Title: Heart of the Phoenix Author: Majesty majesty0000@hotmail.com Rating: PG13/Eventual NC-17 (A/U) Disclaimer: I own nothing Liz and Max nor do I own the idea of Starman, which to me is almost as good as the idea of Max…<sigh> life just isn’t fair! Summary: A *very* loose adaptation of the movie Starman (No it’s not going to play exactly the way the movie did). If someone has already done this, please let me know so I don’t waste my time LOL. Liz Evans has been in a perpetual state of numbness since the death of her very human husband Max Evans in a terrible car crash. But something turns her life upside down, and she will never be the same. Those of you who have seen the movie know the basic plot. Those of you that haven’t, well you’ll just have to wait and see!   Chapter 9 The gentle sway of the train car and the absence of Max's warmth woke Liz. Slowly, she sat up, looking around for him. She saw him at the doorway to the car, watching the landscape rush by, absently stroking Lucky's fur. "Max?" she said groggily, and he turned to her. His gaze told her that this was not her Max. "Oh," she said disappointed. "He's gone Liz Evans," he said softly. "But it won't be for much longer." "I know," she said tears springing to her eyes. "We'll be in Washington tomorrow morning. It's almost over," she said, not wanting to think about what was going to happen, not wanting to think about never being able to touch Max again, talk to him, hold him. "Are you angry with me Liz Evans, because I brought him back, and now he is going to be taken away from you again?" She was quiet for a long moment before she answered him. "No, I'm not angry," she said in a low voice. "Max was taken away from this world too early. And I've gotten to see him again, even if it was only for a short time. You gave him a second chance to live. I can't be angry with you for that." He looked back out at the landscape again. "Yes I did give him a second chance, but will it be worth it to him without you? Will it be worth it to you?" he said sadly. She got up and moved to sit next to him, looking at him closely. "You don't look so good," she said, concerned at the tiredness in his eyes, the pallor of his skin. "I will be fine," he said reassuringly. She sighed. "You know, when you came here, you thought this planet would be happy to see you. You thought that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to learn about us, and for us to learn about you. But when you got here, they tried to kill you. I can't blame you for doing what you did, taking on Max's form. You didn't know the consequences," she said softly. He smiled sadly as he stared out into the night. "This is a very strange and wondrous planet. Your species is such a contradiction. I am still amazed at the diversity. You're all so *different*," he said. "It is very hard to tell how I am supposed to react. There are so many customs, idiosyncrasies, it would take years to figure them all out," he said. She put her hand on his arm. "I wish I could have taught you more, that we had more time. I think that you have seen a lot of the bad side to our humanity. You haven't seen much of the good," she said wistfully. "Oh but I have," he said softly. "I've known *you* Liz Evans," he said. "You've taught me that love is the most powerful thing there is on this planet. It can span time and space, it is unselfish, it is sacrificing, if need be. Your Max found a way back to you through me, because his love for you is that powerful. You helped me, even before you knew that Max was somewhere inside of me. You trusted me, though you do not know me. I thank you for that Liz Evans, because you helped me to do what I set out to accomplish. You have showed me the best side of your species." Liz was humbled by his admission. She hadn't thought about how he had thought of this whole mess. "You know what? You don't have to call me Liz Evans," she said smiling. "Just Liz will be fine," she said, laying her head on his shoulder. "Liz," he said, smiling. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% The abrupt lurch as the train stopped woke the two of them. Finally, Washington. Dawn had just barely arrived, and the morning was that pale gray that covered everything before the sun rises to chase it away. The quietly left the train-yard with Lucky. Ten minutes they were in Leavenworth, near the train yard. All was quiet at the early hour, peacefully still. "How do we get up to the park?" she asked him, troubled. Her jeep had been incinerated in the fire. He smiled at her as he approached a car parked alongside the road. He carefully laid his fingers on the keyhole of the driver's side door. Liz heard the audible click of the lock popping by the mere force of his will. He opened the door for her and after letting Lucky climb in the back, she got in herself, reaching over to open the lock on the driver's side. He got in and shut the door, settling himself behind the wheel. His fingers went to the starter and made it mid-way before becoming completely still. He stared intently out the windshield for a long moment. "What's wrong?" she said, concerned. "Nothing," he said. "We don't have much time. I feel the transformation will be complete by the end of the day. I can feel him, and he's growing lucid very rapidly." "Let's go then," she said. He nodded and touched his fingers to the starter, and the engine immediately fired to life. Neither one of them noticed the twitch of the curtain as the car owner saw his vehicle being stolen. Immediately he picked up the phone. