inhaled. “Breathe out,” he said, and she did, her face returning to a more relaxed state.

He held onto her shoulder as she continued to breathe in and out. He was aware that the other three were watching them closely. “You okay now?” he asked Maria, as the color returned to her face.

She nodded. “I’m fine,” she said, this time more convincingly. She downed a large gulp of the water and forced a smile. “I’m really okay, guys, let’s go.”

Kyle gave her shoulder another squeeze before releasing it.

“What?” she asked, staring at him as the two walked back to the van.

“Just keeping a promise is all,” he said. Maria stared at him for a moment before giving him a small smile as she climbed back into the van. Time for a rescue.

Michael’s hands gripped the armrests of the dining chair tightly. “I don’t believe any of this,” he growled.

“You don’t have to,” Solia said simply. “I’m only telling you the truth.”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t have done that. I don’t believe it.”

“Then try again,” she said, waving her hand over the table between them. “In all of your time on Earth, surely you’ve met someone who’s passed on to the spiritual dimension. Summon them. Now. You can do it.”

Michael’s heart leapt as images flashed before his mind. Nasedo. Alex. Hank. Alex. Alex. Alex. Was? No. He couldn’t.

“I won’t,” he said firmly. “It’s… it’s wrong. I should never have brought Delaji here.”

“But you had to,” Solia said, pleading with him. “You had to connect with her in order to awaken the part within you that your people need.”

“No,” he said. “Don’t give me that bullshit. It was wrong. We’re on Earth, she’s in some body that’s not experiencing its own life right now, and it’s just plain wrong.”

“Then send her back,” Solia said, her voice cracking, and for the first time Michael saw the sadness in her.

“Why do you care so much about Delaji?” he asked.

“Because she is your mother,” Solia replied. “Your mother, Rath.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Okay, that’s it, I’m sending her back.”

“And doing what? Letting the human body wake up to realize that we’re still here in her house?” Solia asked. For a moment, she sounded so much like… he pushed the thought out of his head.

“Why do I still have my memories?” he asked. “Why did you stop the mind-rape?”

“I told you, you’re too strong. You fought too well.”

“But no, you stopped.” He pointed his finger at her. “You stopped, you got out of my mind.”

“Michael, I-“

“Stop it!” He banged his palm down on the table with a ferocious slap. “You evade my questions. You lie to me. You invade my dreams, you threaten my friends. I’m fucking sick of this. I don’t understand.”

She leaned forward. “But you do. You understand how much we want you.” She took his hand.

Instinctively, he pulled back. “I don’t want you to do that. Bring Delaji in here. We’re sending her back to where she came from, and putting the body to sleep until we’re done.” Or until his rescue, he thought silently.

Solia glanced down at the table, as if she was thinking of reaching for his hand again. Instead, she pushed her chair back and left the room. Alone, Michael drummed his fingers on the table. He was thoroughly confused, but at least this was going somewhat better.

Solia returned, leading Delaji. “I’m sorry,” Michael said.

“My son,” Delaji said, and gave a sad smile. “It was good to see you again. To see… your world.”

He sucked in a sharp breath. She was making this ever so hard on him. But some things just were more important now.

“Goodbye,” he said, and swiftly placed his hands back on the side of her head. In a moment, the body had slumped back, and he caught it in his arms. He gently lowered her to the floor, where he dragged her body in to the next room. He arranged her comfortably on the couch, and briefly touched her face. The face of a stranger. Not his mother’s face. That, he still didn’t truly know. In fact, he wondered if he’d truly learned anything about her.

He had. She wasn’t what he was looking for. He’d found what he was looking for, and it had never been her. It had always been with him.

“Now,” he said, raising his eyes again to meet Solia’s. She stood in the doorway to the dining room, leaning against the doorframe with a sad smile. “What are we going to do about my friends?”

“What about them?” she asked. In a flourish, she swooped across the room to him, her hands on his face, and sucked his lips into her mouth in a passionate kiss. He tried to pull away, but the overwhelming feeling of pleasure, the need for her, the feeling of completion… not Solia, he tried to tell himself, not her…

And then he felt himself relaxing into it. The sensation was incredible. It wasn’t at all like it was with Maria, which was incredible in its own way, but this was alien, it was familiar, it was…

And then he felt the flash.

He saw the telephone and heard a voice. “We have information that the suspect is in your vicinity somewhere on Route 30…”

The human face Rivir had inhabited. “Rivir, I’ve found it, I’ve found the signal, it’s him, it’s time, we can do it.”

His heart was beating faster than it ever had. He pulled away hard and fast, took a long step back and stared at Solia. He held his palm up to her.

“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t do it.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, advancing on her. “Now that Delaji’s not here, suddenly you’re scared, right?”

“You – you can’t…” she said. “Think about what you’re doing.”

“I know what I’m doing,” he said. He aimed his palm at the wall behind her, and sent out a blast, rattling the paintings around the room. “That,” he said, raising an eyebrow at her, “was a warning.”

“Michael, no,” she begged, with real fear in her voice. “Please, we need you. We need to work together.”

“I think we’re well past that point by now,” he said, holding his palm steady. “You and I both know there’s no chance of me working with you.”

“I love you,” she said, and it was enough to lower his palm an inch.

“ What? ”

“I love you,” she repeated, her voice cracking. “Michael, you feel it.”

“You set it up! You tipped the police off! The Special Unit never had a clue, did they?” He focused his energy, preparing to send it out should she budge.

She stared at him. “How…?”

“When I kissed you,” he said slowly, still holding his palm up. “What, they didn’t bother to tell you about the flashes?” Her silence was enough to confirm it for him. “You don’t know much about how I was built, do you?”

He heard footsteps advancing down the stairs. “Solia? What’s wrong?”

He glanced towards Rivir, then back to Solia, who was suddenly looking much more confident.

“You can’t kill me, I’m in a human body,” she said.

“You so sure of that?”

“All you’ll do is kill the body,” she reminded him. “I’m safe on the Five Worlds.”

“You think I don’t know that?” he asked.

“Michael, don’t do this,” Rivir said. “Think about what you’re doing. Think about how much I can teach you.”

Michael paused.

He stared down at his hand, then at Solia and her beautiful long hair.

Then he shrugged, and unleashed himself.

“Michael? Michael!” Isabel turned around, searching frantically in the fog. She grasped the hands she was holding as she whipped from side to side, trying to locate him.

“What if he’s not here?” Kyle called over the dull roar that filled the empty gray space where they stood.

“He’s here, he has to be,” Isabel said firmly. “Even if he’s not dreaming. This is his mind, he’s around here. Maria?” She turned to the smaller girl and nodded. “Give it a try.”

Maria took a deep breath and stepped away from the group. “Michael?” she called. “Michael, I’m here, come out to me, okay? Spaceboy?”

Maria felt a coldness crash through her bones, and turned around to ask Isabel, but saw nothing. Not Isabel, not Kyle, or Liz, or Max. Only dark fog. And she felt a dark fear as the fog swirled around her, isolating her, chilling her.

She was alone. Alone, and even though this was Michael, it was like he was gone, vacated… He had abandoned her…

“Isabel!” she screamed. “Where-“

She felt a hand close tightly around her wrist, and a moment later, Isabel’s face appeared out of the fog. “No more letting go,” Isabel said thinly. “Everybody hang on tight. It could get rough from here on out.”

“What are you not telling us?” Max demanded. “Iz, what’s wrong with this dream?”

“I told you already, this isn’t a dream,” Isabel said. She glanced around, uncomfortably, as she tightened her grasp on Max and Maria. Maria clung to Kyle’s hand, Kyle held Liz, and Liz completed the circle with Max.

“Is he awake?” Kyle asked.

“No,” Isabel said. “He’s asleep, Michael’s definitely asleep. He’s just not dreaming yet.”

“So where is he?” Liz asked. “This is his dream plane, right? It’s just empty.”

“I – I guess,” Isabel said. “Would you guys just give me a sec to figure this out?”

“Michael!” Maria screamed, yanking her head around from side to side, looking around, trying to find him. He was nowhere. They were nowhere, in Michael.

“This isn’t a typical dreamless sleep,” Isabel said slowly. “Something’s… wrong.”

“No,” Maria gasped. “Isabel, no .” The roar around them seemed to grow in fervor.

“He’s alive,” Isabel said quickly. “No, no, Maria, he’s alive. If he was dead, we wouldn’t be able to get in.” She glanced down on the last part, not wanting to meet anyone else’s eyes. No one pressed the obvious question; no one really wanted the answer. Isabel looked back up. “But it’s not good. Something’s wrong with his brain. He’s not even fighting this, not trying to keep me out at all. It’s not like him.”

“How does this compare to when I was in the air force base?” Max asked carefully.

“Totally different,” Isabel said. “He’s not being tortured.” Maria and Max both let out quiet sighs of relief. “It’s more like… it’s more like he’s drugged. Docile. Just… floating. Definitely asleep, but his brain seems sedated or something. He probably doesn’t know we’re here…” She looked to Max hopelessly.

“Isabel?”

The five of them all instinctively tightened their grips on each other as they looked around to process the familiar rough sound.

“Michael,” Max called out. “We’re here. Do you hear me?”

“I…” His voice faded away.

“What happened? Are you asleep?” Isabel yelled. There was no response. Isabel anxiously glanced around, trying to locate any sort of visual clue in the gray fog.

“Michael! Where are you?” Maria called out. “Come back to me!”

Maria felt a light touch on her shoulder, and she jumped, whirling around and dropping Kyle’s hand in the process.

“No, don’t break the circle,” Isabel said quickly. “We need to start focusing our energy if we want to break him out of this.” She was right, Maria realized with panic, Kyle was fading back into the fog. Maria reached out for his hand and grasped it tightly.

“He’s here, I felt him,” Maria said. “He was right behind me. Michael?” But he was gone.

“Can we still do this?” Max asked Isabel seriously. “Can we sleepwalk him out of here?”

“Depends,” Isabel said. “Depends on how his physical body is. If we can get him to respond to us at all, and can get his eyes open so we can get a sense of what’s around him, we can get him pretty far. Assuming his physical body can respond. And that we’re more powerful than whatever mindwarp they’re using.”

“Is everybody ready to do this?” Kyle asked. “Focus. Deep breaths. Cleansing breaths.”

“We can’t even breathe in here,” Maria pointed out. “We’re dreaming, remember?”

Kyle scowled at her. “It’ll affect our bodily responses back in the physical world, and focus us for the task at hand.”

Maria frowned back at him. “Whatever you say, Buddha.” Kyle gave her a withering glance.

“Focus,” he said again. The five of them stood, spread equidistant from each other, clasping their hands, spreading their energy, and took a breath as one.

“Isabel, reach for Michael,” Max said. “I feel it, I feel the link.”

Isabel nodded and swallowed, reaching out with her mind, calling him to her. A few moments later, she saw the light that appeared far, far away in the fog, and she relaxed. “Michael,” she said aloud. “Come closer.”

“No,” he said. “No, I… I can’t.”

“We’re here,” Max called out. “Michael, we’re here to help you. Can you come to us?”

Silence.

“Michael,” Kyle said boldly. “Come with us. If you want to be with us, you’ve got to come out now. You can’t hide anymore.”

Everyone turned to stare at Kyle, but slowly, the fog began to lift around them and the light grew somewhat brighter.

“That’s it, that’s it,” Maria breathed. “Come on out. We’re here.”

The fog suddenly whirled around them, faster and faster, converging in the center. The five of them turned their faces away, trying to avoid the whirlwind between them, until suddenly the fog stopped and Michael stood before them, in the middle.

He glanced around, as if counting, making sure they were all there.

“Michael, listen carefully,” Isabel said, not taking her eyes off him for fear he would slip back into his coma. “You’re going to open your eyes, drawing from our strength, and you’re going to take stock of your physical surroundings. We have the strength, we’ll do the work, just let us move you. Let us do what we have to do. If we need to defend you, we’ll do it. And we’re going to get you as far away from this house as we can before we leave.”

“You’re going to leave me,” he said. It wasn’t a question, it was a revelation.

“Not until you’re safe,” Max said. Michael didn’t even turn to look at him. “We’re going to get you to a safe place, and then we’re going to come pick you up.”

“I’m not safe here,” he said slowly.

