PART TWENTY THREE

The SUV that John had supplied bounced uncomfortably over the rocky dirt road.

Max sensed something was off, and had been since Cal had come out of the chamber. He wasn't sure what was said between Liz and Cal before he came out, but Cal had emerged with a grim look that hadn't left his face since. There was a palpable tension in the truck. Max glanced at the rearview mirror, and was met with a glare before Cal averted his gaze.

"This is not going to be a cake-walk," Cal said from the driver's seat. "Pierce will try any tactic to capture the three of you. We have to draw the Unit in as close a possible in order for this to be a success. We can't let even one of them escape alive."

"Are you prepared to do what is necessary?" Cal asked, glancing at Michael, who nodded his face grim.

"We really don't have much of a choice, do we?" he muttered.

"No," Cal said, turning back to the road.

"They'll come for you first," he said, glancing in the rearview mirror at Isabel, whose face tightened.

"I know," she said in a low voice.

"They'll underestimate you because you're a female. That will be your advantage. You never fought much with them, so they won't be expecting it," Cal said.

Max looked at Isabel and realized that she had to be terrified, but he didn’t sense it. He realized then that he had not felt anything from Michael and Isabel in two days. He’d been so concerned about Liz and worried about this day that it hadn’t occurred to him until that moment. He sensed them, as he always did, but that was all. There were no emotions, no feelings. They were holding something back.

But what?

Max watched Michael chew nervously on the inside of his lip as he listened to Cal.

Max tuned him out as Cal filled them in, barely registering his instructions to Michael and Isabel on how to make sure that Max remained safe. It was imperative that he remained alive, if anything was to be done on Antar.

But thoughts of Antar were far from his mind in those moments, instead on those that he cared about, Michael, Isabel, Liz and the others.

His concern lay with them. What wwill have become of all of them by the end of this day? Would they be alive? Would he be somewhere in space, on his way to a planet he'd never known in this life?

He thought of Liz and the night they'd shared together. Would he ever be able to hold her in his arms with the promise of never having to let her go again? They'd never had that in the short time they'd known each other. Every moment had been filled with the threat of danger.
He wasn't quite sure how he'd been lucky enough to find Liz, but he knew now more than ever that he wouldn't ever be whole again without her.

"If it weren't for the humans, this would have been much simpler," Cal muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Max asked, hearing him mention the humans.

"Their knowledge of our existence on this planet complicates things and puts us in danger," Cal answered.

"I don't understand what you mean," Max said, looking at Cal's reflection in the mirror. "You accepted their help, and the help of others a long time ago. When did they become an inconvenience?"

Cal evaded his gaze, and Michael and Isabel looked uncomfortable. The hair on the back of Max's neck rose. Something was going on; something they weren't telling him.

"Their help was accepted under different circumstances, a long time back. Each person that was brought into the fold knew another of the Watchers and was recommended by a trusted member. Liz came into this completely by accident," Cal said.

"Isn’t John’s word enough for you?" Max asked. "Isn’t he a trusted member?"

"That’s not the point," Cal said. "People are brought into this gradually, tested so to speak."

"Tested? They put their lives on the line for us! Liz almost died for me," Max said.

"I’m not saying they can’t be trusted," Cal said. "That isn’t my main concern. Max, there are things you are going to need to do when you get back to Antar. There will be a different life waiting for you there. You can't be held back by an emotional attachment to a human girl," Cal said.

"This is my life. You can't tell me what to do with it. I agreed to go back and take care of what is expected of me, but you can't tell me what to do after that. No one can," Max said angrily.

Max watched Cal's face harden as he stared out at the road.

"You have no idea how things are going to change,"Cal said, and then Isabel pulled his attention away.

"Max, why do you care so much about this place?" Isabel said. "Soon we'll be off of this planet, and you won't have to worry about any of it. I know Liz helped you, but we don't belong here. We're going home, where we belong, and I for one don't ever want to even think of Earth again."

Max's face tightened. How could they not understand what Liz meant to him, why he would want to come back? Didn't Alex, Maria and John prove that not all humans were bad? Didn't Cal take into account the other humans that were helping them to keep track of the bounty hunters? How could any of them just disregard it?

"What are you saying?" Max asked Cal in suspicion, ioring Isabel's remark.

"Nothing," Cal answered evasively. "All I'm saying is that we have to be careful. We're more powerful than the humans but they have other ways of obtaining the advantage. You can't let any of your human feelings get in the way now, Max. We can't afford it."

