posted on 8-Jun-2002 7:32:01 PM by TaffyCat
A Long Road Home

Author: Taffy aka Barbara Stuller
E-Mail: sstuller⊕sbcglobal.net
Title: A Long Road Home
Category: M/L
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don’t own them, just borrowing them. Promise to return them only slightly used.
Notes: Post Graduation and based on rumors and spoilers for a S4.

This was something that I had started on FF's M/L Spoiler board a while ago as speculation on a S4. I have decided to continue it here.


Teaser:
Cheap motel room somewhere…

Liz
Looking lovingly back at her husband asleep in bed, sheets tangled around his nekkid body....
Liz's V.O.
It's been 5 years since we last set foot in Roswell, so much has changed, yet so much has remained the same. We're still on the run, staying just ahead of the FBI. But lately I've been getting flashes of home. Something's not right, something is going to happen in Roswell, New Mexico and it's going to be bad; but I don't know what it is or how we can go back to stop it but we've got to, it's the only chance they have, that we have but at what cost?

Act I
Liz slips back into bed along side her husband, whom she has a bit of a wrestling match with in order to get the blankets away.

Max
Aroused, he slips his arms around his wife and looks lovingly at her, taking her lips in his, his hands begin to explore familiar, excitingly beautiful territory.

** Flash**

The Granolith – aliens – Roswell – gunfire – Crashdown in flames – people dead in the streets – Valenti fighting

** End Flash**


Liz
She gasps as the images stop, pale and trembling in her husband’s embrace.
“Oh my God, they’re coming back. Your people are coming back and…and it’ll destroy Roswell. The Crashdown, I saw it…it was burning to the ground. Oh God, what’s going to happen to my parents? ”

Max
He holds her tight as she begins to sob. He looks over to the cheap phone by the bed and wishes more than anything that he could call and find out or warn them.
“Liz, honey, you’ve been having these flashes for sometime and…and while they do usually come true in some way, you know that they’re not…well, it’s not always as it seems.”

Liz
Rubbing her cheek against his bare chest.
“I know, but this was so real, so clear. Max I know that something is going to happen and soon. We need to go back Max, now, before it’s too late.”

Max
“Did you see us there? How do you know if our going back is what triggers it or stops it from happening?”

Liz
Shaking her head and looking up at him.
“I just know, Max. You have to trust me on this.”

Max
Lovingly stroking her cheek.
“I’ll always trust you. Alright, I’ll call everyone tomorrow to meet. In the mean time, maybe we should try and get some more flashes. See if you can find out any more.”

Liz
She smiles a little at that.
“Why is it you’re always ready to help me with flashes? Maria’s right, you Czechs are just horndogs after all.”

While no more flashes occur that night, they don’t give up trying until almost dawn when they finally succumbed to exhaustion and sleep.

Act II
Early the following morning in a remote region in the Northwest

Max
He looks around the assembled group. He had called this hurried meeting. As the sun rises over the ridge, he reluctantly resumes the role of leader, a role he had hoped and tried to give up so long ago.
“I’ll come right to the point. Last night Liz had some visions, disturbing visions of home, Roswell. Something bad is going to happen and soon. We need to stop it. We need to go back…to Roswell.”

Michael
Scowling at his lifelong friend.
“Are you crazy? We’ve been on the run for five years. Always looking over our shoulder, never staying in one place too long, staying one step ahead of the government and now you want us just to walk back into there?”

Max
He looks at his friend for a bit then to the ground, then over to Kyle.
“Our people, our alien war will be coming to Roswell. Liz saw it, them, the Granolith…the Crashdown burning, people dead in the street and only the sheriff there to stop them. It’s our war. It’s our responsibility to fight it.”

Kyle
He looks over to Liz with concern. The last years had been both hard and exciting. The danger was constant and sometimes wore him down but it was never dull. His powers had started developing a year after they had left. He could blast things almost as good as Michael but what he excelled at was building things. Where ever they went he usually found work as a mechanic who could fix the impossible… until it was time to move on which was often. But at night he missed Roswell, the quiet dull little tourist trap home of his childhood and his father.
“Liz, in the vision was my dad alright?”