“Is there anything we should know before we start?” Isabel asked him.

Michael glanced around. He finally let his eyes settle on Max before looking away quickly. He shook his head.

Isabel bit her lip, then shook it off to continue. “Open your eyes,” she commanded, fixing her gaze on him. The five dreamwalkers tightened their hands.

Kyle felt Maria and Liz’s hands squeezing his, and in a short burst he directed all the energy he felt in Michael’s direction. Open open open open…

And before they could even process what had happened, the five found themselves surrounding Michael as he lay on the floor in the upstairs bedroom of the house Rivir and Solia had taken. The fog was still closing in – it was like they were caught in the strange netherworld between what Michael actually saw, and what Michael was experiencing.

“Be careful,” Isabel breathed, glancing around. “Solia’s close, I can feel her.”

“She’s outside,” Michael’s voice echoed around them. Liz unconsciously leaned closer to Max even as her other hand tensed in Kyle’s.

“Michael,” Kyle said calmly, “you’re going to sit up and walk. You can feel our strength in you. We’re stronger than her power.”

Michael glanced around the room. He couldn’t see his companions so much as he could feel them. He was asleep, but he wasn’t. They were charging through him, their energy filling his core. He could feel Maria. He had to get away. He had to find them again.

“You’re sitting up,” Kyle said, and Michael felt his body obeying. But somehow, following Kyle’s commands wasn’t quite as scary as following Delaji’s. Or Solia’s. It was safe.

“We’re going to walk, walk outside, walk out of the house. If they try to bother us, Max will take care of them.”

Michael nodded slowly.

“You’re going to open the door,” Kyle said, his voice still even and steady. Michael reached for the door, and pulled it open.

And Solia stared back.

Max immediately dropped Isabel’s hand, aimed his palm at Solia, and fired. Nothing.

“Going somewhere, Rath?” she asked. “Are you prepared for the return trip?”

“No!” Maria screamed at her, unheard in the real world. “Bitch, he’s not going anywhere!” Kyle leaned over to shush her, calm her.

“No, Max,” Isabel said over Maria’s hysterics. “We’re not here. It has to come from Michael.”

Michael heard and responded immediately. He held up his own palm, reaching into the others for support, and felt energy charging through like nothing he’d ever felt. The light was blinding, and Solia was far, far away, and he was running, running out into the hall, down the stairs.

Maria clung to Isabel and Kyle as the strangest sensations overtook them all. She wasn’t running, yet she was moving. The five of them, in a ring around Michael, moved as he did, gliding along, bumping as he bumped, leaping as he leapt. Not a hint of wind or air, though she could see Michael’s long hair flapping as he ran. Instead, all she felt was absolute stillness. And power. The power that they were giving to him. Didn’t they all know it was going through her? The power from around the circle, all reaching its peak in Maria, channeling through to Michael. It was working.

“Rivir, it’s Rivir,” Michael’s voice announced to them, as he plowed through the living room. They could see the older man approaching. Michael raised his hand. “Help me, I can’t,” the voice came down around them, as Michael slowed and gaped at Rivir.

Maria closed her eyes, focusing, listening to Kyle mumbling something about concentration, and felt the electricity plunging through again. So this was what it felt like when Michael blasted. It was frightening. It ran through her body, pulsing, stinging, twitching. And it felt almost good. In that one rare moment, she understood even more about Michael than she ever had before.

And the man was flying back, and Michael was running, running out onto the porch, out into the yard, into the field, and away, as fast as he could.

Past the truck, abandoned beside the house, that had been used to abduct him. Down the long, long road that led to the house, with nothing around. Through the trees, to the first sign of civilization, a row of houses in the distance.

“Can’t stop,” Liz panted aloud. “They could be right behind us.”

Maria realized that she, too, felt exhausted, as though she were the one running. But she wasn’t. This was what they were doing, she noted, giving Michael the energy that they had, to overcome whatever power Solia and Rivir had exerted over him.

“How far?” Michael’s voice closed in around them.

“As far as possible,” Liz said. “Just go, keep going, where are you? We have to be able to find you, Michael.”

Max heard it first. A look of fear came over his face. “Hear that?”

“What is it?” Isabel asked.

“The truck,” Max said, and sure enough, the truck from the house was rolling down the road towards them, as Michael pumped his arms and legs as fast as he could. It was gaining ground.

“Michael, the woods,” Maria called to him, and he diverted, plunging into the trees.

“Did they see me, did they see me?” Michael asked them, and even though his voice was silent, they recognized the panic in it.

“No,” Max said. “I don’t think so, you’re okay.”

Michael was forced to slow as he tripped over the underbrush. “Can’t…”

“You can,” Max assured him. “Michael, you can.”

“Draw from us,” Kyle added. “We’re here, our energy is your energy. Use it.”

“Is that Buddhist?” Isabel asked, intrigued.

“Not exactly, I’m making it up as I go,” Kyle said softly. “Kyle Valenti Alien Connection Special.”

“I heard that,” Michael grunted in the air around them.

“Keep running,” Isabel said tersely.

“I need to hide,” Michael said. “I’m making too much noise. I need to find someplace, and bunker down.”

“Not until we know where you are,” Maria insisted. “Keep going, you can do it.”

She lapsed into silence, and the six of them all fell silent as they realized that there was nothing else to say. For once. There was only Michael, alone but not alone, fighting to get somewhere, anywhere that they could find him. And they couldn’t leave him alone until they knew he was safe. And there was no way to tell when that would be.

He stumbled, lurching, as his foot caught on the root of a tree. With a gasp, Michael plunged to the ground, his shoulder taking the weight of his fall against a low-lying tree.

“Michael!” Isabel called out, as she felt the circulation in her left hand nearly stop from Maria’s squeezing. She wondered briefly how connected they were to their bodies back in the van, parked in the woods, far from civilization. “Are you okay?”

He winced on the ground, and pulled himself up. “Yeah. Owww.” He clutched his shoulder. A red haze filled the air around them in his subconscious.

“Can you move?” Liz asked, concerned.

Michael tried to pull himself up. “Yeah.” He stumbled along for a few steps, then had to grab his shoulder again. “I’m fine,” he tried to say.

“Max, can you heal it?” Isabel asked.

“Try,” Kyle suggested. “Your energy, in his body. His hand. Michael, hold still.”

Obediently, Michael came to a halt. Max, in the dream plane, dropped Liz and Isabel’s hands, moving forward to place his hand over Michael’s, over the shoulder.

“I can’t,” Michael said. “It’s not working.”

“Wait,” Kyle said. “Um, reach for him. Or something.”

For a brief moment, there was nothing. And then, as the other four watched from the periphery of Michael’s awareness, they saw a brief flash, followed by a rush of images around them so rapid that they couldn’t even begin to process them, and then Max was stepping away to rejoin the circle.

“It worked,” Michael said. “It worked, I’m okay.”

“Now go!” Liz ordered, and Michael obeyed.

Max clutched the hands of his sister and his bride, watching Michael as he tore through the forest. He could see the fatigue appearing on Maria and Liz’s faces, the two of them had the least physical energy for Michael to draw on. Michael appeared to be somehow tapping them first, saving Max, Kyle and Isabel, the stronger ones, for the long haul.

But in the brief moment when he’d healed Michael, too quickly for the others to see, there had been something. A connection. He hadn’t even meant for it to happen, he could usually keep it from happening. But he’d seen Michael. And he’d seen Michael’s emotions. And he’d seen the reason why Michael had barely looked at them since the entire dreamwalk had begun.

He hadn’t realized… he hadn’t even thought it was important… but it was. It was important.

Michael came crashing out into a backyard. A swingset, an apple tree. “Find a street sign, anything, just go,” Liz begged him, and he ran the length of the house. As he breezed by, they could see a family inside reacting, startled, but not quickly enough to even put a face to the blur of movement that sped past their window.

He tore down the street of the neighborhood, towards a shopping center he could see in the distance. “Is it safe?” he asked them. “Can I rest there?”

“It’s too close,” Isabel said, her heart breaking even as she said it. “Michael, you need to get farther away from the house. Someone’s coming after you. You need to go as far as you can.”

She could see the expression of fear that crossed his face at that. “But see if you can figure out where you are,” she said, trying to be helpful. She felt him tapping her energy even as she spoke. “An address, a town name, anything.”

“Right,” he said, and continued to run.

“You’re gonna be okay,” Maria said, even as she felt her body slump. She was completely tapped. “You’re out, you’re free, it’s okay.” She couldn’t bear the thought of not helping…

“Are you okay?” Isabel whispered to her.

Maria tried to nod, but found it difficult. The images rushing by were too confusing, too distracting, nauseating.

“If you need to drop out, it’s okay.”

“No,” she said fiercely, and it was as if she had all the energy in the world. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Look, look, see that?” Michael demanded. They all turned to look at the shopping center that he couldn’t look directly at himself.

Oakley Town Centre.

“Oakley,” Max said. “How can we find Oakley?”

“Maybe Maria should drop out,” Isabel said. “She can go look through the atlas, try to find it and start plotting our leg of the trip.”

“No,” Maria said. “Not yet. We need more clues.”

“Are you sure?” Max asked, concerned.

“I’m fine!” she snapped. No way was she letting them escort Michael to a safe place without her. “Stop it, stop it. I’m staying. It’s final.”

Her words were enough to convince the others.

“Maybe he should hitch a ride somewhere,” Isabel said. “Ask someone for help. A location. Something.”

“No help,” Michael’s disembodied voice said around them. “I can’t. It’s not Solia or Rivir driving the truck, there’s got to be others they never let me see. We don’t even know what they look like.”

“Then how much farther?” Liz asked, clearly as exhausted as Maria.

“As far as it takes,” Kyle said. “As long as we can.”

Michael had no idea how long he had been running for.

Minutes? Hours? Days? It was as if nothing existed but his body, his arms pumping, his legs leaping, dashing through the trees beside the highway, darting into shadows, trying to stay unseen. Sure, a few people had noticed the strange, tall, long-haired youth running beside the road, but so far, none of them had tried to abduct him and take him back to Antar, which he figured was a good thing.

He could tell that part of his disorientation was the result of the dreamwalkers surrounding him, the five of them alternately giving him energy. No one could have run this far alone, hell, no one could have broken Solia’s induced coma alone. Together, the six of them in his body, it was a force like nothing else. It was dangerous. It was brilliant. It was delicious.

And it was terrifying. Michael felt like he was slipping away, losing himself to this union the six of them had created. He couldn’t see them around him, but he could hear their voices, he could tell where each one was, physically. Kyle in front of him, he was running towards Kyle the entire time. Maria and Liz to each side of Kyle, drained of their energy, they were still there for support. And Isabel and Max behind him, pushing him on, urging him further.

“Is it safe yet?” he heard Maria ask anxiously.

“I can go further,” Michael thought to himself. He knew they could hear his consciously formed thoughts, and only hoped that his other subconscious thoughts weren’t too obvious. But most of his mind right now was consumed by the effort. “I need to go further.”

At that, he stumbled.

“You can’t go further,” Isabel said. “I’m beat. Liz and Maria are done, and it won’t be long before Kyle and Max don’t have anything left, either. I can feel it. We need to find a place to hide, and soon.”

“Look,” Kyle said suddenly. “Anybody else see that hotel?” Michael felt confused as he ran. They could see everything. He could never quite get used to all the weirdness that went along with being an alien. Never.

“Yeah, so?” Maria asked. “What’s he gonna do?”

“Check into it and lock the door,” Kyle suggested. “And wait for us.”

“I don’t have my wallet,” Michael said. “I had to turn it in back in Oklahoma. It’s probably in Roswell by now.”

They took a moment to process this.

“Public bathroom?” Isabel suggested.

“It could be hours before we get there,” Max said. “Okay. We’re near mile marker 135, we know the highway. Maybe there’s somewhere outdoor we can find to sequester him.”

“How do we know the truck won’t come back?” Michael asked.

“We need to find a really safe place,” Isabel said, “and then, we’re gonna come as quickly as we can.”

“I’m not strong enough to fight on my own,” Michael said. “That thing Solia used on me, it was like a drug. It’s still in my system, can you feel it?” He could tell that the instant they left, he was going to crash.

“We can feel it,” Isabel assured him. “I know, Michael. Safe place, we need a really safe place.”