"Isn't that why we left them behind?" Max said, irritated. "So that I wouldn’t be distracted?"

Cal shook his head in exasperation as he turned onto another dirt road.

"All I am trying to say is that you are going to need every ounce of concentration you possess."

Cal turned abruptly off of the road, toward a dilapidated dwelling, obviously long abandoned.

"We're here," he said, pulling up in front of it.

"Go inside," Cal said, motioning to Michael. "I'm going to hide the truck. Pierce doesn't know I'm with you, so we have the upper hand."

The three got out of the truck and made went to the door, pushing it open with caution. They stepped in as Cal pulled away.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Michael shut the door and glanced around the room as Isabel and Max checked the windows. They had long been shattered, the glass lying in disarray on the floor underneath them. A thick coating of dust and sand covered the floor and the ratty furniture that looked like it had been exposed to the elements for quite some time.

He glanced at Isabel, as he felt a flash of turmoil, and knew that she was feeling the same confusing emotions he was. He knew that everything was riding on their actions now. Cal would have it no other way, and made certain that they knew in no uncertain terms what was riding on this day, and what was going to happen if it didn’t go as planned. He and Isabel hadn’t spoken about the private conversations with Cal that took place while Max and been spending time with Liz. Cal had warned them against allowing Max to even suspect what he’d told them, and warned them to close themselves off from him until they dealt with Pierce. But Michael could see the mixed emotions in her eyes, even as she remained closed off from he and Max.

She turned toward him and he gave her a pointed look, and she nodded imperceptibly. Max would see it too, he knew, and that was dangerous. It could ruin everything.

He reminded himself that there was a greater purpose to all of this, and that everything was riding on these next few hours, and he had to focus on that. To think past the next few hours was dangerous, to all of them, and above all he knew his duty was to protect Max with all that he was, as he had done on Antar.

Max caught a flash of something racing across the floor, and Isabel jumped, startled.

Caught off guard, Max felt a rush of emotions from her, confusing and almost pungent: fear, anger, and confusion. An instant later it was gone, as if switched off.

Max looked up to see the look of fear that was quickly masked on her face, and it had nothing to do with the desert rodent that had just flashed across the filthy floor.

"Just a mouse," Michael grumbled glaring at her, and Isabel let out a long breath.

Max was now certain there was something they were holding back.

In that moment, he realized how very alone he felt. Isabel and Michael stood united in their detachment from humans. Though he had sensed them for as long as he could remember, they never felt more like strangers to him. He knew that they didn't experience the life-altering situations that he did with Liz, all of the courageous things she had done when she could have just walked away. They did not know that humans could be selfless. They did not know what it was like to love as he did. Looking at them, he had never felt more alien in his life.

Michael fired an impatient glance at him, and scowled. Isabel looked between Max and Michael in silence, clenching her hands.

"You think I am a fool, don't you?" Max asked, not able to look at them. "I know there's something you're not telling me. I want to know what's going on."

"Nothing," Michael said, "Or it will be nothing, as long as you stick with the plan."

"Does this have anything to do with Liz?" Max asked, feeling the unease tightening his body.

"Why is it that you think everything revolves around the humans?" Michael asked sharply.

Michael acted irritated; a little too irritated.

"You’re both hiding something," Max said.

Michael sighed in impatience.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to get through this day so we can get the hell off of this planet," he said. "I’m sorry that I don’t feel worried over what’s going to happen to them. It’s our lives at stake here, not theirs. When we leave, their lives will go back to normal," he said.

Max glared at him.

"If that’s true,, then why I can’t feel either one of you? You’ve cut me off. Why?" Max asked. "You have to tell me, please..."

Michael looked away.

"This is about Liz and the others, isn’t it?" Max asked. "You can’t lie to me. You may have cut me off, but I can see it on your faces."

"Just do what Cal says, and everything is going to be fine," Michael answered.

"Fine? How is everything going to be fine when I can’t protect her and the others?" Max asked.

Michael looked uncomfortable, and Isabel moved to stand near the window. Max was torn between his feelings of anger that they were keeping things from him and his fear for Liz.

He looked at Michael, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Why? Why can't you tell me? We're in this together, the three of us. I know that things weren't easy in the compound..." Max said.

"No, they weren't," Michael harshly.

"But that has nothing to do with Liz and the others," Max interjected.

"Max trust me, its for your own benefit," Michael said, looking away.

"I can't," Max said, "not when Liz could be hurt."

Michael's lips tightened.