Liz
Her visions usually meant that it was time to move on. They had learned over the years not to dismiss them. They did that once and barely escaped from the FBI net closing in on them by minutes.
“He was alive, fighting, but I got the impression that it was a loosing battle.”

Isabel
The years had been hard on her. She had missed her husband immensely. She had called his law office in Boston once just to hear his voice on the voicemail. She didn’t leave a message, she couldn’t.
“What do we do Max?”

Max
Looking over the group. He wants to cringe at how they all look to him for the answers, as if he had some secret well that held all the answers. He does his best.
“I bought one of those prepaid cell phones. It should be untraceable. I’ll use it to call the sheriff at work. See if we can find out if anything unusual is happening and warn him to be on the look out. Then I’m going to give Cal Langley a call. See what kind of resources he has that might help us. In the mean time, let’s get packed. It’s time to move on. Let’s be ready to go by the end of the day. Remember, we all take separate routes out of the area. We’ll meet up again outside of Spokane.”

ACT III
That afternoon in Roswell, NM, Sheriff’s Department

Sheriff Valenti
He had been promoted back up to the rank of sheriff four years ago. Apparently, Hansen hadn’t handled the incident at the high school very well. It was leaked to the press that there had been armed men at the graduation the year before and the sheriff had no idea of it. It created lack of confidence in the department as a whole and he was the only one with enough experience to take the job. And there he has been for the last four years keeping and eye on things. He knew that there was a plant in his department. He could feel it in his bones. The problem was that he couldn’t let on that he was suspicious, which made finding out who it was even more difficult. So life went on as usual or as usual as it got for the residents of Roswell, NM. He was certain that his home phone was tapped and that even his cell phone was being monitored. He was also careful about emails. He had cautioned the Evans, Parkers, and even Amy to be extra careful of any and all communications that they might have with or about their children, which had been damn little in the last 5 years. He knew that Max and Liz had gotten married, that Maria and Michael were living and knowing them still fighting together. Kyle hadn’t really hooked up with anyone that he knew of but remained close friends with Isabel, who was still legally married to Jesse. Looking over at his phone, he notes the light blinking, answering…
“Hello…I’m sorry Jenny, who’s on the phone? Zan Antar? O K, put it through.”
He closes the door to his office and sits back down, all senses on high alert, recognizing the voice immediately, he notices how much older it sounded though…
“Zan, how can I help you?”

Max
“Sheriff, I was just checking up on some new rumors I heard about Roswell being invaded by aliens, you know normal stuff for Roswell. I was just checking to see if any of it was true before I read it in the Weekly World News.

Valenti
Sitting up straight in his chair, even with the door closed he still scans the room looking for hidden eyes. Proceeding cautiously…
“Nope, nothing new that I’ve seen recently. I’m sure it’s just another alien rumor. Roswell is famous for those. You might want to double check your source.”

Max
“My source is usually very reliable. We have a long history together.”

Valenti
He knows exactly who his source is. There are very few people that would get Max to make this call and only one that might “know” something about future problems, Liz. A chill runs down his spine.
“In that case, why don’t you give me a bit more background on this rumor so I can tract down where this source of yours is getting their information?”

Max
“The source told me that it was something straight out of a ‘B’ rated sci-fi movie, aliens invading, fighting in the streets, buildings burn, that sort of stuff. I just thought you’d want to check up on it, see if there was any truth to it.”

Valenti
His blood runs cold.
“Well, that’s…that’s very interesting son. I can assure you that nothing even remotely like that has happened here. Besides something of that magnitude would make headline news, since it would obviously be more than a lone sheriff’s department could handle, even one with “alien” experience.”

Max
Choosing his words very carefully…
“Don’t underestimate that experience sheriff; it might come in handy…real soon.”

Valenti
“That experience was long ago and far away. I would prefer it stayed that way.”

Max
“If my source is correct, that won’t be an option. Just keep a look out sheriff.”

Valenti
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll do that. Take care, Zan Antar.”

Max
“You too sheriff.”

