PART FIFTEEN

Marco descended the path’s steep incline, nearing the half-way point of his almost four mile hike. Sunlight glinted off patches of snow along the rocky path, as it turned, marking the way toward the lowest part of the trail.

It was a briskly cold morning, and he thrust his hands deep in the pockets of his black parka to warm them. He was slightly winded now, and drew in tight breaths, forming small misty clouds with every exhalation.

He’d told Serena he was going to survey the perimeter, even though he knew Cecilia and Riley were taking care of morning patrols. Serena had smiled faintly, raising an eyebrow in silent question, but he’d chosen to ignore her gesture, rather than attempt to explain his state of mind this morning. How could he possibly convey all the emotions that had been warring in his heart ever since last night? Yet oddly, he’d felt that Serena had known somehow, just from her expression, as he’d opened the creaky wooden door to the porch.

He’d felt panicked after his brief encounter with her, because a lifetime with Serena had taught him one thing--she always seemed to know his heart, no matter how hard he tried to guard it from her.

She’d invited him to join the group meeting with Max and the others, but somehow he’d felt they needed that time alone with her—especially after Max’s reaction in the car last night. It was going to be tough for all of them, especially Serena. Besides, his stomach had tightened nervously at the thought of seeing Tess again so soon. He hoped he could successfully avoid her for most of the day, while he tried to bring his heart back in line--and right now it felt anything but steady.

He could only focus on the explosive kisses they’d shared last night. That, and how empty his bed had felt when he’d woken this morning without her. Well, except for her overpowering scent and the way it permeated his sheets and pillow. It was fresh, like wildflowers touched by sun, and it had lingered in his room, a specter of the love he’d almost been allowed.

But then, of course, he’d known the unspoken rules at nineteen when he’d taken his oaths in front of the council. Serena had turned to him, just prior to their entering the abandoned warehouse where they’d convened, and told him she’d understand if he had second thoughts…that she of all people knew just what his life would entail. He’d shaken his head firmly, because he’d never doubted his calling, his purpose in being sent to earth.

And they’d branded him forever that day, marked him deeply, and there’d been no turning back after that. He’d recalled his vows last night, as Tess had fallen asleep in his arms, as he’d listened to her soft breathing in the darkness. Even as he’d been aroused so strongly by her physical proximity, he’d reminded himself that he was now the property of others, had sworn it so six years before. And that meant there was no room for love, or encumbrances of the heart.

Oh, but how she’d stirred unfamiliar emotions within him last night, and so quickly. In fact, he still hadn’t recovered his equilibrium, which was why he’d set off on a hike this morning. He needed to clear his mind, and the fresh mountain air always helped him think more coherently, always gave him solace when he needed it. Being back on this mountain that he loved so dearly was almost like coming home.

He neared the end of the path and saw Cecilia at the foot of the trail, her strawberry blonde curls peeking wildly out of a knit cap. She was gazing through a pair of binoculars, out toward the road, and Marco wondered why Riley wasn’t with her. He worried that his absence might signify trouble.

"Cecilia?" He questioned softly, and yet she still jumped.

"Shit, Marco," she hissed, dropping the binoculars quickly. "You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry," he answered softly, glancing all around them. "Where’s Riley?"

"Good question," she answered, rubbing her eyes. "I haven’t seen him in almost thirty minutes. I was just about to radio you."

Marco’s throat tightened, as he shifted uneasily on his feet. "Why didn’t you call before now?"

"Marco, he’s okay," she reassured him, wrinkling her lightly freckled nose. "I mean he’s not really okay…he’s losing it. Plain and simple."

"Explain what you mean," Marco demanded forcefully, his voice thick.

"It’s Anna…she won’t connect with him, hasn’t since last night," Cecilia explained, shaking her head in disbelief. "And he’s crazy, Marco, absolutely out of his mind with worry."

"Has he told Serena?" Marco asked in a voice that was much quieter than he felt at the moment.