"She’s not going to be hurt, but you have to let go of this, and her for now…"

"I know you don't understand," Max interrupted. "I know you haven't seen what I've seen humans are capable of. But for all the horrible things that some have done, there are just as many people who are kind, who care, who love."

"What do you know of love?" Isabel asked, suddenly in a shaky voice, glancing at Michael, and her look revealed some unspoken truth between them.

"Love is a human emotion, Max. Human. We don't belong here, or with any of the people who live here. I am sorry that I don't have sympathy for the way you feel about Liz, but I just can't. Every time I think of humans, I see Pierce, or his men, and I remember what they did to me...to us," she said.

"What about Alex and the others?" he asked. "He helped you to get the chip off. You would have been caught if it weren't for their help."

"So? That's one incident. Anyway, Cal would have protected us," she said lowering her head, moving to the window.

She couldn't meet his eyes, and he knew Cal had been working on them. She was conflicted, and he could see it. Both of them were.

He had to push them, to convince them to tell them what they knew.

"Are you two that cold? Can't you even admit that they helped you?" Max said in anger. "We're part human as well! Or have you forgotten?" he asked in disbelief.

"Forgotten?" Michael snorted. "I was reminded of that every minute in the compound. We were part human, but obviously not human enough."

"We are human in the ways that count, whether you see it or not," Max said. "These feelings we have...they're human. Cal doesn't feel as we do. Don't tell me you don't see it."

"Maybe that's not such a bad thing," Michael said in a low voice.

"How can you say that?" Max asked, and snapped his mouth shut when the door opened and Cal stepped into the cabin. Michael gave him a warning glance, and Max looked away from him in anger.

"What's the problem?" Cal asked, sensing the tension in the room.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%

Each passing minute seemed like an eternity for Liz, sitting away from the group in the chamber.

Her whole life was hanging in the balance, and there was nothing she could do but wait for the inevitable.

She felt the insistent pull to touch the symbol that now lay hidden in her skin, beckoning her with its promise of a connection to Max. One she desperately needed at the moment, feeling terrified that something was going to happen to him at the hands of Pierce and his men.

She felt as if she were locked in a prison, a caged cat trying to figure out a way to get loose. But John would never let her leave, or to put herself in danger.

Logic told her that he was right, but she wasn't thinking logically at the moment. She was thinking with her heart, and it cried out for the boy who had suddenly become her world.

She'd seen the look on his face as he'd left the chamber and knew he was as torn about leaving the chamber as she was about him going. But there had been no choice.

"Liz," Maria said in a soft voice, watching her pace in a distracted manner. Liz didn't acknowledge her, and Maria stepped forward and put her hand on her arm.

"Chica, talk to me," she said, looking her life-long friend in the face. Her heart went out to her friend who had been through so much with Max, only to know that she would soon lose him, even if he made it back alive. Maria herself had been pondering many questions over the past few days. Everything she thought to be true had been turned upside down. Her normal life had suddenly become extraordinary and dangerous. One day she'd been waiting tables, and the next she'd covered up a murder, hid a fugitive, and now was hiding out with beings not from this earth. If she'd told anyone, they'd laugh in her face. In fact, if anyone would have told her the same story, she would have wondered what kind of drugs the person had been taking. But it was all true. Undeniably, outrageously true.

Maria saw the worry etched all over her friend's face and sighed.

"What can I do?" she asked.

Liz turned to look at her.

"Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do, including me. That's the problem. I have to sit here helpless while Pierce comes after Max," she said, kicking at a stone on the floor in frustration.

"Liz, you'd be doing more harm than good being there. You can't do what they do. You don't have the powers that they do," Maria said.

"It doesn't make it any less frustrating," Liz gritted.

Maria saw that anything she said was only going to upset Liz, as she glanced over at Alex and Uncle John talking in low voices.

She shook her head.

"Ok Chica, I'm going to leave you alone," she said, stepping back.

Liz closed her eyes and sighed.

"I'm sorry 'Ria, I don't mean to take it out on you," she said.

"I know," Maria answered. "But you know I'm here for you, right?"

Liz opened her eyes and nodded.

"'K, then," Maria said, giving her a quick hug. " I'll be over there if you need anything."

"Thanks," Liz said in a low voice. Maria nodded and left her near the entrance to the chamber.

Liz looked out over the whitewashed landscape that lay before her.

Somewhere out there, Max was going to face his greatest enemy, and she prayed that Max and the others would have the strength to defeat him. She knew that if he did, he would be leaving, but at least she could live with knowing that he was somewhere, even if it was light years away.