Valenti
He hangs up the phone and just sits and stares at it for a long time. He puts on his hat and heads over to the Crashdown for some Men in Blackberry pie and an Alien Blast. Later Philip will be by the Crashdown to advise Jeff on a “legal” matter and then he and Diane will go for a drive, right past the Indian Reservation and of course, Diane has a penchant for the southwestern look and will want to stop and look at the turquoise jewelry, just near where River Dog lives. The message will be passed, the kids are coming home and they’re going to need a place to hide out until they can figure out what this alien invasion is all about.

Jenny
She silently waited until the sheriff hung up the phone before disconnecting her extension. She smiles at the sheriff and calls out to him to have a good lunch as he heads out the door. Looking around the area, most have left for lunch, leaving her the sole person manning the switchboard. She puts through a call…
“This is Jenny. I think he’s just made contact with one of them. I’m not sure but I heard them talk about an “alien invasion”. Yes sir, it could be another nutcase, but Sheriff Valenti recognized the name, I heard it when he hesitated when I announced the caller. Yes sir, will do sir.”



TBC

[ edited 8 time(s), last at 5-Jul-2002 3:57:57 PM ]
posted on 9-Jun-2002 12:31:55 PM by TaffyCat
To those who asked, this will not be an epic, nope, nuh uh, no way! I'm thinking 20-30 acts and that's it. Now on to the next act....


ACT IV
Michael
He and Maria were traveling light; they had no choice since they were on their bike. He had finally managed to get another one a couple of years ago, he had to or he was going to go nuts after traveling all cooped up in that van for two years. Besides they had too many near misses when they all traveled together, a group of 6 teens showing up together in a town raised too much suspicion. This way they could show up two by two. He and Maria had been living together for all of these five years but hadn’t made it legal yet like Max and Liz had. It wasn’t that big of a deal to him. He didn’t need some stupid piece of paper to tell him how to feel about Maria, which could include a multitude of emotions depending on the circumstance. They pulled into the campgrounds just outside of Spokane, close to the Idaho boarder. Pulling off his helmet and looking around, he had lots of experience in spotting the telltale signs of being observed, an unusual glint in the trees from a gun or binoculars, things being too quite, anything that made him feel uneasy. He learned the hard way to trust his feelings; it saved their lives on more than one occasion. He didn’t see, hear, or feel anything out of place. He climbs off the bike along his passenger.
“I don’t pick up anything. We’ll wait for the others.”

Maria
Getting off the bike to look around and stretch. Her stomach is one giant acid ball. She and Michael had been living in a one room cabin with her waiting tables with Liz and even Isabel part time, while Michael worked in the lumber mill with Max and Kyle at the local garage. Life hadn’t been too bad lately, other than a little cabin fever, she had even started to hope that they could stay for a while but life didn’t seem go that way for them. She’s terrified for her family, for her Mom.
“Michael, did Max say anything else about what Liz saw in her premonitions, anything at all?”

Michael
He can see that she’s trying to be brave but he doesn’t miss the quiver of her bottom lip. She along with all of them have faced capture by the FBI, stopped bank robberies, muggings, attempted murders, and a multitude of various petty crimes that Liz got any inklings of happening, and never had he seen Maria scared, not like this. He can see the fear in her eyes. This is going to be different; this wasn’t unknown people and places this was home and family. It was other aliens that they were going to be facing that had powers similar or stronger than theirs. This was one of their collective nightmares coming true.
“No, he didn’t, just the Crashdown burning and Valenti fighting them. But that’s good right? It means your Mom’s safe.”

Maria
She knew he was lying but she wanted to believe it so badly.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. If she didn’t see her, then that meant she was alright.”
{Or hurt or maybe even dead already.}
“Yeah, I’m sure she fine.”

Michael
He comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her, kissing the back of her head.
“Max talked to Valenti. All’s quiet on the Roswell front at the moment. We’ll have a better understanding once we get there and can see for ourselves.”
He looks up suddenly tense as he hears a car approaching. He relaxes as he hears that muffler that Kyle never got around to fixing grow near.