“What, like a safety deposit box?” Maria asked. There was a beat, as if the others were reacting silently. Michael felt like reminding them that he couldn’t see them. “This is the brainstorming process, guys. Help me out here.”

“What do you mean?” Max asked.

Michael had half a mind to tell them all to shut up and concentrate, but the distraction was nice. A reminder that they were here.

“You know,” Maria said, “in a hopelessly insane situation like this, the best idea is going to come from throwing out every idea we can think of, no matter how stupid, and narrowing it down. That’s where brilliance is born, guys.”

“Okay,” Kyle said slowly, “well, how about we, like, open up a big tree and put him inside, leave a hole for him to breathe, and shut it up?”

“No way,” Michael said immediately. “I’d get claustrophobic.”

“Hush, Spaceboy,” Maria said, “the whole point of this is to not criticize any ideas.” He would have smiled if he wasn’t so exhausted. That was the Maria he was used to.

“A junkyard,” Liz said, getting the hang of it. “Find an abandoned car and leave him in it.”

“Now we’re talking,” Maria said. “Some place we can seal him up nice and tight, so no aliens will come and pull him out.”

“Can’t they get in the same way we got in?” Liz asked.

“No,” Michael said. “They can’t. At least, not Rivir and Solia. I don’t know about who else they have with them, but they can’t.”

“It’s a start,” Max agreed.

“Something that they can’t pick up with them and take to Antar,” Michael added, trying hard not to criticize Liz’s dumb idea about the car.

“Something big,” Max added thoughtfully.

“What’s too big to go back to Antar?”

“A big rock?” Kyle asked.

“A shopping mall,” Isabel suggested.

“Planet Earth,” Max said slowly.

“You are not burying me in any kind of hole, Maxwell,” Michael said.

“No, course not,” Max said. “Just… I don’t see where this is getting us anywhere. Maria, I’m sorry.”

“Unless somebody has some energy reserve they’re not talking about, we better come up with something fast, cause I’m fading,” Michael said. “And we gotta have some energy left to protect me.”

“He’s right,” Maria said. “Ideas, people.”

“Look, anything we do is gonna be a crap shoot,” Kyle said. “All we can do is our best, and then hope for the best. Shopping mall, Isabel said shopping mall, there was a billboard back there for a shopping mall. Half a mile. Michael, can you make it?”

“What am I gonna do there?”

“Find a place to hunker down,” Max said. “And then we’re gonna come for you.”

“Okay,” Michael said. “The mall. Okay.”

Consciousness was slow to come to him.

He felt tired. Every muscle in his body ached.

And there was some damn annoying Muzak echoing in from outside.

Michael raised his head and looked around. As pain shot through his neck.

He was in a stall. In the bathroom. In a shopping mall in Texas.

And the others were on their way.

He was seated on the toilet seat, fully clothed. Ugh. Once he had some of his powers back, he was going to do some mad sanitizing. For the moment, all he could do was lay his head back on the divider beside him and close his eyes.

Weak. He was so weak. Not only were his powers drained, his body was drained. He couldn’t do the things normal humans could do. Like lift his hand.

It was almost over. Michael was almost home. Such a home as he had anymore.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Want me to drive?” Maria asked, leaning over Isabel’s shoulder.

“No,” the others chorused.

“Maria, the last thing we need right now is a speeding ticket,” Liz pointed out.

Maria threw herself back into the seat in a huff. “Well, could we at least go a little faster?”

“I’m twenty miles over the speed limit,” Isabel said, annoyed. “If I go any further, we’re gonna get pulled.”

“Don’t you guys have any alien tricks for that?” Maria insisted as she curled her fingers into the seat.

“No,” Liz, Isabel and Max said at once.

“Do I need to make you meditate again?” Kyle asked seriously.

“Buddha, if you don’t can it now, you’re not gonna live to see your next incarnation.”

Kyle held his hands up defensively. “Whoa! Just offering!”

Maria sighed. “Kyle, I’m sorry.” He waited. She lowered her voice. “You, you’re trying, I appreciate it.”

“I’m that obvious, huh?” he asked ruefully.

Maria had to smile at him. “Look, if it takes years, it’s gonna happen eventually. I know that now.”

“You think?”

“Definitely. We might as well start acting like it.”

“Okay, then, sis.” He flashed her a half-smile, and she grinned back at him.

“I am not your sister yet,” she reminded him seriously.

“You really think you will be?” he asked again.

“Would you stop asking that? I do. I know our parents. They’re gonna be okay, Kyle.”

“Yeah,” Kyle agreed. “Yeah, they are, aren’t they?”

“Brother,” Maria said quietly, and then laughed. “God, of all the people to get as a brother, I’m gonna wind up with you, huh?”

“Hey, you could have done worse,” Kyle said. “You could have done worse.”

“You’re right,” Maria said. “I could have.” She reached out and put her arm around his shoulders. “We could have actually had to live in the same house with them.”

“Oh,” Kyle said, making a face. “Too true.” How weird it was to have a girl with him, her arm around his shoulders, and not be aroused in the least. The only other time he’d felt this way was with… someone who didn’t matter any more. But Maria did. Maria mattered. As much as everyone in this van was his family now… Maria truly would be. A connection.

A sister.

He liked it.

He made a mental note to find a chant that night for parental marriage. There had to be one somewhere. Maybe it would do the trick.

In the drivers’ seat, Max turned to Isabel. “You know what’s wrong with Michael,” he said.

“Yeah, he’s drained, Solia really messed with his head,” Isabel said, off-handed.

Max waited a moment. “That’s not what I meant, Iz. When I healed Michael, I saw it. I saw how he’s looking at me.”

“What did you say to him?” Isabel whispered. “About Hank? It was in his dream, Max. It stayed with him.”

“I know he didn’t do it,” Max said. “I know him too well, we know he didn’t.”

“But you weren’t sure,” Isabel said.

“I am,” Max insisted. “I’m sure.”

“Look,” Isabel said. “You and Michael are just gonna have to deal with this once we pick him up. But if you ask me, what really matters isn’t what you think he might have done. It’s what you would think about him if he had. And I know what my answer is to that. What’s yours?”

“He’s Michael,” Max answered simply. “What are we supposed to think?”

“That we love him,” Isabel said in a low tone.

“Yes,” Max agreed. He paused. “Of course. He knows that.”

“Tell him,” Isabel said. “I don’t care. You don’t care. It doesn’t matter. Michael needs to know that.”

“But he should,” Max said. “For all the time we’ve known each other. I’ve only told him how much we care for him half a dozen times.”

Half a dozen. Guys. Isabel smiled in spite of herself. “For all the time we’ve known him, we should know better than to have thought…” She trailed off.

Max exhaled. “You’re right.”

“It’s okay,” she said absently. “Max, it’s okay, cause we’re gonna go find him now, and it’s gonna be all right. Tell me it’s gonna be fine.”

“It’s gonna be fine, Isabel,” he said. “Gonna be fine.”

Isabel leaned her head against the headrest, her eyes still fixed on the road. “We’re almost there.”

“We’re gonna be fine,” Max said again. He glanced in the rearview mirror, and his eyes suddenly locked on Liz’s. She was propping her bare feet up on the back of Kyle and Maria’s seat, as the two of them rested, their eyes closed, Maria curled up against Kyle. Liz glanced away quickly and reached for the Marie Claire in the backseat.

“’Scuse me,” Max said to Isabel, before unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing over the seat. “Drive safe,” he told his sister as he maneuvered himself between the front seats, and then around Kyle and Maria to slide into the back with Liz.

“That was dangerous,” she said, without lifting her eyes from the magazine, as he bucked himself into the seat beside her.

“Of all the dangerous things I’ve done for you, Liz, that was about the least of them,” he pointed out.

A small smile crept across her face as she flipped the page, studying the new fall looks. “And wouldn’t it be ironic if after all this, you ended up getting splattered across the windshield of the VW because you just had to move while the car was in motion?”

“I thought you liked me sexy and dangerous,” he whispered.

“I like you dangerous and in one piece,” she corrected.

He leaned over. “Are you still clothes-shopping?”

”Would you rather I go naked? Hold on, don’t answer that. Just tell me which of these Isabel should make for me.” She flipped to a summer photo spread and began pointing to the various outfits.

“Any one of these? I can pick any one of these and see it on you?” he asked, leaning into her and nuzzling his face in her neck.

“Any one,” she said, smiling in spite of herself.

“Is naked still an option?”

She pushed him back. “No,” she said.

“Oh,” he said.

“Maybe later.”

”Hmm.” Max leaned back in, resting his head on her shoulder. “I missed you, Liz.”

”Max,” Liz said carefully, “we’ve barely gotten out of each others’ sight in months.”

“You know what I mean,” he said. “Liz, I’m so sorry we couldn’t contact our parents.” He was about to give more excuses, but then he realized with a start that he’d given them all. And it didn’t matter.

“I miss my parents so much,” he said. “I was just starting to know them again, just starting to really open up and let them know who I was. And the only thing I want more than to spend time with them right now, is to spend time with you.” He pulled her into his body, wrapping himself around her as he whispered in her ear.

“I can give you one of those,” Liz sighed, giving in and tucking her arm around him. “I wish I could give you the other.”

“And I wish I could give it to you, too,” he said. “Liz, you have to believe me.”

“I always believe you,” she said. “I just don’t always agree with you.”

Max nibbled gently at her ear. “You’re a rebellious one, aren’t you?” He leaned over to look at the magazine in her lap. “That one,” he said, pointing to the red dress on the page. “With the heels.”

“What? You didn’t even look through the whole magazine.”

“I don’t have to. I like that one.” He looked thoughtfully at the man in the picture, standing behind the girl. In a partially unbuttoned dress shirt and black jacket. “Maybe she can make that for me.”

Liz looked up, her expression brightening. “That’s an idea I’m forced to agree with.”

“Is naked an option yet?”

“Not now,” she said, pointing to the others in the car.

“Oh,” Max said, disappointed. “Soon?”

She brought her face in close to his. “Soon,” Liz promised.

The five stood in front of the CinnaBons store, glancing around, sniffing the air.

“I love that smell,” Kyle Valenti said with a pleasured sigh.

“Okay,” Liz said slowly. “So who remembers where we left Michael?” She glanced around the pavilion.

“I… it’s blurry,” Maria said, concerned. “I was so exhausted by then, all I remember is him walking into the mall…”

“I saw that pet store over there,” Kyle said, pointing, and taking a few steps toward it. “I know I did. But I can’t remember if he was going that way… or that way.” He pointed in the other direction.

Max took a deep breath. “This is not good, guys.”

“Everything was so foggy by then,” Isabel said. “We were all so tired. Michael was barely looking. Should we split up and look?”

“Uh-uh,” Liz said immediately. “No splitting up. We’re already missing one of our group members, I’m not losing anyone else.” She leaned up against Max, stroking her hand with his.

“But if we split up, maybe we could go find a bathroom ourselves,” Max whispered in her ear, and she shrugged him off.

“First we find Michael!” Liz hissed.

Kyle, meanwhile, had walked over to the mall directory. “Okay,” he said. “There are five bathrooms in this mall. Max and I will hit them one at a time, you girls can stand lookout.”

The group briskly walked towards the far end of the mall, and the girls arranged themselves casually outside the bathroom while Kyle and Max ducked in.

They walked the length of the stalls, Kyle checking underneath, Max feeling for the doors. No one had Michael’s boots. No one had sealed their lock shut with anything other than a traditional locking mechanism. “Michael? You in here?” Kyle called out softly before giving up. He and Max shrugged at each other and exited the bathroom.

“No luck,” Max announced. “Next up?”

“This way,” Isabel said, pointing.

“You remembered that off the map?” Kyle asked, incredulous.

Isabel tapped her brain. “We’re in a shopping mall. This head was built to know its way around.”

“That was one of the things they encoded you with, huh?” Kyle asked seriously.

“Yes. And hush.” Kyle and Isabel exchanged a grin as they made their way through the echoing corridor to the next restroom.

“Hey, sale at the Limited,” Liz said, rubber-necking towards it.

“You get free imitation designer clothing and you still check out a sale at the Limited?” Isabel asked, disapprovingly.

“I’m sorry,” Liz said, chastised. “Habit.”

