Part 5

"So. Did they buy your story?" Nasedo asked of the girl called Tess as she moved around the house getting a glass of milk.

"Of course." She smiled confidently, the smile never reaching her eyes. She turned back to the one she was supposed to pretend was her father. "I meet with them this afternoon at Michael’s house."

Nasedo looked at the girl. Did she feel that confident? She had lost her control over Max Evans, the Resistant Fighter’s last hope, and she thought she still had them beat? He cursed silently. Nasedo’s own leader completely believed that his daughter was the one to go after and infiltrate Max Evans and his warriors. Their leader was being swayed by his belief in the prophecy. For the prophecy stated that one day, a woman with seductive powers would try to seduce the leader of their enemy. And if she succeeded, then that woman and the fallen enemy leader would rule the entire planet together, crushing the resistance completely, and taking over the new ruling planet earth and destroying all human life. The leader’s daughter was known for her powers of seduction in their world, and the leader believed that his daughter could make that prophecy come true. But Nasedo knew that this Resistance leader was strong. And might not be persuaded. That they had to use more that just the powers of seduction on this one if they wanted to win.

Tess did not see this. She thought too much of herself, and had never before failed on a case of seduction in her life. She believed Max Evans was just stronger and that made him all the more worthy an opponent, and future leader. She believed that she would win in the end. She believed that is she just got rid of the earth girl permanently, that Max Evans would be hers.

Nasedo was not so sure of this one. He did not know if she had the intelligence and strength to fight so worthy an opponent as the hope of the Resistance fighters. She was too cocky and arrogant and emotionally involved. Not only did the one called Tess want to be leader of their world with every fiber of her being, but also she had taken one look at her prey, and had fallen in lust with him. She was determined to get all that she wanted, and she was making irrational decisions and letting her emotions control her instead of using the powers of logical, rational thinking that a real warrior would use.

Nasedo shook his head. He was here to protect the leader’s daughter, and protect her he would. And if he had to help her kill all the earthlings to do that, and to keep his people in power, then he would do it. He was actually looking forward to destroying the humans once and for all.

Nasedo also knew that the young leader had no idea what his destiny was. The young man didn’t even know he was the prophecy and hope of his own people, the Resistance Fighters. That when he had been born, the soothsayer had told his parents that he was the one who would someday destroy their evil enemy. The Resistance fighters believed that the leader of their planet was wrong in going from planet to planet and killing off it’s life forms and taking over. That one-day, a true warrior and leader would come along and free them from Tierney and the destruction done by the leader of their planet. The prophecy also said that the young leader, if the right one, would fall in love with an earth girl, and the two together would win against the seducer sent to be his downfall, and that this leader would save both planets. So the boy’s parents had sent him to earth with two of his family all born to be warriors, and a crew to help train and educate the children for their future, and see if they could help fulfill that prophecy.

Only they had lost contact with the ship that had headed toward earth, and the government had found the fallen ship. Thus, all the crew were killed or taken, experimented on by the government, and then killed. But no pods were found, and so they all felt that there was still hope. That one of the crew had gotten the children’s pods to safety before capture. And for many decades earth time, both sides of the war were looking for these children of hope for the Resistance. One group to help them fulfill the destiny of the Resistance, and the other to help destroy the Resistance. But both sides had one goal in mind. Getting to Max Evans and his warriors.

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Michael paced his apartment as they all waited for Tess. The tension in the room was sharp and fear was not far behind. They didn’t know what Tess was here to tell them. Only that they were finally going to get some answers about their past.

Max looked down at Liz and took her hand in his. Letting her know that everything would be okay. That he would not let anything bad happen to any of them. He saw Alex with his arm around Isabel, and was surprised to see Isabel not even trying to fight her feelings. Instead, she was leaning back against Alex where he leaned against the counter.

Maria sat on the stool at the counter with her knees to her chest, hugging them, while her eyes worriedly followed Michael’s agitated movements around the room.

The knock at the door made them all stiffen and catch their breaths as they looked at each other and then toward the door.

Michael was already moving, so he strode to the door, looked back at the group, saw Max nod, and then he opened the door to greet Tess.

Michael moved aside to let Tess enter, and they all just stared at Tess Harding. None of them trusted her after what she had done the last few days, but they agreed that if she had any information about them, that they had to listen. She might be their only link to Nasedo and their past.

Tess smiled playing her part. "I know you guys are afraid. And don’t trust me after what I’ve done. But you have to understand that it’s all in this book." She said and held up a strange shiny slate looking book.

Michael moved over to her and nodded his head at the book. "What is? The reason you tried to seduce Max, hurt Liz and give away our secrets in public?" He asked harshly.

"Yes, actually." She said calmly and then smiled at everyone, and focused on Liz. "I’m sorry I tried to hurt you Liz. I didn’t know if I could trust you or not. I didn’t know if you were a spy or not. It’s hard to trust the humans after what they did to our people in the ’47 crash." Tess said in a gentle, almost sad voice.

Max’s eyes narrowed. He felt a warning of danger crawl up his back at that voice, but held his thoughts and let her talk. "What does the book say? And why would Liz or anyone be a spy?" Max asked.

Tess brushed her hair back from her face and put the book down on the table and opened it. "It says that we were sent down here to fulfill a prophecy and the hopes and dreams of our people far away." Tess stated passionately. Making her plea sound desperate.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Michael said in a frustrated and raised voice. It all sounded too weird to him.