Max
He pulls their old Jeep Wrangler to a stop next to Michael and Maria’s bike. He knows that Michael had already deemed the meeting spot safe, or he would have kept on to the next spot, east of Coeur D'alene, ID. Michael was always the first to a site, if he didn’t like the looks of it for any reason; he kept going to the next stop and the next until he thought it was safe. He would always park his bike so that it could be seen from the road. If the others didn’t see the bike then they kept going until they spotted it. True they had lost Kyle and Isabel that way once but eventually they found them, better safe than sorry.
“So, Kyle was picking up Isabel and should be about 20 minutes behind us.”

Liz
She comes over and gives her best friend a hug.
“Maria, it’ll work out. Things will be fine, you’ll see.”

Maria
As she and Liz walk off a ways for a little privacy.
“Really Liz? Did you see it?”

Liz
Shaking her head,
“No, but I can feel it. Whatever is going to happen, we need to be there I know it.”
Giving her friend a small sad ironic smile,
“At least you can maybe see your Mom for a bit. I’m sure we can work it out, somehow.”

Maria
“Yeah, that’s true. And you too, and... and even Max and Isabel, right? Oh who are we kidding? We’re going there to fight an alien invasion not to visit the folks.”

Liz
“Maria STOP! Look, all I saw was that there was a battle, we don’t know how or why but I’m thinking that maybe we’re like, you know the wild cards or something. Maybe by us being there we can...I don’t know stop it or alter the outcome.”

Maria
Trying to feel better, she wishes for the thousandth time that she had some cedar oil to sniff.
“You’re right, you’re right.

Max
He’s relieved to see the partially restored ’69 Mustang roar towards them. The car didn’t look like too much on the outside but under the hood it was all muscle and it was Kyle’s pride and joy. He found it in a field and bought it for $50 bucks from some farmer. They had used his Jeep to tow it out of the field and Kyle had spent all his free time since rebuilding it by hand. Max and even Michael had helped him, again always by hand, no alien powers allowed, when they could rebuilding a carburetor, a clutch, machining the head or what have you. The only alien magic was done to the originally ripped and sun faded vinyl seats by Isabel. She had insisted. He waits for his sister and Kyle get out of the grey primer car before he begins.
“Ok, we're all here.”
He waits for Liz to come over with a fat envelop and pulls out a bundle of cash.
“I talked to Cal last night. He transferred $2000 into the account. Liz and I took out the $500 ATM max amount today and will take out another $500 tomorrow.”
He divides and hands out the cash to Isabel and Maria and the balance back to Liz.
“We meet up again in Salt Lake City. Michael, you take the lead. Liz and I will be about 20 minutes behind you, Kyle and Isabel 20 minutes behind us. If Michael stops, we all stop. Michael, look for a cheap motel on the other side of Salt Lake City for us to stay. At this rate we should be in Roswell late tomorrow. We’ll contact the sheriff then when we get near Riverdog’s cave. Any questions?”
There were none, so he turns to his wife’s best friend.
“Maria, are you going to be comfortable enough on the back of the bike? You’re welcome to ride with us.”

Maria
“Thanks Max but I’m fine besides if I’m not with Michael, he’d never stop for potty breaks.”

Michael
Thinking that she wouldn’t see, he wordlessly mimics Maria only to find that he was wrong, she could see as she smacks him on the arm. Grumbling as he puts on his helmet.
“Come on; let’s get this alien side show on the road people.”


TBC

Don't panic, you didn't lose anything, I just needed to fix the Act numbers. So I skipped III, never liked that number anyways. LOL!

[ edited 2 time(s), last at 10-Jun-2002 1:22:37 AM ]
posted on 9-Jun-2002 4:36:29 PM by TaffyCat
quote:
BelevnDreamsToo originally wrote:
DAMN!! This is so good!!!

How do you know the PNW so well?? Are you from around here??

Can't wait to see what's next!!! Thanks J *big*


Does Northern California count? I've driven thru there on my way to Glacier National Park, very beautiful country.

quote:
Am I missing something or is there no Act III? I've looked a couple times and don't see it!