Isabel sighed. “Once we get Michael, maybe we can take a look. If you like something, I’ll make it for you.”

“You are such an amazing person to be friends with, you do know that, right?” Maria asked suddenly. “Not to stroke your ego, or anything.”

“Oh please, stroke away, why else do you think I’d suck up to you by making you clothes?” Isabel asked, brushing her away with a hand.

“Right,” Maria said. She sighed. At least it was enough to keep her mind off of her missing boyfriend. Who she was now thinking of again with that thought. Damn.

“Men’s room,” Isabel said suddenly, and the girls veered off to inspect a window display at the record store while Kyle and Max ducked into the bathroom.

“When are you gonna be good enough to bootleg CD’s for us, too?” Liz asked, mentally reviewing the New Releases list from the window.

“Hey, I saved you the trouble of a CD player,” Isabel said. “Not to mention clothes and occasionally food. Enough is never enough for you people, is it?”

Maria glanced impatiently towards the mens’ room. She was waiting again. She didn’t like it. It didn’t feel right. She glanced down at her finger. She’d put her red plastic ring back on. After all, they were so close to finding Michael again. She wanted him to see it, to know how much it meant.

Kyle and Max came running out of the bathroom. “No luck,” Kyle said, breathless. “Next one?”

Two down, three to go. Somewhat more determined, the five of them set off down the corridor, their mission foremost in their minds.

They located the third bathroom by the food court. The biggest one. They had to walk down a corridor to reach it, leaving the girls tapping their toes for nearly a full minute in the security hallway. Isabel casually reached her palm out to a nearby security camera and took the machinery out. Maria and Liz glanced at her when they heard the pop and sizzle from the camera, and she shrugged.

Max and Kyle emerged from the bathroom. “Nothing,” Max said, frustrated.

“There’s two more, we’ll find him,” Liz said. “Isabel?”

Isabel pointed a long finger in the direction of the next bathroom, and now the five of them were practically running. Max in the lead, Liz trying in vain to hang onto him, Isabel behind, and Kyle and Maria bringing up the rear. Kyle continued to glance at Maria, studying her expression. She was anxious. Nothing he could do about that one, she had a perfectly good reason for her anxiety.

“Here,” Isabel said, sliding to a halt, and Kyle and Max immediately broke off and dashed into the bathroom.

“Michael!” Kyle yelled as they entered. “You in here?” They fell into their previously formed pattern, Kyle doing a jog with his head practically on the ground, Max following, testing the doors.

They reached the end and Kyle stood up to meet Max’s eyes. “Max, where the hell is he?”

“One more bathroom, that’s got to be it,” Max said. “Let’s go.”

They emerged Michael-less from the bathroom, which was a signal for the girls to immediately begin running in the direction Isabel had already indicated. The five of them crashed to a halt in front of the final men’s room of the mall. Maria bounced on the balls of her feet as Max and Kyle burst into the bathroom.

“Michael!” Max yelled. “We’re here, where are you?” He followed Kyle, who was crab-walking along the stalls, checking underneath. He pushed each door in turn, feeling nothing altered by aliens.

They were empty.

Kyle straightened up and turned around. “Um, Max?”

Max stared at him silently for a moment, then shook his head. “No. No way. We just missed him, that’s all, Kyle, we’ll go back.”

Kyle pointed to the door. “You want to tell those girls out there that we overlooked him? Where the hell is he, Max?”

Max took a deep breath. “The girls were on the dreamwalk, too. Maybe they caught something we missed.”

Kyle shrugged, seeing Max’s point, and the two of them emerged to three shocked and disappointed female faces.

“Max,” Maria said in a low tone. “Kyle…”

Kyle shook his head. “God, Maria…”

“Oh, no,” Maria said, advancing on them. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Stay calm,” Max said. “Everybody stay calm. We’ve got to pool what we remember. If we can figure out exactly where we left him…”

“You’re sure this is the right mall?” Isabel asked.

“Absolutely,” Maria said. “I recognized it from the highway. You guys are sure he wasn’t in the bathrooms?”

“Positive,” Max confirmed. He paused. “Do you think he went somewhere?”

“Maybe he got hungry,” Liz said.

“No,” Maria said. “I looked in the food court. I looked all along the mall, the whole way here. Unless he was in a store, he wasn’t there.” She paused. “And Michael doesn’t shop.”

The five of them stared at each other for a moment.

“We did not just lose him again,” Maria said firmly. “We did not.”

“No,” Isabel said. “We didn’t lose him. We just don’t have a clue where he is. Dammit!” She smacked her palm into the wall, and a light above them flickered out with a sizzle.

Liz suddenly gasped and bit her lip.

“What?” Max asked, as they all turned to her.

“You know,” Liz said, “are we sure it was a mens’ room?”

They all glanced around at each other, considering. After a moment, Maria started to laugh. “Oh, my god, no,” she said, gasping. A moment later, she and Isabel turned at once to dash into the women’s room beside the men’s.

Kyle, Liz and Max stared at each other. “God, I hope she’s right, and I hope she’s wrong, all at the same time,” Max observed. Liz glanced away with a small smile.

Isabel and Maria flew out of the restroom. “Next one,” Isabel said, not even slowing as she ran down the corridor. The others fell in behind her.

Maria was the first one into the next bathroom, and she immediately dropped to the floor, peering under the stalls as she slid along. “Nothing,” she said quickly, and scrambled to her feet, running after Isabel, not even caring if the others caught up or not.

She fled back to the food court bathroom, slid inside and immediately hit the floor with her hands and knees.

“When this is all done, you’re gonna let me clean you up, right?” Isabel asked hesitantly, standing over Maria and testing the first door. But she didn’t get a response, because Maria was already banging frantically on the fourth stall door down.

“Open up, Spacegirl!” she said with a relieved laugh.

“Can’t, tired,” Michael managed to grunt out from inside the stall.

Isabel counted her blessings briefly that the restroom was empty, before reaching with her own hand to unseal the lock. Maria yanked the door open, and immediately fell into the stall, landing on top of Michael’s lap. He was there, fully clothed, leaning against the wall. His dark eyes were tired, half-closed, but they brightened at the sight of the two girls in the doorway, and then especially at the one already wrapping itself around him.

“Oh, my god,” Maria moaned, as she squeezed him tightly. “Oh, my god.”

“Missed me much?” he asked. “Mm. Can’t breathe.”

Maria leaned back, loosening her grip. “Now you know how I felt this whole time. Couldn’t breathe.”

In response, he summoned enough energy to embrace her in return, and press his lips lightly against her. She returned the kiss, nuzzling her nose against his, and he felt a wave of energy returning to his body. The Maria Fix. It was enough.

She brought her hand around, reaching it up to his face, and he caught it, examining the red plastic ring intensely with his eyes. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it lightly, not taking his eyes off hers, and she practically melted straight down into him.

“Maria, enough, you’re not the only one who missed him, okay?” Isabel asked. She reached forward to help Maria off his lap, and then took Michael by the hand to help him up.

“What are you two doing in here?” Michael asked, as he felt himself pulled forward into a hug. “Couldn’t you have sent the guys?”

“You picked the wrong bathroom, doofus,” Isabel said as she tucked her chin onto his shoulder. Behind her, Maria was hopping from foot to foot with delight. “Never, ever, ever scare me like that again,” Isabel whispered into his ear. She pulled back. “C’mon, let’s get you back on gender-neutral territory.”

Michael tried to hide his sheepish look as the girls pulled him out into the hallway.

“Guerin,” Kyle greeted him, “Didn’t know you were into that kind of thing.”

“Yeah, shut up already,” Michael grunted as Kyle embraced him in a manly hug. The two pulled away quickly.

Liz slid up between them, and stood on her tiptoes to give Michael a quick peck on the cheek. Then she glanced to Max, and stood aside carefully.

Michael reached around Max in another manly hug. “Love you,” Max grunted into Michael’s ear. “You know that.”

“I know,” Michael said.

Max pulled away. “And I know-“

“I know,” Michael said again, cutting him off. “Max,” he said quietly. “It’s okay, all right? The flash. I saw. Saw you. We’re good.”

Max sighed. “You mean it?”

Michael nodded, and reached forward to clasp his brother’s hand again. “Look, I was stupid, okay? It’s over.”

“You’re not stupid,” Max said firmly. “Michael, you’re never stupid.”

“No, you’ve definitely called me stupid before.” Michael dropped his hand and stepped back.

“Okay, when did I ever say you were stupid?”

“Max. Michael,” Isabel snapped. “God, can you two at least spend a full minute alone reveling in each others’ company before I have to physically separate you?”

Michael turned back to Max with a wry grin. “It was stupid of me,” he said, “to freak out about what you thought.”

“Well, it was stupid of me to even think,” Max said.

“No,” Michael said quietly, so quietly that the others couldn’t hear. “It wasn’t.”

Max stared at him. “No, I know you didn’t-“

“I didn’t,” Michael agreed. He stared at Max for a moment before finishing. “But I – I would have. Max, I could have.”

Max shook his head. “Michael, I don’t care. You know I don’t care.”

“I just want you to know that. Okay?”

Max took a deep breath and met Michael’s eyes. “Okay,” he said.

“Because you should know.” They stared at each other for a moment, before Maria gave up her last remnants of control and threw herself back at Michael. He caught her up in his arms, and lifted her off the ground.

“Energy coming back to you?” Isabel asked, raising an eyebrow at the exertion.

“It is now,” Michael said, staring into Maria’s eyes as her weight landed against him softly. He eased her back to the floor.

“Good,” Isabel said, “because that bathroom was absolutely filthy, and we need to get out to the car and get every single one of us cleaned up. Now.”

“Good idea,” Michael said, running his hands down Maria’s sides, staring at her.

“Why do I get the feeling you maybe missed me a little?” Maria asked.

“Eh,” Michael said, reaching for her dark hair. “Maybe.”

The six of them, reunited, turned as one and flounced back out to the parking lot, where Isabel passed her hand over each and every one of them to disinfect them from the mall bathroom. “You two are the worst,” she said to Michael and Maria, who had separated just enough to allow Isabel to pass her hand over their clothing and skin, “and Kyle here. But given that the rest of us hugged you… ew.”

Safely cleaned, Michael collapsed through the open door of the van into the front seat, and Maria hopped in after him, tucking herself onto his lap. “Ow,” he muttered as she rearranged. “Some of us had a really long run just a few hours ago.”

“Try all of us,” Maria said.

“So, do we have time to check out the sales, or not?” Liz asked cautiously.

Max glanced around. “Anyone on our tail?” Liz shook her head. “Michael, any sign of that alien truck?” Michael, catching on, bit his lip into a smile and shook his head as well. “Special Unit? Anyone see them?” The others also shook their heads. “Anybody looking for this guy right here?” He jerked his thumb at Michael.

“Um, you know, actually,” Isabel said. “I heard that investigation’s kinda closed.”

Max tried to cover his laugh with a cough. No need to explain the fake Michael story to the real Michael just yet. “Ahem. You know, I think maybe we can spend a couple of hours shopping. Browsing,” he corrected. “Nobody spend too much money.”

“Why not?” Kyle asked, reaching into his back pocket. “I forgot to show you guys this.” He pulled the contents out and briefly flashed them, to the tune of five dropped jaws. “And this.” He reached for an envelope that he’d stashed in the van, and their jaws dropped even further, much to Kyle’s satisfaction.

“Where did that come from?” Maria gasped, staring at the wads of cash.

“My bank account,” Kyle said. “Dad cashed it out for me, threw in some more of his own. And some cash he raised on the sly. He was kind of ready in case he had the opportunity. Which he did.”

He looked around, waiting for a response. “I’ll share,” he added, and that got the response he was looking for.

“Have I told you today that you, Kyle Valenti, are my bestest, bestest friend?” Isabel asked, scooting up next to him.

“Aw, stop it,” he said, not really meaning it, grinning back at her. “You just want me for my money.”

“We should save that money,” Liz said carefully.

“How much was it, again, Kyle?” Max asked.

“I didn’t say,” Kyle said. “An even ten thousand. Before I bought a grape soda at the last rest stop.”