"She knows…but there’s nothing that we can do until Anna opens the connection with him. But I don’t think Serena has any idea how upset he really is, because his mental state has deteriorated a lot since she saw him four hours ago."

"You radio him yet?"

"Repeatedly, but no answer."

Marco glanced quickly around the woods, inhaling deeply as he tried to catch Riley’s scent. There was only a residual imprint, nothing fresh, and so he closed his eyes and reached within his mind, determined to sense Riley’s location. He would never go AWOL on his patrol duties, so Marco had to agree with Cecilia’s assessment—he was obviously in extreme distress.

Suddenly, a hazy image began to form in Marco’s mind, and he saw Riley sitting by the stream about a quarter of a mile away. His face was buried in his hands, and he was sobbing quietly. Marco shivered as the impression gained clarity because he hadn’t seen Riley cry in a good twenty years, not since they’d been small children, so this could only mean one thing.

Anna was in serious trouble. Or worse.

*******

Liz sat on the front porch of the cabin, Max’s leather jacket wrapped tightly around her, as she glided slowly in a large wooden swing. Even though it was bitingly cold this morning, she’d wanted the fresh air in the wake of all Serena had just shared. The brisk wind couldn’t make her feel any more numb than she already did emotionally--in fact, the weather reflected her mood perfectly.

Everything she’d ever known about herself had just been redefined—yet again. And even though she should probably be more upset that Nasedo had been behind her shooting—an event that had haunted her for years now—the one thing dominating her emotional landscape right now was Serena. And her parents-- the fact that they’d never told her the truth about her adoption. Somehow these latest revelations had unearthed all the pain about their deception.

The worst part was that she’d never figured out a way to ask them about it—because she would have had to come up with a plausible explanation for how she’d learned the truth. So she’d kept all her hurt and feelings of loss bottled inside, her only outlet being her conversations with Max over the years. And even though his own experience did largely mirror her own, at least he’d always known he was adopted…what he was.

Now, all the familiar feelings had been drawn up afresh, just like when she’d first learned that the Parkers weren’t her birth parents. Only this time, it felt even worse because there’d been the explanation about her ever-missing pod, just one final reminder that she was even more marooned than the others…different. Too human in the estimation of some, yet still alien.

Liz heard the front door open, and watched Serena step onto the porch. She glanced at Liz tentatively, then moved toward her.

"Mind if I join you a minute?" She asked quietly.

Liz shook her head, and moved over on the porch swing, pulling Max’s jacket around her more tightly. Serena settled beside her, folding her hands neatly in her lap. She stared straight ahead, out into the woods in front of them, her posture formal and un-relaxed, almost as if she were a soldier at attention.

"Liz, I hope that what I shared didn’t upset you," she began, her voice slightly strained.

"Well, yeah, it kinda did, actually," Liz replied, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She watched Serena’s reaction, noticed her blink rapidly for a moment. Then Serena turned toward her, relaxing a bit, and Liz found her gaze deeply unsettling. It was the closest she’d been to her yet, and her eyes simply weren’t human. They looked human, but they flashed with a fire that caused Liz’s breath to catch for a moment.

"Liz, I’m sorry…sorry that," Serena looked away again with a quick snap of her head. "You had to learn any of that."

"I’m not," Liz offered softly. "Not at all. I always want to know the truth."

Serena glanced sideways at her through narrowed eyes. "Well, then there’s something else you must know. One final thing."

Liz’s heart began beating rapidly, and her palms grew clammy. What could Serena have possibly saved to share with her privately?

"What?" Liz forced out, her throat constricting tightly.

Serena sighed heavily, and began toying with her ponytail, wrapping the end around her finger absently. Finally, she turned in the swing to face Liz, her mouth a tight line. Liz knew whatever she was about to share came with great difficulty.