Oops, I guess III does come after II doesn't it? I fixed it. See what happens when you pick something up after letting it sit for a while and don't proof read it cuz you're sure it's correct.
posted on 13-Jun-2002 5:18:52 PM by TaffyCat
Just a quick note to say that I'll have a new update tomorrow night after company leaves. Look for it then.*wink*
posted on 15-Jun-2002 12:33:34 AM by TaffyCat
Arrghhh! I had it 3/4 the way done when hubby confiscated the computer for work! Sorry to let you guys down, I really did intend and did try to get it up tonight. I'll get it posted tomorrow afternoon when hubby is at work. So sorry.*sad*
posted on 15-Jun-2002 1:06:08 PM by TaffyCat
Act V

Riverdog
It was late the following night when he heard the motorcycle off in the distance. He had been waiting for it. He and Eddie had stashed food, water and various camping equipment in the cave yesterday when they received the message from Philip Evans. Not long afterwards he heard the sound of some car that was badly in need of a new muffler and later still, he strains to hear the smooth purr of some hotrod speeding along. Tomorrow he will have breakfast at the Crashdown.

Michael
He stomps around the cave as the others finally arrive. He can’t take this, it just too close, too dangerous.
“OK Maxwell, what’s the plan? You weren’t forth coming last night, fine. But we’re here now and it’s time to spill it.”

Max
He had been laying out his and Liz’s sleeping bags while Liz went through the cooler looking for something to drink and some dinner. All eyes turn on him as Michael finally voices what everyone has been dying to. He glances over towards Liz for a moment, then back to Michael.
“Tonight, sleep and eat. We’re going to need it. Then tomorrow, Riverdog will make contact with Jeff Parker and let him know that we’ve arrived. I’ll meet with the sheriff tomorrow out at the pod chamber.”

Michael
Crossing his arms angrily, he already knows the answer before he asks it but he asks anyways.
“Alone? He’s going to be followed.”

Max
“Yes, alone. If I’m caught, I’ll need you and everyone free to fight whatever is out there waiting for us... and then rescue me.”

Michael
“No, no one goes alone. That’s been our rule for 5 years and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you break it now. If I don’t go, you don’t go, period.”

Kyle
Before Max can object, he cuts him off.
“Max, he’s right, not alone... but if something goes wrong, you’re right too. We’re going to need Michael’s firepower to fight the invading Borg. I’ll go, besides we’ve never been totally certain that they’ve put me together with you guys. I might be able to play it off as the prodigal son coming home to visit.”

Isabel
“That’s a bunch a bull and you know it. What about when you helped blast that agent’s car outside of Bend, OR, or the time in Sandpoint, ID you made that mugger go flying right by the tourist with the video camera. They’ve made you Kyle, long time ago. It’s just as dangerous for you as it is for Michael. Max, I’ll go with you. You know that I’ve had some success with developing my mindwarp capabilities. I might be able to get you out before they even realize that you’ve escaped.”

Michael
Still grumbling about it but willing to concede, almost.
“All right Maxwell, you go with Isabel, who will keep a safe distance away. I’ll go too but stay farther back. If it looks at all like you’re going down, they’re going down, no questions asked.”

Max
Scowling at his friend, he doesn’t like it but before Kyle can chime in too.
“Ok, fine Michael, but you stay way back and Kyle, I’m afraid that I need you to stay and keep Liz and Maria safe.”

Kyle
Grumbling about it,
“I really, really resent it when you three original aliens gang up like that. It really pisses me off.”

Max
Sighing, nothing new, he’s heard this a thousand times before.
“Kyle, protecting Liz and Maria is a hundred times more important than protecting me.”

Kyle
“Yeah, you got a point there, El Presidente.”

Liz
Shaking her head emphatically.
“No, Max, I’m the logical choice. I might be able to get a flash from the sheriff. I should be the one to meet him and Isabel can cover me with her mindwarp if there are problems.”

Maria
“Oh hell, this is getting ridicules. Look, I’m the only one that they’ve never caught acting alien which makes sense since I’m not. I’m the one that should go and Kyle can cover me.”

Michael
“There’s no way in hell...”