“Holy fuck,” Michael said, gaping, expressing all their feelings

“Between that, Jesse’s credit card, and our other contingency plans,” Max said, mentally adding, “Um, maybe we can shop. A little,” he added hastily, glancing at Liz’s worried look. “No clothes,” he added. “Nothing we can forge.”

“Twenty bucks for everyone?” Liz asked.

“Problem,” Kyle said, raising his hand.

“What?”

“I don’t have twenties.”

Five minutes later, Michael and Maria collapsed into a table at the food court, a fifty-dollar bill tucked into each of their pockets.

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “How are you doin’?” she asked.

“About as well as can be expected,” he said. “Don’t you want to shop, or something? I’ll wait here. You can take my money.”

“No,” she said. “I want to stay here with you.” She rolled her head up so she could see his face. “So are you ready to talk about it?”

“About what, the Michael-worshippers?”

“Yeah, them. Any of them try to jump your bones this time?”

“Maybe,” he said off-handedly. He saw her startle, and hurried to catch up. “Given that they abducted and mind-raped me, and got me arrested, and forced me to stay against my will? I wasn’t too open to the possibility. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, that was the only reason?” she asked, relaxing against him. She reached down to rub the gaudy plastic ring on her finger thoughtfully.

“Maybe,” he said again, and wrapped his arm around her, staring down at the ring with her.

“Hold on,” she said. “What did you just say about getting you arrested?”

“Oh, they were the ones who tipped off the police. The Special Unit didn’t,” he said, reaching up to scratch his eyebrow.

“Wait, wait,” she said. “So that call we made-“

“…Had nothing to do with me getting arrested. No. Solia set the whole thing up, so they could separate me from you guys and abduct me without anyone to fight them.”

“Wow,” Maria said slowly. “Really?” she asked again.

“I just said.”

“So you mean we were safe,” she said thoughtfully.

“Well, not really, we had evil aliens listening in.”

Maria laughed. “What would your followers say if they could hear you say that?”

“My followers are fucked up,” Michael sighed.

“Hmm, some idol you are. But seriously,” Maria said. “I wonder if that means we can call home again.”

“Oh, yeah,” Michael said. “How’s your mom?”

“She broke up with Valenti.”

“No way!”

“I think they’re going to get back together, though. Just a feeling.”

Michael glanced across the food court, where he saw Isabel and Kyle waiting in line at Sbarro’s. He wasn’t sure how to say it, so he just did. “You’re not going to ask me how my mom is?”

Maria’s jaw dropped at him. “So that really was your mom? Like, for real?”

“Yeah. She was one of the evil aliens.” He made a face. “So there went that fantasy.”

“Michael, you met your mother.”

“Yeah, and she was evil, I just said.” He sighed and leaned his head against hers. There was so much he wanted to say, and he couldn’t. He knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t tell Maria how his mother had really joined him. He couldn’t tell her who had given him the final burst of energy to make it through the mall, when the others were so exhausted they couldn’t give him anymore. To tell her would mean opening up the possibility that they could… no, because they couldn’t. “Why do I always get stuck with the weird relatives?” was all he said.

“I don’t know. Want to ruminate on that while I get you a taco? I hear your stomach rumbling.” She poked at it with her finger.

“No,” he said. “I want to come with you.”

“Why?” Maria whined. “You’re so tired.”

“I feel better,” he complained.

“Okay, then,” she said. “First, tacos. And then we’re gonna go burn some cash.”

With a quick glance down the hall at Max and Liz, and Isabel and Kyle, all spread out down the hall with a room or two in between, Maria licked her lips and unlocked the door, holding it open while Michael maneuvered the luggage behind her.

She landed on the bed with a bounce. “What do you want to do first?” she asked, propping her chin on her wrist as she rolled over on top of the bed to face Michael.

He threw the bags on the floor and collapsed on the bed beside her. “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

“Where’d you put those bath salts we bought?” she asked.

“I stuck ‘em in your bag.”

“Hmm,” she said, looking him up and down thoughtfully.

A knock sounded at the door. “Dammit, doesn’t anyone want to get some rest before we start the group meetings?” Michael grumbled. Maria rolled over and hopped up to answer the door.

“Okay, get in here,” she sighed, allowing the other four into the room.

“This bed feels softer than mine,” Isabel complained as she sat down next to Michael.

Michael lay his hand over his eyes. “Then take it, and Maria and I will go to your room. Now.”

“We just wanted to talk to everybody together,” Isabel said. “Unless you would like us to wait outside while you two-“

“No,” Michael sighed. He pulled himself back to a sitting position and looked around at the gathered travelers. “No. That’s okay.”

Maria settled on top of the dresser beside Liz, while Max and Kyle took the chairs beside the window.

“Think we can afford room service?” Maria mused.

“No room service,” Liz corrected her. “Come on, now, Maria. Let’s just order a pizza.”

“I could do pizza,” Kyle agreed, and nods came around the room.

“So what’s with the pow-wow?” Maria asked.

“Just a catch-up, that’s all,” Max said. “We should all be on the same page. You know.” He took a deep breath. “Um, I’ll start, Michael. Let’s see, you know there’s a duplicate of you currently being arraigned for Hank’s murder.”

“I’m being arraigned?” Michael asked, trying to feign interest. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He chewed his lip, studying Max’s face. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” he asked.

“Depends on your point of view,” Kyle said. “If you’re him, it sucks. If you’re you, trying to evade the law, it sucks cause if someone realizes you’re the real guy, you’re in worse trouble. If you’re you, trying to stay a fugitive with the rest of our sorry asses, it’s a good thing. Cause nobody’s looking for any Michael Guerin for murder in Roswell.” He glanced at Michael and waited.

“That made absolutely no sense,” Michael said, staring at him.

“You’re in the clear for now,” Liz explained. “We think. They’re not looking for you. Michael, do you have any clue who the hell that guy is?”

“No,” he said. “I guess he’s related to the Michael-worshippers somehow.”

“Again with that terminology,” Maria said, shaking her head.

“What about the Special Unit?” Michael asked.

“That’s the funny thing,” Kyle said. “See, you’d think that as soon as you ended up in jail – or someone they thought was you – the Unit would have been all over the jail. But Dad said there was nothing. It’s like they didn’t even know about it.”

“How is that possible?” Isabel asked. “I mean, only the Special Unit could have tracked the call and tipped off the Oklahoma cops, right?”

“That was Solia,” Michael said suddenly. “Solia, she was the one who traced the call and tipped off the cops.”

“Then the Special Unit-“

Michael looked up at Max. “Didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“So if Solia can trace calls, is she going to come after Michael again?” Maria asked, worried.

“If so, we’ll be ready,” Max said firmly. “And no more cell phones for awhile.”

“That’s right,” Kyle said. “Solia must have been looking for us. I bet my dad’s phone wasn’t even tapped.”

“We have no way of knowing that,” Max pointed out, and Kyle nodded in agreement, “but I think maybe we can at least try to get in touch with him. He should know that we have the real Michael.”

Maria bit her lip, trying not to interject into the conversation, because she knew, deep down, that her motives were completely self-centered and self-involved, and she hoped that they would come around to her side anyway.

“He’s at work now,” Kyle said.

“The sheriff’s department line should be secure,” Max said. “Kyle, want to do the honors?”

“Yes!” Maria exclaimed, then clamped her mouth silent immediately as everyone stared at her. “Just… just ask him if he’s talked to Mom, would you?”

Kyle nodded in wry amusement as he picked up the phone and began punching in the numbers to reach Roswell, New Mexico.

“While you guys are doing that, we still have some clothes, um, shopping to do,” Isabel said. “Before I completely forget the details, we should get busy. Liz?”

“Right,” Liz said, hopping eagerly off the dresser. “Maria, you coming?”

“Um, no,” Maria said. “Isabel, can you try and do that orange peasant blouse for me?”

“Orange? I thought it was more of a golden-berry… right,” Isabel said. “We’ll be back.” The two girls exited the room, leaving Maria and the three boys.

Maria immediately took Isabel’s abandoned seat beside Michael, leaning up against him as they watched Kyle at the phone.

“Um, can I speak to Deputy Valenti?” Kyle asked, in his deepest voice. Michael coughed to cover a snort.

“Yes, thank you.” He covered the mouthpiece, and mouthed I’m on hold .

Maria gestured with her hand for him to get on with it, and he responded with a frustrated shrug. Maria exhaled loudly.

“So what did you learn about… stuff?” Max asked Michael slowly.

“A lot,” Michael said automatically. “All of it absolute and utter crap. You know, Maxwell, I don’t think they got your memo about how you abdicated and all.”

“I think I forgot to cc it to them,” Max agreed in a serious tone.

“Cause this whole playing me off of you shtick?” Michael shook his head. “We must have been absolute dickheads in our past life if they think it would ever work.”

Max had to laugh. “Are you trying to say you’re loyal?”

“Only as long as you don’t screw things up too badly,” Michael said.

“Good to know.”

Kyle put his hand up to silence them. “Hello? Hi! Yeah, it’s me.” He listened. “As far as we know. Oh, we found out it wasn’t the S. U. that… yeah. Okay, good. Thanks. That’s what we thought. So we have him – the real him. Yeah. He’s safe and sound. Somewhere in Texas. Long story, doesn’t matter. Yeah, something like that.” He paused for a long time. “Oh,” he said finally. “Are you sure it’s safe? What’s going on? When we get – hold on, would you?” He pressed the phone to his shoulder, the frown evident on his face. “He thinks we should go back to Roswell this weekend.”

“Again?” Maria asked, wrinkling her forehead.

“Says it’s important.” Kyle glanced to Max.

“He says it’s safe?” Max asked. He threw a glance to Michael, who held his hands up.

“After what you guys just pulled to get me out, I’d say we can hold off anything Roswell might throw at us. For a couple of days,” Michael said.

Max nodded to Kyle. “Tell him we’ll be there tomorrow,” he said.

“What’s wrong?” Maria asked suspiciously. “Kyle, why does he want us to come?”

“Why do you want – what do you mean we’ll find out when we get there? Is this a good thing? Are you sure? Okay. We’ll be there tomorrow.” Kyle settled the phone back down with a click and his eyes shot up to meet Maria’s.

“You don’t think-?” Maria asked.

Kyle shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

“It doesn’t matter, you’ll find out tomorrow,” Michael said. “In the meantime, I’m about to die of hunger here. Anyone for pizza?”

“Who eats pineapple and pepperoni on the same pizza, anyway?” Maria asked, making a face.

“Goodbye,” Michael said crisply, pulling the door closed behind him. He shoved his wallet into his pocket. “Maxwell, you set?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Max said, and the two of them walked out of the hotel towards the car.

“Why is it that it takes this group half an hour to put together a stupid pizza take-out order?” Michael asked. “Hypothetically, it should be a fairly easy process requiring less than four phone calls to the restaurant.”

“Hypothetically,” Max said as they climbed into the VW, “one wouldn’t be ordering for one human, two humans with latent alien abilities, and three human-alien hybrids.”

“True,” Michael agreed. “I’ll grant you that.”

“Good to have you around again,” Max observed. “I never could have gotten anyone else to go in on that pineapple and pepperoni with me. Now that Isabel’s trying this vegetarian thing.” He turned on the ignition and pulled the car around in the parking lot. “Look, Michael, not to change the subject or anything, but are you really okay? I mean, it seemed like they were doing some pretty strong things with your mind back there.”

“I’m fine,” Michael said curtly. He scratched his nose and glanced away.

“Except…?” Max prodded.

“How do you know there’s an ‘except’?” Michael snapped.

“Because I hear it in you,” Max pointed out.

Michael exhaled. “I’ve just got a lot of questions, is all.”

“And?” Max asked.

“Would you cut it out?”

“No. Because if you didn’t want me to prod, you wouldn’t leave me hanging like that.”

“Some stuff happened,” Michael said. “Stuff I didn’t think I could do.” Max waited, silently, as he steered the van down the road. “New powers, Maxwell,” Michael finally blurted out.

“Yes,” Max said quietly. “What?”

Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Yes, you do, Michael,” Max sighed. “You can change stuff from across the room, right?”

“Oh, yeah, that,” Michael said. “Maria told you guys. No, it’s more than that.”

“So talk,” Max said.

“Maxwell, my mother was dead,” Michael blurted out. “And I put my hands on a body, and just like that… she was there.”