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* They weren't too far from the park now, and Liz could feel her emotions welling as she thought of Max leaving her forever again. She stared out the window, trying every excuse in the book, telling herself that this was for the best. But her heart broke when she thought of her Max, the man she loved more than her own life. How she wished she could go with him. "Are you…ok, Liz?" the being asked quietly. "I'll be fine," she said, wiping her eyes. She looked over at the dashboard. "We'd better stop to get gas just in case," she said, and he nodded. 60 miles away, military helicopters roared toward Leavenworth. *%*%*%*%*%*%* They pulled in to a rest-stop that had a small gift shop and food counter attached. Letting the attendant fill the tank, they went inside to get something to eat for themselves and Lucky. "I'm starving," she said to him as they went inside. "Yes, I feel empty as well," he said. Liz smiled to herself. For all his strange habits, she would sort of miss the alien being around. He made her look at things from a whole new perspective, realizing the beauty in simplicity, the horror in things she had come to know in her everyday life, and the very strangeness of her world when seeing it through the eyes of one who is from somewhere else. She knew that she would never look at things the same after he, after they were gone, and she knew that the stars would have a whole new meaning for her, knowing that Max would be out there somewhere, probably millions of miles away. She sighed sadly. "Can I get you folks something?" the elderly man behind the counter asked genially. She turned to him. "What would you like to eat?" she asked. He thought a moment, and then a grin spread over his face. "Apple pie," he said. "No, people don't have apple pie for breakfast," she said, and saw the look of disappointment on his face. She sighed. "Ok, ok," she said exasperated, turning to the man behind the counter. "Do you have apple pie?" she asked. "Well no, sorry miss we don't. But my wife made a wonderful cherry cobbler this morning. I had some, and its mighty good," he offered. She looked at him, and after a moment of thought, he nodded. "Two pieces of the cobbler and two cups of coffee will be fine," she said. "Why don't you two go sit down over there, and I'll bring it to you," the man said. "Thanks," Liz said with a small smile and they sat at the small table in the corner. A moment later the older gentleman brought their pie and coffee. "Let me know what you think of it," the older man smiled, as he walked away. Immediately, he dug into his pie with relish. His chewing slowed and then stopped as he looked thoughtful. "How is it?" Liz asked. "Very good," he said, while the man was still in earshot, and then he leaned forward. "But not as good as apple pie," he whispered to Liz conspiratorially. She gave him a small smile. She studied him as he took everything in with fresh eyes. How wondrous it must be for everything to be so new. She supposed Max would feel the same way when he reached his new world. She worried about that. And he looked so pale this morning, drawn. He looked as if he was getting sick. "Are you feeling ok?" she asked. He put his fork down and sighed. My resistance to the atmosphere is getting weak. I won't be able to survive it much longer." He saw the worried frown on her face. "What is it Liz?" he asked concerned. "What will it be like for Max, in your world?" she asked. "Our world is definitely not like this one. It is not as diverse. Not as…confusing," he said. "How will they treat him?" she asked. "You need not worry about that Liz. My people have no intentions of inhibiting humans in any way. He will be free to come and go as he wishes. It's not a bad place, I promise you," he said. "I didn't think it would be," she said sadly. "I worry though that he will feel lost, you know, like you feel lost here." He shook his head. "He will never be lost. My race are a kind species. They will provide him with everything he needs. He will learn from them, and they will learn from us," he said. She nodded, still unable to shake the feeling that something vital would be missing for Max without his own kind there with him. She knew something vital would be missing for her for the rest of her life. Tears filled her eyes at the thought. "Do not be sad Liz. Max will be ok," he said softly. "I know," she said softly. "I know." Just then the bell on the door to the shop tinkled as it opened. Liz's eyes widened as she saw a trooper walk in. She slouched in her seat, fearing the worst. The trooper approached them slowly. "Mornin'," he said in a friendly voice. "That your car out there folks?" he asked. Liz nodded. "Mind if I see some ID?" he asked, as Liz looked fearfully at the being sitting across from her. "Uh sure Officer," she said, pulling out her wallet and removing her license, handing it to him. "My uh, husband left his wallet at home. We just had a big argument because I wound up having to pay for our pie," she said, trying to sound light. The officer looked at her license and then at her. "I see," he said. "I'm going to have to ask you to remain seated," he said, as he pulled out his radio. Liz laid her head on her hands in defeat. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% The deafening thump of the helicopter's rotors rang in Alex's ears as it prepared to land near the rest stop. His heart was beating wildly. Finally, after all this time, a chance to see what an extraterrestrial was like. When he head the trooper's call over the radio, he immediately commandeered a pilot to take him to the rest stop. Dennis was on his way by automobile. The helicopter touched the ground, spraying dust in its' wake, and Alex jumped out hunched over, running toward the shop as the helicopter lifted off again. He flashed his ID at the trooper waiting near the door and took a deep breath in preparation for the meeting he had been waiting for all of his life. And there they sat at the small table, the tiny woman eyeing him warily, defeated, and the being who looked just like her dead husband he had seen in the photos, and yet was not. He slowly walked to the table as the trooper went to stand guard outside the door. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "Hello Ms. Evans," he said softly. "I'm Alex Whitman." "I spoke to you on the phone the other day," she said flatly. He nodded. He glanced over at the man to his right again. Unbelievable that he was sitting here, possibly holding the secrets to the universe. "Please Mr. Whitman, let him go," she whispered. "He doesn't mean anyone any harm. He just wants to go home." She didn't dare tell him about Max. "I can't do that," Alex said, shaking his head. "You don't understand, even if I wanted to, the people who are looking for him will find him. There's nothing I can do." He turned to his right to look at the being again. "I'm honored to meet you," he said sincerely, holding out his hand. After a moment of uncertainty the man took his hand. Alex laughed nervously. "I can't believe I am sitting here with you." The man looked at him confused. "You must know so much. There is so much we could learn from you. So much you could learn from us," he said. "I am dying Mr. Whitman," he said matter-of-factly. "I cannot survive here on your planet." Alex blanched. Even if he could somehow convince Dennis to let this being live, he would still die. "I…I don't know what to say," he said. "I can't help." The being studied him for a long moment in silence. Finally he spoke. "Do you know what I find beautiful about your species?" he asked. Alex just looked at him. "You are at your best, when things are worst," he said. Alex looked down at the table. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%%*%* A line of military vehicles raced down the road leading to the rest-stop, Dennis's car in the lead. Finally, after all this, it would be over. As his car pulled into the parking lot, a car pulled out heading in the opposite direction. Dennis opened the door to the car before the driver had fully stopped the car and stepped out, seeing the trooper standing outside. He pulled out his ID as he hurried toward him. "Where are they?" he barked. "Sir, there's been a mistake. Those weren't the people you were looking for," the trooper said. "Sorry to make you come all the way out here-" "What do you mean?" Dennis yelled. "How could you let them go before I got here? I specifically told you to detain them!" "Sir, I was told by one of your team-" the trooper started. "Who? Who told you?" Dennis raged, as the door to the store opened, and Alex stepped out. "Whitman! What the hell do you think you were doing?" Dennis grated. "I'm done," Alex said to him. "I'm not going to be a part of this." "G*d dammit Whitman! You're finished, do you understand me? You will never work again, I'll make sure of it!" he raged. Alex smiled smugly at him. "Yes *Sir*," he said. %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% Liz was behind the wheel racing toward the park. Only a few more minutes, she thought, as she glanced over at her passenger. He was rapidly getting a ghostly-pale tinge to his skin. "Just hold on," she said softly. "We're almost there," she said, as the gates to the park loomed in front of her. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%%*% All military resources in the area were commandeered to be of assistance. Helicopters searched the ground roads, looking for any sign of the stolen car. Suddenly one of the pilots came over the Dennis's radio. "I found them Sir," he said. "They are entering the state park." "We're on our way," Dennis barked into the radio. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% As soon as Dennis was out of sight, Alex commandeered a vehicle from one of the agents. Well, not exactly by the agent's choice. He pointed a gun at him and asked for the keys. Two minutes later he was roaring down the road looking at a map. He had to find an alternate entrance to the park if he was going to be any help to Liz Evans and her travelling companion. He only hoped he wasn't going to be too late. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% Liz raced along the wooded road, swerving as it curved toward the huge mountain before them. Turning her head, she saw that soon they were going to be in trouble. His skin had gone a pasty white, and his head was lolling back and forth as she steered the car. "Hold on, you have to hold on!" she said urgently, as she touched his hand. It was cold, clammy. His head snapped up. "We will make it Liz," he said, straightening up, calling on the last reserves of his energy. Suddenly the trees thinned and she knew they had reached their destination. In front of them was a large valley, the lowest point of it invisible to them at the moment. "There," he said softly. "We must go down there." "Let's go," Liz said, as she opened the door and got out of the car. He slowly followed, rising out of the passenger seat wearily. "We have to hurry," she said, worry filling her head at his weakened condition. Any pipe dreams she might have had about the possibility of Max surviving here flew out the window as she realized that he wouldn't make the end of the day. She took his hand and they started down the steep incline of the wall of the valley, gingerly stepping to avoid the rocks that sprung out of the ground. He stumbled behind her, and she kept him from falling to the ground with her grip on his hand. Suddenly, a helicopter roared over their heads, very close. Too close. Liz screamed and pulled him along down the hill at a faster pace. "Attention Ms. Evans!" a voice over a loudspeaker yelled as more helicopters appeared and circled overhead. "Stop where you are! We are armed and able to fire. If you do not stop where you are, you will force us to fire on you. Don't be foolish!" *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%%* Alex roared toward the helicopters in the souped-up car he had stolen from the agent. A service entrance had cut his time in half, and he might just make it. The trees cleared and he roared to a stop, jumping out of the car to look over the edge. There he saw Liz and the being trying to make it to the bottom, as an amplified voice screamed at them to stop. "Shit!" he cursed and started down the incline after them. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%%*% The wind created by the low flying helicopters was hindering their pace to the valley floor. Liz feared they wouldn't make it. But they were so close…so close. A mighty gust suddenly hit them, and the hand she was holding slipped from her grasp as he fell to the ground. She turned to him frantically. "You have to get up!" she screamed into the wind. But his head raised and he stared at the sky. The wind quickened even further, blowing in mighty gusts, hurricane force above them. The helicopters were pushed away from the mouth of the valley and a great fog rolled in around them, obliterating the view of the lip of the valley above them. Liz looked up as the sky suddenly darkened, making everything black as night. For a moment, she was blind, unable to see inches in front of her, and then a large oval blue beam of light lit up the floor of the valley, and miraculously, snow began to fall as she looked upon his ship in amazement. It was beautiful in it's enormity, being the size of the entire valley, it's bottom reflecting the ground beneath it like a mirror. Above the underside, she saw beautiful lights of every imaginable color, and her mouth dropped open in awe. Amazed she looked down at him, wonder in her eyes, and she saw how very tired he looked. "It's almost complete Liz," he said wearily. "I can feel myself fading." Tears sprang to her eyes as she knelt before him. "I'm sorry for all of this," she said. "Don't be," he said. "I have experienced such wonders here. I have known you and your kindness," he smiled weakly. "But there is something I must tell you. Something I have done, and now that I think on it, I think maybe I should have asked you first," he said, looking up at her. "What is it?" she asked, confused. "You have been so kind to me. You helped me when no one else might have. And I wanted to thank you, because I am sad that Max will be taken from you again," he faltered. She shook her head. "No, don't thank me," she said. "I learned from you too. I have seen so many things in new ways in the past few days. But you have to go. You don't have much time," she said, taking his hand, trying to pull him to his feet. "Wait!" he said. "I have to tell you this. It's important." She let her hand go slack as she saw the seriousness of his face. "What is it?" she asked. "I gave you a baby Liz. You and Max," he said. Her eyes widened in shock. "No, you didn't," she said. "I can't have babies, I told you that." He shook his head. "I gave you both a baby last night, with one of these," he said, pulling one of the silver out of his pocket. "But it is a small part me as well. Your child will live on this planet. It's human genetics far outweigh my own species. He will be mostly human, but not all human." Liz felt like she couldn't breathe and she stumbled back. It was impossible. As much as she and Max had wanted a child, it was physically impossible. She let out a choked sob as tears started to stream down her face. "You aren't happy," he said sadly. He raised his hand with the orb. "I will stop it," he said quietly. "No! No I am happy," Liz smiled. A child. A child who would be a part of her and Max, and their love, even if he couldn't be here. He smiled