Max
He looks over to Liz. He had hated the thought of her going into danger. He can understand Michael’s feelings very well. Maria’s been very lucky and hadn’t needed any major healing. She’s been in plenty of scrapes over the years and didn’t panic easily any more. And she was right, as far as they know they don’t suspect Maria as being one of them but they probably were aware that she’s with them.
“Ok, here’s what we’re going to do. Maria, you’ll make contact. Kyle, you and Michael cover her. Iz, you, me and Liz will go too but hang back and watch the perimeter. Any signs of the sheriff being followed and we all beat it back here. Everyone agree?”

Michael
God, he hates this. He hates when any of them are going into danger, especially his Maria. He still wants to think of her as a helpless human that he needs to protect, of course she would belt him if she knew that.
“Fine Maxwell, we all go but I’m going to check out the area first thing in the morning, make sure that site hasn’t been discovered by anyone."

TBC

[ edited 2 time(s), last at 15-Jun-2002 3:45:48 PM ]
posted on 15-Jun-2002 1:10:57 PM by TaffyCat
Is this board having probelms?
posted on 25-Jun-2002 7:59:50 PM by TaffyCat
No worries, I did just finally start with a new company yesterday and have a few RL things going on, nothing bad, just need to do some adjustments...also, I've been doing a lot of updates for TMF while I had the time but I have not forgottent this bugger. I'll try to get something done in the next day or two.
posted on 27-Jun-2002 4:21:53 PM by TaffyCat
Ok, ok, here's the next part.....

Act VI

Act VI

Maria
She peers around the area. She knows that Michael had done a thorough search of the area and didn’t find anything. If she strained, she could almost make out Michael on the ridge and Kyle a 100’ to his right. She couldn’t see them but she knew that Isabel, Max and Liz where behind them. They had picked this spot because there was a ridge to use as a look out and flat desert behind her, making it easy to see anyone approaching as someone was now. The dust cloud was kicking up behind the sheriff’s cruiser as it came down the dirt road. She held her hands to over her brow, blocking the sun a little as she watched him near. The sun, it was so hot. She had almost forgotten how hot the desert sun was in Roswell. They had spent many years in the cool Pacific Northwest, the heat was getting to her. Funny, she doesn’t remember it bothering her growing up. The cruiser pulls up along side of her. She registers surprise on his face. Walking over and giving him a good hug.
“Sheriff, it’s good to see you.”

Jim
He thought Max or Michael would be the ones waiting for him, not Maria. He’s not sorry though. At least this way he can tell Amy that he actually saw her daughter and she was looking well, hugging her warmly.
“Maria, good to see you too. Now tell me what’s going on. Why you?”

Maria
Taking a seat in the cruiser, the sheriff graciously rolls up both windows and cranks the air conditioner.
“Whew, thanks. It’s hot out there. Long story, basically, if caught, I’m still 100% human. We’re fine. The guys are keeping a look out over me. Now getting down to business, Liz had a premonition about the Granolith and aliens showing up fairly soon. She only caught snippets, but she saw fighting in the streets, people dying, the Crashdown burning. She felt strongly that we needed to be here. We hope to be able to either stop it from happening or fighting them off. I don’t suppose you’ve seen anyone new in town, have you?”

Jim
There’s a huge acid ball in his stomach. He knew that only something very grave would bring the kids back and Damn it, he had been right!
“No, no one new but I have to tell you. I’m pretty sure that there’s a FBI plant somewhere in my office. I don’t have any proof but my gut is telling me there is. So Liz saw the Granolith, huh?”

Maria
“Yeah, why?”

Jim
“Have any of you been out to the old pod chamber recently?”

Maria
“No, not yet. We just got in last night and had to scope this place out, why?”

Jim
“Just thinking. If the Granolith returns, it might be on some sort of homing beacon between two points with the pod chamber being one of the points, so...”

Maria
“So that’s where it might be showing up. But the Granolith chamber was destroyed when Tess took off in it, nothing’s left.”

Jim
“Maybe, maybe not, it’s at least a place to start.”

Maria
“You’re right. I’ll pass it on. Anything else?”

Jim
Thinking for a moment then shaking his head.
“Not that I can think of. Maria, how is everyone doing? Kyle?”

Maria
She places a comforting hand on his.
“We’re ok, Kyle too. We miss everyone. God, I’d love to see my Mom, but we’re all doing ok. How are they?”