Max stared straight ahead at the road, not responding. After a moment, Michael pressed on.

“I don’t know how, I just did it. And I don’t think it was the only time, either.”

Max tightened his grip on the wheel.

“When you were rescuing me,” Michael said slowly. “At the end, remember how exhausted everyone was? We thought I would never make it far enough to hide and wait for you.” Max nodded his head slowly. “I pulled energy from somewhere else. Maxwell, it wasn’t any of you guys. I know it wasn’t. You didn’t have any more.”

“Who was it?” Max asked, and he could barely hear his own voice.

“I can’t be sure,” Michael said, frustrated. “I don’t know for certain. I mean, what I’m about to say, it sounds ridiculous, there’s no way. No way I could be right. Except… dammit, I don’t know.”

“Michael,” Max said suspiciously. “It wasn’t… I mean, it couldn’t have been…”

“Couldn’t have been who?” Michael asked. “Did you sense it?”

“No,” Max said truthfully. “Just say it. If it’s a stupid idea, it’s just a stupid suggestion, but what do you think?”

“I think Alex helped me.”

The car decelerated as Max leaned on the brake.

“Max, speed up, you’re slowing traffic.”

Max swiftly pulled the van over into the parking lot of a shopping center, braked to a halt, and turned the ignition off.

Michael leaned his head back and closed his eyes as Max turned to look at him in the sudden silence.

“Say that again,” Max said, his eyes riveted to his friend.

“I think,” Michael said, his eyes still closed, “that Alex helped me.”

“That’s crazy,” Max said.

“You’re right,” Michael agreed. “It’s a stupid idea, and it’s got to be wrong, so forget I said anything, and let’s just go get pizza.”

“I didn’t say I thought it was stupid, I said I thought it was crazy.”

Michael snapped his eyes open. “There’s a difference?”

“Why do you think it was…?” Max’s voice trailed off, but the question was clear.

“Because,” Michael said, sounding the words out as he said them. “I heard his voice. I actually heard his voice back at the house, too, when Solia was trying to mind-rape me.”

“You’re hearing voices?” Max asked skeptically.

“No,” Michael said patiently. “Well, yeah. But it wasn’t like hearing a voice in my head. I think he was really there.”

“Okay, okay,” Max said, shaking his head. “Let’s just assume for the moment that you’re right.”

“I don’t know that I am,” Michael said quickly.

“Right. That’s why we’re assuming for a moment. How would that be possible? Alex is dead. I saw the body, you and I were pallbearers at his funeral.”

“Delaji was dead,” Michael said. “My mother. But she was here, helping Solia and Rivir. Explain that one.”

“We were dead,” Max said thoughtfully. “Killed, on Antar. And here we are.”

“And Alex is dead,” Michael said, “but from wherever he is, he tapped into me.”

“Why you?” Max asked. “Not to bring you down or anything, but he was always closer to Isabel than to either of us.”

“What if Isabel can’t reach him?” Michael asked. “What if it’s only because of this new power that I could?” Michael shivered. “I don’t like this.”

“I don’t, either,” Max agreed.

“I mean, everything else – changing matter, blasting, it’s all good stuff. It’s fun. Most of the time. This isn’t fun. It’s not fun at all.” Michael closed his eyes again for a moment. “It’s fucking scary, is what it is.”

“It’s heavy,” Max said. “I mean… yeah. It’s a lot.”

“I can’t tell the others,” Michael said suddenly. “Maxwell, promise me you won’t tell anyone else.”

“Why not?” Max asked in a measured tone.

“Think about it for a sec,” Michael said. “What if we told them? That I could maybe contact Alex. Contact Nasedo. Contact Liz’s dead grandma.”

“They’d all want to… right,” Max said, nodding slowly.

“It’s wrong,” Michael said. “It messes with the whole order of things! You’re born, you live, you die.”

“Or you’re resurrected in the form of a human-alien hybrid or four,” Max pointed out.

“Let’s call that the exception,” Michael sighed.

“I don’t know that it is,” Max said. “We died. And our essences were preserved. So clearly there’s some alien technology that’s able to do that. Maybe this, this new power is related to that. If you can do it, maybe it’s not as unnatural as you think.”

“But it is,” Michael protested. “Here, anyway. Where does it stop? Let’s talk to every dead person we know. I don’t want to be some stupid psychic the rest of my life. I mean it, Max. We can’t tell them. I don’t want them to know,” he said, enunciating the last words. “I don’t.”

“No, I see what you mean,” Max said. “I’m sorry, Michael, I just – wow. Hey, are you open to a suggestion right now?”

“Max, I’m open to any suggestion right now. I’m beyond ruling things out.”

“How do we know? I mean, I believe you. But how do we know it wasn’t a mindwarp, or your subconscious giving meaning to things that aren’t there?”

Michael pursed his lips and nodded. “You want to see for yourself,” he said.

“No, I mean…” Max sighed. “If you really think you’re contacting people in the… the afterlife, um… maybe you and I should test it out together. See if we can figure anything else out.”

“Maybe,” Michael said. “But I don’t want to even touch it. I’m freaking out over this, okay? I’d be perfectly willing to just forget it ever happened.”

“But if it’s really coming from your power,” Max pointed out, “you can’t pretend it doesn’t exist. You have to be careful with it.”

“I don’t want to practice,” Michael said. “I don’t want to raise anybody from the dead. I just don’t.”

“I’d give anything to get to say goodbye to Alex,” Max murmured.

“No, stop it!” Michael shouted, startling Max. “Stop! This is what I’m talking about! We can’t. We can. Not.” He shuddered. “No.”

“I hear you,” Max said. He thought for a moment. “I respect that, Michael, I do. Maybe let’s just call it a null issue for now, and if anything else happens you’ll let me know, right?”

“And you won’t tell the others?” Michael asked suspiciously.

“Course not,” Max said. “You’re right, they’d freak out.”

“Just like I’m freaking out,” Michael muttered, staring out the window across the parking lot. “Right now.”

Max leaned over to start the car up again. “It’ll be okay, Michael.”

“I sincerely hope you’re right.”

“Are we there yet? My legs are killing me.” Kyle kicked the dashboard for emphasis.

“I think the turnoff is about ten more miles,” Liz said. “Think you can handle it?”

“No,” Kyle said honestly.

“Ten?” Maria asked. “No, it’s not that close to the county line.” They’d been given instructions to meet Jim Valenti at a quarry beyond the Chaves County line, but hadn’t been told much beyond that. And the fact that none of them had ever laid eyes on it, despite their combined decades growing up in Roswell, was causing even more confusion. “Try five more miles.”

“Whatever, there’s a sign for the turnoff, we’ll find it,” Michael snapped from the drivers’ seat.

“Oh, shit,” Maria said, staring out the window at a sedan that had just flown by them in the opposite direction. “That was my ninth grade English teacher.”

“Mrs. Conner?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah,” Maria said, staring. Her eyes followed the sedan as it disappeared down the highway.

“Did she see us?”

“Don’t think so. The car was a little low to the ground,” Maria said. Max sighed, but remained silent.

“Try right here,” Liz said suddenly. “That’s the turnoff.”

Michael hit the brakes and the van skidded a little as he yanked the wheel around, barely landing on the gravel drive.

“Nice,” Kyle sighed. “I guess I’m gonna have to fix that one later, too, huh?”

“Your precious car is fine, Kyle,” Michael grumbled, as the van bounced down the gravel drive.

“How about I take the next driving shift?” Kyle asked hesitantly.

“Yeah, whatever,” Michael said. Maria rolled her eyes at Liz, then turned her head to look out the window.

Maria squinted into the distance of the quarry. “Hold up,” she said. She put her hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun. “I think that’s the Jetta!”

Isabel was going to say something, then stopped. “Max, that’s Dad’s car.”

“What?” Max asked, sitting straight up. “Oh, my god, you’re right, Is.”

“And I think that’s my mom’s car,” Liz said. “What’s going on?”

“Valenti must have told them all,” Max said.

“My dad’s truck is here,” Kyle agreed, his voice rising. He glanced around at the eager expressions on everyone’s faces. Even Max’s, he noted with some satisfaction. “They’re all here.”

Michael swung the van into the space between the Jetta and the truck, and before he could even turn off the ignition the doors had opened, and the six of them were piling out as fast as they could move.

“Mom! Dad!” Liz shrieked, leading the way as she stormed across the quarry to where the six adults were waiting. She jumped at her father, who swung her into his arms, and then at her mother, as the others ran to catch up.

“Mom! What are you wearing?” Maria demanded, as she ran up to her mother. “Dressed so nice, out in the middle of the desert?”

Michael stood back and watched as Kyle happily greeted his father again, and Isabel and Max calmly reunited with their parents. Moving forward, he reminded himself. He was moving forward, not back. He didn’t have parents like that – he’d never had parents like that, not in this lifetime, not in the one before. But someday, he thought to himself, before letting the thought flicker out to nothingness. Someday, I’ll be…

“Michael,” Amy called, interrupting his train of thought. “Get your ass over here now and give me a hug.”

“Mom,” Maria said suspiciously. “Why is Jim in a suit?”

“Um, surprise,” Amy said, as she embraced Michael. She then flipped her hands out to show off the dress. “Welcome to our wedding.”

Kyle overheard at the same time, and both of their jaws dropped. “What?” Kyle managed to get out. Michael grabbed Maria’s arm to keep her from falling over.

“Well, not the real one,” Jim said, approaching them, as the others gathered around to watch. “I mean, we don’t have anyone here who can officiate or anything. But… we just thought you kids should be here for something.” He placed his arm around Amy’s shoulders, and she comfortably leaned into him.

“I told you,” Maria said to Kyle, satisfied.

“Yeah, you did, eventually,” Kyle agreed. Maria made a face at him.

“And you two,” Nancy said, turning Liz around and looking across the way at Max with his parents. “You’re…”

Liz held up her ring finger for her parents, and immediately Diane dashed over to examine it with Nancy. “Beautiful,” Nancy murmured, as Diane nodded in agreement.

“Max, how did you…?” Diane looked up and thought it over. “It’s not another, um, ‘alien’ thing, is it, honey?”

“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” Max said with a relieved laugh. “I didn’t rob a jewelry store or anything.”

“Oh, my, so it is an alien thing,” Diane said, placing her hand to her chest as she considered this.

“It’s a very well done, um, alien thing,” Nancy said helpfully as she took another look at the ring. Jeff leaned over to examine it with her before wrapping his arms around his daughter. Nancy, in return, reached across the way to embrace her new son-in-law somewhat awkwardly.

Maria jabbed Michael pointedly with her red plastic ring, and he stared down at her. “What?” he asked.

“I like mine, too, that’s all,” she said quietly, and he grinned at her.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t see your mom earlier, Maria,” Max said as he stepped away from Nancy Parker.

“What? Oh, um, yeah. Right,” Maria said, feeling a slight blush creeping into her face.

Max stared at her. “You saw her.”

“Maybe briefly,” Maria admitted. “Hey, look, are we being dissected yet? I think not. Let’s just celebrate for now.”

“Well,” Philip said, “I’m not legally certified to do one of these, but I have attended my share of wedding ceremonies, so I think I can pretend.”

“So this can’t be the real one, huh?” Kyle asked, disappointed.

“It is,” Jim assured him, “Don’t worry, Kyle, it is. We’re just gonna go get some paperwork filed tomorrow, and that’ll be that.”

“Okay, okay,” Amy said, clapping her hands. “Let’s get organized here. Maria, you’re the maid of honor, naturally, and girls, would you like to be bridesmaids? Liz, you did such a beautiful job at Isabel’s wedding.”

“Yeah, well, Isabel did a great job for mine, too,” Liz said, glancing over to Diane and Philip.

“Wait, hold on,” Isabel said. “Let’s do this properly.” She passed her hand over her shirt and slacks, shifting them into a bridesmaid gown. Liz’s jaw dropped and she took a step back, glancing at Maria. They’d seen that idea of a bridesmaid gown before, and had only managed to avoid it through careful maneuvering. Twice.

“Casual is fine, I think,” Maria said quickly. “As you were, Isabel.”

Isabel glanced at Amy, who was nodding swiftly in agreement and amazement, before changing her outfit. “Fine,” she said. “It’s your wedding, after all.” Michael turned to Max and exchanged a smirk.