"Michael. Let her finish, please." Isabel pleaded, staring at the book and the girl. Could this be true? Their being here had to have a purpose didn’t it?

"Go on." Max said quietly.

Michael backed off; sighing, and he whipped his hand through his hair and looked back down at the book. He had to admit, the signs in the book matched the cave signs.

Tess could see their interest was peaked and she continued. She didn’t care that the stupid humans were there. Let them. They weren’t going to last very much longer any ways. Let these three warriors believe that Tess was trustworthy and not after their friends. She had neglected to take into consideration the three’s feelings for the earthlings that they had grown up among.

"This was in the cave. I found it when I came out of my pod. You three were already long gone."

"How do you know what it says?" Michael questioned, still weary of strangers, even alien ones.

"I didn’t. Not for sure. Nasedo found me and taught me the language, but it was the images that made me realize what our destiny was." She said and pulled her trump card out. The pressed on the book and the images that she and Nasedo had created appeared before them.

They couldn’t help but crowd forward, all in awe of the book and the images taking shape like a movie.

A man with still dark hair and intense eyes looked back at them. "My children. When you are shown this by the crew sent with your pods to help educate you and teach you what you are there for, you will understand it all, and how important you are to our people."

Tess looked around with a small smile on her face as she saw how captivated and drawn the three aliens were to the words of her father. He had been right. They would be dying to believe in a home and family waiting for them. Even if it wasn’t really their own.

Liz glanced over at Tess and saw the small smile. She did not trust this girl. No matter what she told them. Something didn’t feel right. She knew that the way Tess had treated her so far didn’t help, but she knew it went beyond her feelings of what Tess had done to Max and herself. She couldn’t explain it, but some kind of alarm was going off inside her head. Telling her that they were all in trouble. But she said nothing. This was not the time. Later would be enough time to try to convince the others what she was feeling.

Tess glanced her way, caught her eye, and then smiled at Liz. But this only made Liz shiver when she noticed how cold and hard the eyes that met her stayed.

Liz gave a small smile and glanced down again, not wanting to let Tess see her suspicions. But she didn’t think she fooled Tess any more than Tess fooled her.

The voice of their ‘father’ continued. "We have sent you four down there to help us rid our planet and the earth of evil resistant fighters trying to destroy us all. They will stop at nothing to kill you off for you are our prophecy and our hope."

Max saw himself as a four year old, standing beside the man who claimed to be their father. "You son, are the one. The one who can free us from the resistance fighters who are trying to destroy our planet and any planet they invade. It is said that you will come back one day, with your two warriors beside you, and your future wife, and free us. First fighting on earth against the Resistance fighters already there. And then back here to us, your mother and I, to fulfill your destiny."

They all gasped as they saw the four small children. The three aliens recognized themselves and Michael and Isabel realized they were not only siblings to Max, but also supposedly his warriors. And then they all looked at the little golden girl with curls and then up to Tess who smiled sweetly now. Max’s future bride?

Max felt Liz gasp and stiffen next to him, and he reached for her hand and held it tight. She knew he was warning her not to give any of her thoughts or feelings away.

The others were all just staring at Tess. Tess slowly moved toward Max, and Max squeezed Liz’s hand once more tightly, then released it and met Tess’ intense eyes.

Tess was within an inch of him, and he had to look down to meet her eyes. He stayed still and expressionless, waiting for her to make her next move.

Tess raised a hand to Max’s strong hard jaw and caressed it. "Max. That is why I was so jealous of Liz. You and I are betrothed and meant to be." She whispered softly, looking intently into his eyes with all her powers of seduction.

Max felt the pull and stiffened against it. He stepped back and Tess’ hand dropped to her side. "It’s a lot to think about, Tess." Max said quietly, his face still giving nothing away.

Tess looked to the other two and saw their confusion as well. She had planted the seed, and now it was time to let it grow. At least they had listened and seemed open, if a little apprehensive and afraid of the idea.

"I understand." She smiled softly up at him. Then she looked at the other two aliens. "I don’t think we could ask for two better warriors for our people than you two." She added with a gleam in her eyes. She wanted to get on their good side as well.

Isabel opened her mouth but closed it again. She didn’t know what to say, and since Michael and Max had said nothing, and had not let her see what they were thinking, she too held her silence.

"I’m sorry Liz." Tess finally turned to the earth girl. Here was what might help win the three over. If she pretended to feel the earth girl’s pain. "I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just saw you with my future husband, and wondered if you were a spy. Nasedo said that our enemies had spies within the human race as well as our own. And it would make sense that with you trying to get so close to him…well, you understand. I’m sorry to have to break this to you this way. But Max, Michael and Isabel have a much more important destiny than as high school kids here on earth." She said and then looked at the other two humans as well. Letting this sink in to all of them. She picked up the book and hugged it to her.

Liz swallowed, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. What if it was true? It made sense in some ways. That maybe Max, Michael and Isabel were sent here for a reason. But she just couldn’t believe Tess’ part in all of it. Something wasn’t right about her, and Liz couldn’t shake it. And it wasn’t just because she claimed to be Max’s future bride.

"I know this is a lot to think about. You know where I live when you are ready to talk, and to hear more. But don’t waste too much time. I think we have already lost many years of training and learning and our enemy is all around us. If they figure out who and where we are, then they will try to destroy us. For they too know the prophecy, the legend that you would one day free us all, Max." Tess stressed one last time, and then walked to the door.

"Don’t wait too long." She said softly and closed the door behind her.