Jim
Sighing as he thinks of how hard it’s been, never knowing where or how their kids are, if they’ve been caught or killed, wondering if they would be informed if they had been. Their mutual worry over their children had brought them all very close. They watched out of each other, got each other’s backs.
“They miss all of you. It’s helped that we’ve had each other to sort of cling to, especially with all the stares and town gossip that went around right after the graduation, still does. Most townsfolk think you kids got involved in some serious drug running and the FBI were there to arrest all of you after graduation. ”

Maria
She tries hard not to shed any tears; at least her mom knew the truth, getting back to business.
“Well, I better get going. We’ll check out the pod chamber see if there are any changes, any signs of it returning. We’ll keep an eye on it.”

Jim
“Good, Jeff will be taking a ride over to Hondo tomorrow for supplies. You know he usually stops for a bite at that little café just before you pull into town. Said he would probably be there right around lunch time. I hear it’s a busy place with the lunch time crowd, easy to get lost in a crowd like that.”

Maria
“Yeah, I’ll pass that along too. Thank you, sheriff, for everything.”

Jim
He gives her a hug.
“I’m here to protect and serve... always. Keep me posted.”

Maria
She was just getting ready to leave when a flash from the ridge catches her eye. The sun was reflecting off of a mirror and she knew that mirror was in Michael’s hand. It was a signal that someone else was approaching and that could only mean one thing. They’ve been spotted...but by whom?


TBC

[ edited 3 time(s), last at 28-Jun-2002 8:14:12 PM ]
posted on 5-Jul-2002 1:34:15 AM by TaffyCat
Sorry this is taking so long but most of my efforts are going towards TMF and since I've started a new job, my time is much more limited.

Feedback please!

Enjoy!

ACT VII

Sheriff
He watches briefly as the dust cloud approaches.
“Maria, what’s your emergency plan?”

Maria
She’s temporarily too stunned to speak. It takes a few precious moments to gather her wits about her.
“What, oh, uh, mindwarp. Isabel has learned how to mindwarp but she’s not as strong as Tess was. She can’t mindwarp them into not seeing both of us.”

Sheriff
The decision was swift and logical and leaves no room for objections.
“Fine. Have her cover your escape. I can handle whoever that is. Go on, get out of here. I’ll take care of this.”

Maria
She reluctantly runs towards Max’s jeep parked nearby and takes off, praying that they don’t see her, praying that the sheriff wasn’t lying.

Kyle
He was about to jump out of his skin with apprehension. He wanted nothing more than to run down there and help his dad. In fact, he would have if Michael didn’t have a firm a hold on his shoulder keeping him there. He was about to explode at him but one look at his intense friend and he held his tongue. Michael wasn’t looking any better than he did but was holding himself in check. If Michael could do it with Maria in danger, he could do it as well for his dad. They watched in silence as the dust trail came to an abrupt end at his dad’s cruiser but made no attempt to follow the jeep. He takes a chance and tears his eyes off of his dad to look behind him, farther back, at Isabel, Max and Liz. He can see the strain Isabel is under as she keeps the mindwarp up and the worry etched across Max’s face, which mirrored Liz’s. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the jeep rounding the bend, heading towards Max and the others, safe. Maria’ s safe. Looking back towards his dad, his heart sinks as a team of agents joins his dad in his cruiser. His dad was in the back seat. He pounds his fist into the dirt.
“DAMN IT! DAMN IT!”

Michael
He saw everything, Maria’s escape, Isabel’s mindwarp, and Valenti being taken in by the agents. Coming to a quick decision, he takes off towards his bike while calling back to Kyle.
“I’m going to see where they take him. I’ve got one of the new cells. Max has the number. Have him call me in 30 minutes. I just want to make sure they aren’t going to take him anywhere they shouldn’t. If it’s back to Roswell, I’ll head back to the cave.”

ACT VIII

Sheriff
He’s sitting in the interrogation room of his own station with two agents on either side of him and a third very angrily pacing in front of him. From what he can tell, Isabel’s mindwarp worked, they hadn’t said anything about seeing Maria and the jeep. He decides to keep his mouth shut as much as possible and just watch and listen, maybe that way he might be able to get a clue as to who’s the spy in his office.