“Kyle, do the honors as best man?” Amy asked, and Kyle nodded enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together. “Of course. Okay, and Philip is officiating. So…” She moved Philip by the shoulders to stand by the rock formation, and then reached for Maria’s hand, leading Maria to stand beside her. Isabel and Liz fell into place slowly.

“Aren’t we going to do a processional, or something?” Maria asked, shaking her head in confusion.

“In the interest of time,” Jim said, “Let’s just get on with this, shall we?” He was even bouncing a little on his toes as he moved to Amy’s side.

Kyle glanced to his father. “Impatient much?”

“Yeah, just wait for your wedding day,” Jim said, and immediately wished he hadn’t. But Kyle merely shrugged and took his place beside his father, the question of his future and all the uncertainty in it was to be forgotten for the moment.

Michael, Max, Diane, Jeff and Nancy stood before the small wedding party, watching. Jeff put his arm around Max’s shoulders, and after a moment Max returned the gesture. It was a strange feeling, one of his worst enemies for nearly a year, but he understood. Words weren’t necessary.

“Dearly beloved,” Philip began, “and in this case, more than ever before, I do mean beloved.”

“Nice ad-lib, Dad,” Isabel said softly from behind Maria and Liz.

“Thanks, honey,” Philip continued. “We are gathered here today, to privately witness the union between James Valenti Junior and Amy DeLuca.” He leaned in closer to the bride and groom. “Did I get that right?”

“Close enough,” Amy said with a wave of her hand. Maria and Kyle exchanged a smile.

“We are fortunate,” Philip said, his oratory skills emerging, “that this event brings together those of us who cannot be together. For reasons beyond our control, all of our families have been disrupted. But in the midst of this hardship, we see new families forming. And perhaps the old ones are strengthened just a bit.”

Maria glanced across the sand to Michael, who was squinting into the sun, thoughtfully.

“Oh!” Amy shrieked, causing everyone to jump just a little. “Oh! I almost forgot! The vows! Jim, did you bring the printout?”

“Um, yeah,” Jim said. “It’s right – oh, shoot. I left it in the truck!”

“Go get it!” she said, and he tore across the quarry towards the truck while everyone else looked on, amused.

“We did get a chance to get a set of vows off the internet,” Amy explained to the wedding party and guests. “Sorry, Philip, I should have told you earlier.”

“’Off the internet’?” Maria asked, disappointed.

“That’s better than where we found our vows,” Nancy said with a small smile.

“Where was that, Mom?” Liz asked, her voice rising.

Nancy shrugged and looked away. “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“Mom, I’m married.”

Jim Valenti jogged back to rejoin his wedding, the rumpled and folded piece of white paper in his hands. He unfolded it. “What do we do, just read from this?”

“Dad, you’ve both done this before,” Kyle pointed out.

Jim shot him a dark look. “Not like this,” he said. “Okay. Here goes.” He took a deep breath, glanced to the sky, and then began, trying as hard as he could to look more at Amy than at the piece of paper shivering in his hands. “Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth. Where my life was dark, you have brought light. Amy, I pledge before this assembled company to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other.”

There was dead silence for a moment, as he glanced up into her eyes. Maria nodded a quiet, surprised approval.

Amy, still looking into his eyes, took the paper from him. “Where there has been cold,” she said, reading, “You have brought warmth. Where my life was dark, you have brought light. Jim, I pledge before this assembled company to be your hus – ah, wife, from this day forward.” Kyle bit his lip to keep from reacting at the slip. Amy plowed on, ignoring him. “Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other.”

“Well,” Philip said, “By no power whatsoever, I pronounce you husband and wife. Provided you do fill out the proper paperwork at the courthouse tomorrow. You may kiss the bride.”

“I can’t look,” Kyle murmured, turning away. Maria moved across to join him.

“You might as well,” she reminded him quietly. “They’re gonna be doing a lot more of that.”

Kyle turned back around. “Okay,” he said thoughtfully, watching. “That’s not so bad.”

“Whoa,” Maria said suddenly.

“Okay, yeah, that is,” Kyle said, shaking his head.

“C’mere, you two,” Amy said, reaching her arm out, and Maria and Kyle moved forward hesitantly to embrace their own parents, then their new step-parents.

“Where’s the camera?” Nancy asked, looking around.

“We can’t,” Diane reminded her quietly. “We can’t have any evidence the kids were ever here, Nancy.”

Nancy sighed. “I’m so sorry. I just…”

“I know,” Diane said.

“So Max,” Jeff said, “as long as we’re here, can I ask you just a few questions about this, uh, alien thing?”

Max offered him a wry smile. “Ask away,” he said, flexing his hand. He had a feeling it was going to be getting a workout shortly. He glanced across the quarry and his smile deepened.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Michael asked, worried, as Jim turned the truck off.

“It’s fine,” Jim said. “Hanson’s waiting inside for us. The coast is clear.” He pulled his keys out and tossed them into the pocket of his jacket.

“Positive?” Max asked, from the seat beside Michael. “I mean, as far as everyone knows, Michael’s a prisoner in that jail.”

“Exactly,” Jim said. “And as long as the prisoner’s in place, Michael, you’re safe.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what I want to know specifically,” Michael said.

They hopped out of the truck and ducked into the back entrance of the sheriff’s station, Michael and Max slouching out of habit, trying to avoid catching any unnecessary sightings.

“This way,” Jim said, ushering them in through the door. “Hanson’s office.”

“Sheriff,” Max said, greeting him again. “Um, thanks for not using a weapon on me this time.” Michael looked at him in alarm, but Max shook his head subtly.

“Okay,” Hanson said, staring. “I just saw the prisoner. Five minutes ago. Wearing different clothes. You’re sure you didn’t break him out and bring him around the back?”

“Absolutely,” Jim said. “Hanson, this is the real Michael Guerin.” Michael lifted his hand half-heartedly in a greeting.

“Who’s technically still a wanted man in this county,” Hanson said. “And technically, son, you should be facing a jury trial.” Michael caught his breath.

“After everything I’ve told you-“ Jim began.

Hanson cut him off. “After everything you’ve told me, I think I need my psychiatrist to increase my meds,” he said. “And I feel like I’m going against everything that this badge stands for, and if anyone finds out, my career will be over as quickly as yours was.” Jim shrugged. “But I believe you, and I believe what you say about the murder.”

“So can I see him?” Michael asked.

Hanson sighed and waved a hand. “Eat your heart out,” he said.

“Wait,” Max said, and reached into his duffel bag to produce the mask he and Michael had altered on the way over. “Here.” He helped Michael slide it into place, and then made a couple of alterations to make it appear as natural as possible.

“Damn,” Hanson said.

“Sorry,” Max said. “What else do you want us to do?”

Hanson had no answer.

He and Valenti led the way to the visiting room. “As soon as the guards clear out, you’re allowed a private visitation,” Hanson warned them quietly. “Ten minutes. If you’re going to use your, uh, powers, or whatever, do it before eight minutes are up, cause you don’t want the guards to see.”

“Yeah,” Michael said. “Thanks, Sheriff.”

“Don’t thank me till you’ve made it out of there without getting blown to pieces by an alien,” Hanson muttered.

“What was that?” Valenti asked.

“I said you’re welcome,” Hanson replied.

Michael, Max and Valenti entered the visitation room together, eying the Fakemichael seated in the middle of it. As soon as the door closed behind them, Michael reached up to the mask, but waited.

“Hello there,” Max said.

“Hi, Max,” the Fakemichael said, disinterested.

“Anything you’d like us to know, before we get started here?” Max asked.

“About what?” the clone asked.

“Like who you really are?” Michael asked, as he tore the mask off with a flourish. He saw the Fakemichael react with a start at the sound of his voice.

“Rath,” the Fakemichael breathed.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Michael said. “Michael Guerin, in the flesh. So if I’m me, who the hell are you?”

“Wow,” Max said softly to Michael. “Way to go for the melodramatic.”

“Yeah, Maxwell, look who’s talking,” Michael shot back. Max smiled at him and clapped his hand on his back. Michael relaxed into a grin himself. Michael and Max. What a team.

“Master,” the Fakemichael said, and Michael and Max slowly turned their gaze back to him.

“Say that again,” Michael said, not displeased. He tried not to let his smile grow – he knew full well that Max wouldn’t appreciate it.

“Your highness, Rath,” the Fakemichael said, “it is an honor to be graced with your presence.”

Max gaped. “Courtney didn’t do that,” he remarked.

“Okay,” Michael said slowly. “Look, um – do you have a name, by the way?”

“My name is now Michael Guerin,” the Fakemichael said.

“Yeah, well,” Michael said, glancing at Max, who was just snickering at him now. “That one’s already taken. So what was it before? We’ll just call you that for the time being.”

“My name was Ven,” the Fakemichael said.

“So Ven,” Michael said. “Are you, like, in contact with the people who sent you here? Solia? Rivir?”

“No,” Ven said. “I am performing my task, to free you from the Earth world so that you can return to your proper position on Antar.”

“Look, Ven,” Michael said, glancing at Max, “here’s the thing. I’m not going back to Antar. In fact, I think Solia and Rivir’s plan kind of sucked. So I bid them farewell back in Texas, and plan to continue my happy little existence on the road. You with me so far?”

“Yes, sir,” Ven said.

“Now, you and I both know that you didn’t commit the little crime you’re in jail for. In fact, I have it on pretty good authority that neither of us did.”

“My lawyers said I have a good chance of being found ‘not guilty’,” Ven spoke up.

Michael and Max stared at each other for a long moment, then turned to Jim.

“The evidence is fairly circumstantial,” Jim agreed. “They’re not even sure the DA is going to prosecute him.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Michael said, shaking his head. “Forget that. What matters is, Ven, you’re innocent. In fact, it’s me they want.”

“But I want to stand in for you,” Ven said.

“Okay, thanks, man,” Michael said slowly. “But it’s wrong. And you should know I did kind of try to blow up your friends back in Texas. We’re not really on the same team anymore.”

“I was never on their team,” Ven insisted desperately. “Only yours.”

Michael’s mouth dropped a little and he glanced helplessly to Max, who shrugged. They were both equally lost.

“I can’t keep running while you sit here standing trial for me,” Michael pointed out, pressing on. “Okay, Ven? I do appreciate the hero-worship, but this is ridiculous.”

“My life is devoted to helping you,” Ven said.

“What are you?” Max spoke up. “Are you a Skin? A shapeshifter?”

“No,” Ven said. “I am a hybrid.”

There was a moment of silence as this registered. “A hybrid of what?” Jim asked, oblivious to the fact that Michael and Max were looking at each other with a mix of horror and astonishment.

“A blend of Antarian genetic material, and that contained in Charles Dupree of Earth,” Ven said. “Using more advanced technology than that used to create you. And I do not contain the essence of General Rath like yourself.”

“He’s my twin,” Michael said slowly. “Just like Rath.” He peered at him. “But you’re not… not Rath.”

“No,” Ven said. “I was created to help you.”

“You… were…” Michael felt faint. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Oh, fuck.” He turned back to Max, whose expression mirrored his own. They stared at each other, uncertain.

“Don’t be,” Ven said. “I’m not.”

Michael turned back to his clone. “We’re getting you out of here,” Michael said firmly. “Valenti, what can we do?”

“That won’t lead to me endangering my job again?” Valenti asked. “Wait the trial out.”

“You walk out of here,” Michael said. “Ven, you can put that mask on, we can switch clothes, I’ll stay.”

“No, Michael,” Max said immediately.

“No, Michael,” Ven chorused.

“Max, chill,” Michael said. “And, uh, Ven, you, too. Valenti said it. The evidence is circumstantial, I’ll be released.”

“Think about it,” Max hissed. “Where’s the Special Unit?”

“I told you, it was Solia who tipped the cops off.”

“No, I mean, why isn’t the Special Unit here?” Max asked. “The arrest has been in the papers. You’d think they’d be all over this place, tripping over themselves to pick up one of the bona fide aliens already in police custody.”

“They’re not here,” Ven agreed, satisfied.

Max shot a pointed look at Michael. “Michael, they know. If they didn’t, they would have picked Ven up by now.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Jim nodded slowly. “I agree,” he said. “Not a peep from the Special Unit.”