Again the powerful urge to connect with him caused her to tremble, and she raised her hand, her fingers hovering over her throat.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*

What is the problem?

Max turned his eyes back toward Michael in a defiant glare, but instead of a matching look, his eyes met the pleading gaze, begging him to remain quiet.

Max looked at him in confusion, but also sensed the fear emanating from both Michael and Isabel, amplified as Cal almost walked in on their conversation.

What were they afraid of?

"Max!"

An angry voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned to find Cal glowering at him.

"You aren't paying attention, and its going to cost you your life," he said.

"Sorry," Max mumbled as Michael and Isabel turned from their posts.

"It's the human girl isn't it?" Cal asked, irritated. "You don't really understand what kind of danger you're in, do you? Do you have any idea what the bounty hunters would do to you, and to your precious human companions if they found you?"

Max's face reddened in anger as he moved to stand before Cal, a defiant look in his eyes.

"I understand danger," he said, glowering.

" We understand pain beyond your wildest imagination," Max glowered, glancing at Isabel and Michael, who stood looking at him in shock.

"While you were free all these years, we were tortured, experimented on. We went through things you wouldn't want to experience in your worst nightmares," Max spat. "Liz put herself in danger because of me, so I'm sorry if my concern lies with her now."

A harsh laugh burst from Cal's mouth.

" You my King, are meant for bigger things. You have responsibilities that you can't just shirk because you are in lust with a creature who is nothing like you, and never will be. It's time someone said it aloud," Cal said leaning toward him in a menacing stance.

"That's where you are wrong," Max said. "We are the same, in all the ways that matter. Michael, Isabel and I are a good part human, whether you want to face that or not. All I've been hearing from you is my obligation to duty, from the moment I first laid eyes on you."

Cal pushed Max back against the wall with savage intent, his hand grabbing Max's throat.

"You are Antarian," he hissed. "You're essence, all that you are is greater than any human could ever dream of."

"I... don't...want... it," Max choked, his face coloring as Cal's hand tightened across his throat.

"I don't care what you want," Cal spat.

Max's vision grew hazy as he struggled to take a breath. He could make out the fury in Cal's eyes, his clenched as he shook him.

"You will do what I tell you. I haven't spent the last fifty years here looking for you only to watch you get yourself killed, or throw away the opportunity given to you. You've been reborn, at the cost of many lives. You owe us this. You owe the people of Antar who died so that you could live again. Nothing, and I mean nothing is going to stand in the way of that," Cal threatened.

Max knew he meant every word he said. No, Cal wouldn't really harm him, because "Zan" was too important. He had a duty back on Antar. But what of everyone else? He felt fear overtake his heart.

It was in that moment that he felt her calling out to him. She had connected with him through her mark.

Her soft, loving essence filled him completely, mixed with her fear. It mirrored his, but his fear was now for a different reason.

*%*%*%*%*%*

At first, all she felt was a heartbeat, and then she was with him.

Her joy at feeling him surrounding her, trying to calm her was replaced with terror in an instant as she felt his pounding fear coursing through her. She felt as if she were being strangled by it.

"Something’s wrong," Liz whispered, her eyes closed.

She heard Alex’s voice as if in a dream.

Liz?

"Don’t push me away," she pleaded.

Liz, what’s wrong?

Detached, she felt a hand touch her arm, but she ignored it.

"Max, please, let me in…"

Jesus, what the hell is that?

Chica, talk to us, please…

"He scared," Liz said in a trembling voice. "He’s so scared."

Uncle John, get over here! What the hell is that?

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

"She's distracting you even now," Cal shouted in disgust. "I can see that you're thinking of her, even as I have my hand around your throat. I could take your life, and you'd still be thinking of an inconsequential girl who means nothing in the grand scheme of things."

Max tried to send her calming thoughts, but he only felt her apprehension rise. She knew. She knew something was wrong. In a moment of panic a frightening thought occurred to him.

What if Cal found out what happened between them? Cal was no better than Pierce, he realized. He'd use what Max loved as a means to get what he wanted.

He heard her silent plea across their connection, begging without words to tell her he was all right. He felt a surge of love from his own heart surge back toward her, begging her to break the connection. She was in danger. But incredibly, her hold on the connection only strengthened, growing stronger.

"You are going to swear to me right now that whatever is between you and Liz Parker is over," Cal grated. "Swear it, or I'll go back and kill her myself."

Max saw the deadly intention in Cal's eyes. Suddenly, Cal was ripped away from Max, and Isabel screamed.

*%*%*%*%*%*%

"No, something’s happening," Liz whimpered.