weakly. "Good," he said. She knelt before him again, taking his hands in hers. "Thank you," she said tearfully. "I am honored to have known you," she said, kissing him softly on the cheek. "No the honor is mine, Liz. You are a good and kind woman. If there are many people like you on this planet, the world will be a better place for it," he said. He handed her the orb. "Keep this. It's for you, for someday," he said. She took it and looked at it wonderingly and then put it into her pocket. "Come on," she said to him. "It's time for you to go." He nodded, and rose from the ground. She walked ahead of him, leading him by the hand to the ship that would take him home. Suddenly, her hand jerked, pulling her to a stop. "Liz?" a voice said, confused. "No, not now," she thought agonized, as she slowly turned to the man behind her, her husband. The blue light from the ship emphasized the pallor of his skin, the circles that appeared under his eyes during the drive to the park. "Max," she choked. "What is this?" he said looking up, confused. "Max, I don't have time to explain, but you have to get on that ship," she said. "What?" he asked. "No." "Max, you have to," Liz protested tearfully. "Trust me, please. You're in trouble and you have to go." He looked at her confused. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, looking at the ship. She nodded. "I trust you," he said, and took her hand. "Let's go." She pulled her hand from his. "No, I can't go with you," she said. "What do you mean?" he asked, and stepped toward her, raising his hand to stroke her cheek. Her heart broke as she looked into the dark pools of his eyes and saw the love that she had always known since she met him pouring out of his eyes. "I can't go with you Max," she sobbed. "Then I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Liz, I found a way for us to be together. If I'm in trouble with the law because of something the other did, then we'll run, we'll hide, but we'll be together," he said fiercely. "Don't do this Max," she cried. "Liz, I don't understand," he said, squeezing her hand. "Max if you stay, you'll die!" she cried. "I can't, I can't go through that again. I just can't! The one, the one that recreated your body, he can't survive here. He's still part of you, he'll always be a part of you, and if he dies, you die." "Liz, I can't leave you," he said desperately. "Then do it for our son," she said tearfully, and he froze. "What?" he said. "Our son. The other gave us a son. I'm pregnant," she said. "But how?" he asked. "Max, it's true. We're going to have a son," she said softly. The joy that lit his face broke her heart, because she knew she would have to make him leave. "How can you ask me to leave after telling me that?" he asked, taking her face in his hands. "I love you Liz, and I am in love with our son already, and he hasn't even really grown in you yet. How can I leave?" he said. "Max, you have to go. I can't tell my son that I let his father die because I was selfish and wanted him here with me," she said. "Please," she said softly. "At least I can tell him that his daddy is out there somewhere thinking of him. And that he loves him," she said, her voice cracking. "Don't do this to me Max. Don't make me watch you die. Because you *are* dying right now. You won't last the day. Don't you feel it?" she asked. His head lowered, and he squinted his eyes against the tears that had flooded his eyes. He did feel it. He felt weak. He felt sick. "Please Max," she whispered, and he raised his head, and the pain she saw in his eyes ripped into her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. "I love you too, and that's why I'm asking you to go, for me. I want you to have a chance, at least a chance! I want to know that you are somewhere out there, and when I think of you, I know you'll be thinking of me too. Always," she said. He pulled her closer, taking her into his arms, his lips capturing hers in a bittersweet embrace. Their salty tears mingled together as they both tried to pour every ounce of love they had for each other into this last breathtaking kiss. His lips tore from hers as his forehead touched her own. "I can't," he sobbed, and he looked up at her. Her eyes pleaded with his to do what he knew he must. She wrapped her arms around him one final time drinking in his smell, his spirit, his love. "Go Max," she said, squeezing his hands. He reluctantly stepped back, still holding her hand tightly, not wanting to let go. An anguished sob escaped from her lips as he moved away slowly, his fingers sliding against hers, and then his touch was gone. He walked slowly toward the ship, toward the unknown, an end and yet a beginning. A hatch opened above the ship and a bright light shone down on Max as he stood completely still, meeting her eyes, tears streaming down his face. Her hand flew to her mouth as she let out a mournful cry, and her other hand reached out toward him. And then the wind roared again and the phantom snow obliterated her view of her beloved husband. "Noooo!" she cried, and a hand pressed on her shoulder and she turned. It was Alex Whitman. "Come on, we have to get out of here…now," he said, and he took her hand, leading her quickly away from the place she had last seen the man who held her heart, who always would…