Agent Baxter
He’s pissed. The sheriff was meeting them. He knew it. He just didn’t catch them. It was odd though. He could have sworn that there were two cars there when he was first approaching but he was mistaken, it was only the sheriff. They had tipped their hand too soon and come up with nothing, or almost nothing. With nothing else to lose he played the only hand he could, he bluffed.
“So Sheriff Valenti, who was it you were meeting? Which one? Max Evans? Liz Parker? Or was it your own son, Kyle Valenti? Which fugitive was it?”

Sheriff
He wanted nothing more than to punch this asshole in the mouth but that wouldn’t do much good, only get himself arrested for assault. He knew that they hadn’t seen anyone else or they would have gone after them instead of stopping with him. He calls the bluff.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. In order for any of those kids to be fugitives they’d had to have committed a crime and I’ve yet to hear of any actual charges against them.”

Agent Baxter
His patience had grown thin over the last 5 years chasing these damn creatures across the country and on a few occasions across both the Canadian and Mexican borders, following up on dead-end leads. Loosing his cool.
“Crimes! They f*cking blew up an air force base, killed over 30 people or have you forgotten?”
Taking a few breaths to calm himself.
“These are monsters and they’ve corrupted some of the good kids of Roswell, including your own son. Help me catch these creatures so we can put a stop to all of this and bring the innocent home to their families.”

Sheriff
Taking a few deep breaths himself.
“They’ve done nothing wrong. You have no proof that they had anything to do with what happened at Rogers five years ago. You’re the ones wanting to kill them in cold blood. You’re the monsters!”

Agent Baxter
Not having a comeback immediately, he resumes pacing but his eyes never leave the sheriff of Roswell.
“Where are they? Why are they back in Roswell?”

Sheriff
“What makes you think they’re back?”

Agent Baxter
“You were going to meet them, why? What are they doing? What do they want?”

Sheriff
“They want what you and I want, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They want to live their lives in peace.”

Agent Baxter
“Bullshit! They’re dangerous. They can do things with a touch, a look… and you let them get away.”

Sheriff
He can’t help the smirk or the snort.
“You mean you just haven’t been able to catch them. If they’re so dangerous, then why hasn’t there been reports of havoc breaking out in their wake?”

Agent Baxter
“They’re waiting for something.”

Sheriff
“Waiting for what?”

Agent Baxter
Watching the sheriff closely, looking for any reaction as he expresses his worst fear.
“Reinforcements.”
He notes the sheriff’s deep intake of breath, his eyes widen for a moment. He was right, there was more coming and the sheriff knows it. A cold settles over him as the implications set in. He could feel the stillness in the room right down to the bone. When he speaks next, there is hollowness to his voice, mixed with fear.
“Where? When? They’re coming. What do they want? Why here, why Earth?”

Sheriff
He’s torn. If what Liz said was true, they could use all the help they could get, but help from this man, from the special agent unit? Could he trust them? Could he trust them with his son’s life? NO.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, agent. I haven’t seen nor heard from my son in over 5 years. Now either you let me go so I can get back to my job or let me call my lawyer.”

Agent Baxter
It was his turn to smirk.
“And who would that be? Max Evans’ Dad?”

TBC

[ edited 1 time(s), last at 5-Jul-2002 1:44:30 AM ]
posted on 11-Aug-2002 1:41:05 PM by TaffyCat
quote:
Ursa originally wrote:
It's been over a month since the last update *sad*
any news?


I don't know. I have neglected this story, but it is very hard for me to swtich gears and write more than one at a time. And right now I'm into TMF which is nearing completion at least in my mind, just need to get it on "paper". I'll see what I can do but any updates here would be spotty at best.




[ edited 1 time(s), last at 11-Aug-2002 1:42:02 PM ]
posted on 29-Sep-2002 12:56:46 AM by TaffyCat
quote:
MaryJean originally wrote:
With TMF nearing the end, are you going to pick this back up? I hope so. I would like to see where it leads. Thanks for writing,
MJ


Yes, I do plan on picking this back up next.