Liz, talk to me, please!

Maria’s voice barely registered, as if she were shouting from a distance.

I’d heard about the ritual, but how could he have known? No one told him… John said.

Liz caught a flash of Cal’s face, enraged as Isabel held him back with her energy field.

Then there was blackness, and the fear, the paralyzing fear and anger that exploded around her, and she felt herself slide to the floor, caught by a pair of hands.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%

Max felt his connection wane a bit as rage filled his heart, coloring everything around him as he struggled to keep his powers in check. Michael dragged him to the door, whispering in his ear as he pulled him away.

"Tell Isabel to stop Max! Do as he says," Michael whispered in desperation. "Do it, or Liz is dead!"

"We need his help, or we’re all dead," Michael hissed. "Let her go!"

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Max turned his head toward Michael and found the answer to their fear. Michael didn't hate the others, or Liz. He was trying to protect them.

Max looked at Isabel over Michael's shoulder and saw the same answer in her eyes. They knew they needed Cal, but they were afraid of him. Why hadn't they told him?

What was it Cal had been telling them?

In his heart he already knew. He'd told them that he would dispose of the humans if they got in the way, and Max had been so blinded by his love for Liz that he hadn't even seen it coming. They'd tried to convince him to think like them to protect his heart, and the one that he loved.

Isabel held her shield in place, looking at Max and Michael with terrified eyes.

Cal pounded against the shield and shot a murderous look in Max’s direction, before turning it on Michael.

"The Prince's second to the end, aren't you?" he grated.

"Were you even listening to me when I said this was for his own protection? He died on Antar because you backed his ridiculous plan to work with Khivar, to rebuild his planet. You all died for that," Cal said.

"You don't know enough about who you were on Antar, and I don't have the time to fill you in. There will be plenty of time for that once this is taken care of and you are off this planet safely. But know this, you will fix what you wronged on Antar. A few human lives are nothing to me. My family died for you, and I am going to make sure that it wasn't in vain," Cal hissed.

"Let him go Isabel," Max said.

"What?" Isabel asked, looking at Max in indecision.

"Let him go," he repeated. "He won’t hurt any of us."

After a pause, Isabel let down her shield and Cal stepped forward.

"If it is true that I am a Prince and you are my protector, you will do as I say," Max said. "You'll do it, or I’m not going back."

A harsh bark exploded from Cal’s mouth.

"If you stay here, you’re as good as dead. You are no good to me here, and it would be nothing for me to let it get out to the bounty hunters," Cal countered.

"I’ll go with you, but if you touch Liz…if you harm her in any way I swear I'll kill you myself," Max warned, staring at him in defiance.

Cal moved to stand in front of him.

"Don't threaten me kid," Cal said, stopping inches from his face. "I don't care about your personal happiness. In fact, I would prefer you miserable. You ruined our world. Do as I say, and I might let the girl live."

But Max saw the truth in Cal's eyes. He had no intention of letting Liz or the others live.

"You're lying," Max said, and on pure instinct, every cell in him reaching out to Liz in protection. He wrapped her essence with his own and closed his eyes.

He felt her within him, a mere human girl, but so very strong and brave. Even now, her soul embraced his with nothing but love and acceptance, pleading for him to hold on to her.

An unearthly blue glow seemed to seep from his pores, growing stronger and brighter.

He opened his eyes and saw Cal’s eyes widen.

"You couldn't have-" Cal said moving toward Max. "You stupid kid!"

A fear greater than he had ever known gripped his body as he saw with no uncertainty that Cal knew his secret.

In an instant he made his decision. He wasn't going to let her be hurt by Cal's wrath. With a roar, he forced Liz away from him, hearing her cry ring out in his head, as he pushed her away.

He felt her resist, as she cried out to him through the connection.

The room around them was instantly charged with energy and Cal realized what Max meant to do.

"No, wait kid! You don’t know what you’re doing!" Cal yelled as he grabbed Max's arm in a crushing grip.

But Max didn’t hear him as he used every ounce of strength he had to force her away.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Liz felt for a moment as if her mind was being sawed into a million pieces.

Liz shrieked in agony as Alex held her in his arms, looking at his Uncle in desperation.

"Uncle John, do something! Help her!" he yelled.

"Jesus Christ, what is he doing?" John cried, as he Held Liz’s hands away, keeping her from clawing at her face as she opened her eyes, her pupils glowing with an eerie blue light.

The mark on her neck pulsed as if it were going to break through her skin, and he stared at it in wonder.