Michael shook his head, frustrated. “I’m not just gonna leave him here,” he said, gesturing at Ven.

“You are as brave and valiant as they say,” Ven breathed.

Max bit his lip and turned to Michael questioningly.

“Hey, if they say it,” Michael said with a shrug.

“Michael..”

Michael held his hand up. “Maxwell, I understand the gravity of the situation. I’m just using a little humor to try and keep from absolutely freaking out here.”

“Okay,” Max said, smiling just a little. “But Michael, we can’t leave you here.”

“We can’t leave him here,” Michael said, gesturing to Ven.

“I don’t mind,” Ven spoke up.

“The DA’s office still wants somebody staying here until we find out if they’re going to prosecute or not,” Valenti pointed out.

“Me,” Ven said, urgently. “This is what I was born to do. Your highness, don’t take away my birthright.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Michael said, staring at him.

“Look,” Max said. “You, Michael, are not staying here. It’s not an option. We can’t put you in danger. Ven seems to be safe here, will probably be released, and is happy to do it. I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is, it’s slavery.”

“It’s not,” Ven spoke up. “I have free will. Your highness.”

“Would you quit with the ‘highness’ bit?” Michael asked. “We abdicated. We’re not going back. Period. This is our home, and I’m not royalty here.”

“Fine, then you’re not royalty,” Ven said casually. “And this is your home. And this is my home, too. I belong in your service. Let me help you. Please, Michael Guerin, let me help you.”

“Is it just me, or was that way too easy?” Michael whispered to Valenti as they made their way through the halls of the sheriff’s department. His voice was muffled beneath the mask he had donned yet again to disguise himself.

“Don’t question your blessings, just enjoy ‘em and move on,” Valenti replied.

“Right, sure,” Michael said absent-mindedly. He still had a weird feeling about Ven, but Max and Valenti had a point, if it was that easy…

Valenti stopped in front of a door. Michael glanced up and read the words ‘EVIDENCE LAB’. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. Blood pumping through his veins. Adrenaline. Fear. Anticipation.

“Now, before we go in there,” Valenti said quietly, “are you sure you want to do this?” Valenti reached for his keys, watching Michael.

Michael took a deep breath. “Positive,” he said.

“You’ve thought about it?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ve thought about it. It’s what I need to do.” He tried to summon a convincing look.

Valenti narrowed his eyes at him. “Michael, your face doesn’t match your words right now.”

“Sure, I’m scared,” Michael said honestly. There was so much he was leaving out… so much… “But I gotta do this, Valenti.”

“Do you want to… talk about anything before you go in there?”

Did he ever want to talk about anything? Michael shrugged, and after a moment’s regard, Valenti turned to insert his keys in the lock and open the door.

“Where is it?” Michael asked immediately. It. Him. No… it. He pulled the mask off his face, the stale air of the evidence lab rushing into his nostrils. He shoved the mask into his pocket, crumpling it up.

“This way,” Valenti said, and led him through the room to the rear of the lab. Past things that Michael didn’t want to know about.

He stopped in front of one of the last groups of objects. Michael crashed to a halt behind him and stared. There, laid out on a table, bagged, with notes, lay the remains of what used to be Hank Whitmore.

Michael choked involuntarily, and then felt himself gagging as everything he’d eaten at the DeLuca’s earlier came rushing back into his throat. He managed to swallow it back. “What… what are they going to do with it?” he asked once he’d composed himself.

Valenti’s voice was low. “Once they’ve finished running the tests and catalogued everything, he’ll have a burial.” Michael nodded, his chin locked into place. There would be no funeral for Hank Whitmore, he’d left no friends or relatives who cared. Everyone had moved on. Michael had moved on.

The thing was, now he was back.

“Could you… could I just have a second?”

“Sure,” Valenti said, still staring closely at him. “Sure. Just come and get me when you need me, son.” Son. Michael used to be Hank’s son. Almost. So close. He turned and walked into the back section of the lab, closing the door behind him.

Michael stared at the carefully logged evidence on the table. The bones, the tattered clothing. He remembered that shirt. Hank used to wear it a lot. He wasn’t big for clothes shopping anyway, he probably had a total of eight shirts he wore around the house, plus a few more for work. This one, the olive green, with the stripes, and the blue at the bottom. It was a new one. He bought it just a few months before. He’d been wearing it… wearing it the night he died.

That night stood out so clearly in Michael’s memory. It had seemed like a night that would never end. From the tense dinner at the Evans’ house, to the drawn gun and the blatant display of his powers, until he was finally safe and secure in the reassuring arms of Maria DeLuca. And then it was over. Only it wasn’t, because he was still living it.

Murdered. All these years, Hank had been buried in the ground, rotting away… to this… and Michael had gone about his life without knowing.

All these years, he’d been afraid of turning a corner and bumping into Hank again out of the blue, and he never had.

And he never would.

He clapped his hands to his face, covering his nose and mouth, and slowly his fingers slid down, towards the body, pulling down. He felt a chill pass through his shoulders as he reached out to Hank Whitmore one last time.

He remembered the last time he’d seen the man. A final backwards glance as he’d fled the trailer in terror. He’d wanted to say so much, in that long moment when he and Hank stared at each other, Hank knowing, Michael afraid. But instead, Max and Isabel had rushed him away to safety, and Hank was left alone to wait for Nasedo… to wait for death… The chill on his shoulders intensified.

“You… you were a shit,” he said aloud, echoing in the empty evidence room, his voice shaking. “I fucking hated you. I should have said it to your face, but you knew it. And I knew you hated me.” He hesitated, staring down at the tattered remains, and shuddered. It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. These pieces of human on the table, were all that were left of his foster father. Hank didn’t look like that. He looked bigger. Fatter. Pinker. Scarier.

Alive.

“I’m sorry,” Michael barely managed to say. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen! You were a shit! But you didn’t deserve-“ his voice broke off as tears leapt to his eyes. He wiped them away hurriedly. “You didn’t deserve this,” he whispered.

Without thinking, he reached over to touch one of the evidence bags, and then he knew even as he did it what he was doing. But he couldn’t stop himself. Couldn’t prevent it. And he knew, deep down, that he had to do it. Just like he’d had to drag himself here in the first place, it was something he had to do.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, and looked up to see Hank standing before him, as he remembered him. He jumped back involuntarily, startled, even though he’d known...

“You did this,” Hank’s ghost sneered, staring at him.

“I, n-no,” Michael gasped. He was hit with a wave of emotion – not only fear that his powers were proved right, but terror at actually seeing a spirit in full consciousness, rather than the half-awareness he’d had before. The shock at seeing that face again after so many years. That face… All the hairs on his arms stood on edge.

“I didn’t,” Michael said. “I - I didn’t know. The man who killed you, he thought he was protecting me. I didn’t know, I didn’t want him to do this.” He glanced desperately at the table, and then back up at Hank, who was looking at the evidence, confused.

“Where am I?” Hank demanded. He peered at Michael. “What the hell happened to your hair?”

Michael found himself forcing a small smile, which he choked back. “It’s… it’s been two years,” he whispered. “You’ve been… dead… for more than two years.”

Hank stared back at the bones. “They finally found me?” he asked Michael.

“Yeah,” Michael said sadly. “They did. They finally found you.” He licked his lips. His mouth was so dry. So thirsty. Hank would never have a drink again. “You’re,” he started. “You’re gonna get a real burial and everything. At last.”

“You found me?”

Michael shook his head slowly. “I just came here to… to say goodbye.”

“Where you goin’?” Hank folded his arms and glared at him.

“Far away,” Michael said. “As far away from Roswell as I can.”

Hank squinted at him. “Don’t blame you,” he said, and Michael could see for the first time why Hank seemed so different. It was that he was sober. Not that it made him any less threatening. Especially now that he’d added ghost to his resume.

“I’m different now,” Michael said, mildly encouraged. “After you disappeared, I moved out on my own. Supported myself. I had to leave Roswell, me and my friends, but we’re out there trying to do good in the world.”

“Huh,” Hank said, staring at him. There was an unspoken shift to the word, almost an approval.

Michael bit his lip at the sound of it. It wasn’t a sentiment he’d gotten frequently from Hank, and therefore was one he’d always clung to.

And even though he expected it, he wasn’t prepared for what came next. “You knock me off, and go about your life like the king of the world.”

“I am,” Michael said defensively. He’d always wanted Hank to know. “Not a king. A prince. Just not of this world.” His chin quivered. “Goddamn.”

“What you talkin’ about?”

“I’m an alien, Hank. A freak. C’mon, you knew it. How the hell do you think I brought you here in the first place?”

For once in his life – in his death – Hank had nothing to say, just stared at Michael, his mouth hanging open.

“If you’d known,” Michael said softly, “would you still have thought I was worthless?” He looked away, afraid to hear the reaction. “Aren’t I worth something?” A sneer crossed Hank’s face, and Michael cringed away, unable to look for the answer. “Forget it,” he said. “So now you know.”

“What the hell…?”

Michael took a step forward. “Look, I wanted to tell you. I couldn’t. I couldn’t trust you. You could have done a lot to make my life even more miserable than you did.”

“Miserable? I made you miserable?”

“Shut up, Hank.” That did the trick. He took a deep breath. “I’m. Sorry. You know what? I’m not sorry I ever attacked you. I’m not sorry I ever yelled at you. You’re a sorry-ass bastard who did a lot of shitty things to me, but I’m sorry you had to die for me.”

“Do you know what he did to me?” Hank asked, his voice low.

“No,” Michael said. “You know what? I don’t want to know. Maybe you deserved to be roughed up a bit, you sure didn’t have any qualms about hitting some kid I remember who never even lifted a finger to defend himself.” He held up his hand boldly to silence the protest. “But you didn’t deserve to die.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Hank said, and Michael’s head shot up from the shoes he’d been staring at. “You turned out okay, Mick. Ya didn’t deserve me.”

“Maybe I did,” Michael said thoughtfully.

“Naw,” Hank said. “Naw, I know you didn’t.” He stepped forward. “I know I screwed up my life. Had some time to think about it, you know. But if you don’t end up a total screw-up like me, well...”

Michael stared at the figure before him. For the past two years, so many times, he’d had the thought in the back of his mind. What would Hank say if he could see me now ? He wanted, more than anything, to prove himself worthy. To validate himself. To do good things, to prove he was better than Hank Whitmore.

And it was true, there were plenty of things he’d done only to prove himself that better person.

And in that sense, maybe Hank had done him some good. By giving him something to prove.

“Thank you,” Michael said, “for taking care of me.”

Hank nodded at him.

“And goodbye,” Michael said. He realized a moment later that he wasn’t sure how to reverse the effect, it had just happened before, but it just happened now, as Hank took another look at the remains on the table, one last sad goodbye, and then stepped back and was gone.

Michael let out a sob, and felt the tears he was holding back emerge. He leaned over the body, so still, so final. He felt the sound pouring out, the tears pouring out, the emotion draining away. After a moment, when he felt like he’d released as much emotion as he needed to, he hurriedly wiped his eyes, sniffed, straightened up, and glanced around. “Goodbye,” he whispered to Hank’s body, then turned quickly and walked to the door Valenti had walked through, and opened it.

“I’m done,” he said, his voice thick.

Valenti nodded at him. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Michael said, dismissively.

Valenti peered at him. “Anything you want to talk about?” Michael shook his head. “Okay, then.” Michael slipped the mask back onto his face, relieved, and sealed it into place.

They made their way back out into the hallway, where Max was waiting for them. “Ready to hit the road?” he asked Michael.

“Yeah, sure,” Michael said distantly.

Max pulled him to the side. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Michael said, his voice trembling. “Why?” After a moment, the shivers increased. That face was in his mind. That face that had haunted him for years. It still haunted him. But it was gone. He would never have to see it again. He would never have to wonder again. He would never have to worry again. Hank Whitmore was gone. That part of his life was…

Max gently put his arm around Michael’s shoulders, to quell the shaking. “Michael, come on, it’s over,” he said. “It’s over.”

Max was right. It was over. At last. As much as it ever could be.

Slowly, the two walked out of the sheriff’s department, Max’s arm wrapped firmly around Michael’s shoulders, to the van where their new family waited for them.

THE END

To be continued in "Spirits"...