"The seal. He doesn’t know," John whispered.

"Doesn’t know what?" Maria asked, panicked as she tried to calm her friend.

"He’s marked her. They have a bond now, not meant to be broken, unless it is mutual. He’s blocking their connection," he said.

"What does that mean?" Alex asked.

"Cal has to stop him," John muttered.

"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?" Alex shouted.

An anguished wail exploded from Liz’s lips as the entire chamber filled with blue light.

The ground seemed to erupt beneath them, and knocked John off of his feet.

And then Liz fell limp in Alex’s arms, and all fell silent.

*%*%*%*%*%*

The very foundation of the cabin shook as Max roared in agony, feeling Liz ripped from him.

"Max, you have to stop!" Cal shouted. "You don’t know what you’re doing!"

"I…won’t…let…you…hurt…her," Max said, feeling pain slicing through his head.

"I won’t…I can’t! just stop," Cal yelled.

"Max, listen to him," Isabel cried, grabbing his arm.

Max’s hands fell from his head, palms upturned, and his head fell back. The room shimmered as he prepared to dissolve the bond.

The shimmering grew, spreading bursting through the roof of the cabin toward the sky. A shower of wood and dust rained down on them.

"Kid, if you ever believed me, believe me now. If you do this, you’ll kill her and yourself. She’s your mate, tied to you in every way. If you dissolve that mark, you’ll both die. One can’t exist without the other if you do it this way," Cal said.

Max saw the truth in Cal's eyes, that he was killing Liz.In panic, he tried to reverse what he'd done, but the energy had taken on a life of its own, and he struggled to gain control of it. He looked at Cal in terror, not knowing how to stop it.

"Liz!" he cried as he felt her slipping away from him.

"Kid, listen to me," Cal said. "Concentrate. Picture her in your mind. Bring her back. Do it now!"

With every cell in his being, he called out to Liz. For a moment, he felt nothing, and then she was there, a dim light in his heart.

"Liz, I’m sorry, I didn’t know," he whispered. "Please…"

He felt her essence grab onto his and he pulled her toward him, feeling her life-force grow stronger.

"That’s it Kid, you’ve got her," Cal said. "Now draw your energy in."

Slowly Max felt the light being drawn back toward him, and he fought for control of it.

"Steady kid, steady," Cal said.

Max’s breathing slowed as he wrapped Liz in an ethereal embrace, willing her back to him.

A moment later, the light faded, and he slumped to the floor.

Michael and Isabel rushed to his side.

"Max, are you ok?" Michael said, as Isabel cupped his face.

"Is she ok?" Max whispered.

"I couldn’t say. She’s alive, because you still are, but you may have toasted her good. You’re a fool," Cal said in disgust. "You mated yourself to a human, and then tried to dissolve it."

"I…had…no…choice," Max gasped, opening his eyes to stare at Cal in hatred. "I was trying to protect her."

Cal shook his head.

"You just caused more damage than you could ever know. You revealed youself and now They know . They know you are here, and that you have a mate. You just sied her death warrant yourself," Cal said.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Two figures clad head to toe in muslin seemed to glide across the sand alongside Highway 285. A lone car appeared on the horizon, and the two stopped, fixing their reptilian eyes on the Sheriff’s cruiser that approached. No, it wouldn’t do to stop this vehicle. They’d learned very quickly that local law enforcement were not desirable hosts. Their disappearance brought too many questions. The cruiser roared by, kicking up dust in its wake, without ever seeing the two unearthly creatures. When the car had safely passed, they resumed their trek. It was inconvenient that their hosts had expired on this particular highway. Human vehicles were not conducive to their alien appendages, which didn’t quite reach the steering wheel.

They’d heard rumors of the Zan around Roswell, but had not yet seen any evidence of it. They’d come across many dead ends over the years, but they had time on their s

"Loo soolah, meg jen dayun," one intoned, and the other nodded. They would have to find new hosts soon. Their lean bodies were not acclimated to withstand the harsh heat of this planet’s sun for many days.

Suddenly, the two froze as the very earth beneath them seemed to rumble. The larger being’s eyes turned to the horizon to see a blinding flash of light in the distance.

It turned to its companion, and their cracked lips drew back, exposing long, razor-sharp teeth.

"Min noodah Zan!" the other breathed excitedly.

The rumble continued for long seconds and then faded, just as a caravan of dark sedans appeared in the same direction the cruiser had come from.

"Nee jah sool freel," one whispered, and the other nodded, as they glided toward the approaching cars with deadly purpose.