"Liz, I just want you to know, that giving you up as a baby was one of the most difficult decisions I ever had to make." Serena paused a moment, staring down at her hands. "You probably don’t know this, but I raised Marco and basically Riley, too. Marco was two at the time and Riley seven…and I didn’t think it would be fair to you...and I was also afraid of putting you in danger with Nasedo."

"Wait," Liz interrupted. "I’m confused…aren’t Marco and Riley hybrids?"

"Yes, but the technology was different, more advanced…the incubation period much shorter. Theirs took place on the ships that brought them here."

"Other ships have come?" Liz asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"Only twice. One brought Cecilia, Riley and Devon, and another brought Ari, Anna and Marco. Ari and Devon are Antarian like me, shapeshifters. They raised Anna and Cecilia, sometimes Riley. I kept Marco… and Riley when they didn’t have him."

"That’s your unit, then?" Liz asked, suddenly very curious about the way they all formed together.

"Yes, our unit of seven protectors. Three of us are shape shifters, four are hybrids."

"I don’t get it. Why bother with hybridization? Why not just send Antarians?"

"The answer is complex, Liz, and probably best saved for another day. But let’s just say it relates to why we chose earth in the first place. Your humanity is very important to us all."

"Oh…" Liz answered softly, her mind buzzing with all the new information. She focused her thoughts on her more immediate questions. "So you took me to my parents then?"

"Yes," Serena whispered hoarsely. "Because its what I thought was best for you. I also felt it would nurture your human side appropriately."

"Because I was more human than the others," Liz finished.

Serena nodded silently, her gaze becoming distant, remote. Liz had the sense she was remembering something long ago.

"I had a son on Antar, Liz…he was killed in the conflict there." Serena rocked slowly in the swing, still staring off into a distant spot in the woods.

"I’m sorry," Liz answered softly.

"Well, the reason I mention it is because I wanted you to know that something about having you as a baby was very healing for me...I always wanted a daughter."

Serena looked deeply into her eyes now, and the strange alien radiance simmered a bit in her gaze.

"Thank you," Liz responded quietly. "For telling me all of this…it helps a lot. Because you know, it’s weird to realize I don’t have any natural parents, that I was just completely engineered. That’s always been so very weird to me."

Serena shook her head vigorously. "You do have parents, Liz. On Antar…I knew them."

Liz spun to face her, grabbing her arm forcefully. "What?"

"I believe they are both still living. They were dignitaries…in fact, that’s how you and Zan met. You knew each other from childhood and were always…well, quite attached. From the earliest age."

Liz stared at Serena dumbfounded, slowly releasing her arm. It was still so unbelievable that she remembered them as Zan and Zillia. She closed her eyes a moment, letting this latest revelation hit her fully.

"You were very loved by your parents, and you shouldn’t feel that you’re an orphan. Not only did they love you…I loved you as a baby here, Liz," Serena continued, shaking her head softly. "And if you only knew how happy the Parkers were to adopt you. If you only knew, you’d realize how very much they love you."

"I know they do," she answered softly. "I just wish they’d told me the truth…prepared me somehow for all this shock."

"They had no idea who you were, Liz. None."

"I mean…if I’d at least just known I was adopted, that would have been one less thing to deal with."

Serena nodded silently, and the two of them rocked back and forth on the swing thoughtfully. Liz heard a bird call out loudly, its cry echoing across the mountainside, as she watched it fly away. The air was so fresh and still, and she suddenly thought that she might really love staying here in the cabin. Serena stirred a bit beside her, clearing her throat.

"I named you Elizabeth," she offered, her raspy voice incredibly quiet.

Liz smiled, because there was something really touching about how Serena had shared that fact. As if she were a bit shy about it. "Really?"

"I chose it because it was a queen’s name here on earth…and because it sounded a bit like Zillia."

"That’s really amazing," Liz replied with a shiver, and hugged her arms tightly around herself. She’d never really thought about the connection between the two names until just now—and she couldn’t believe it had never struck her before.

"Is your name really Serena?" She asked, suddenly curious.

"No, but close." Serena shook her head. "Surinah…so I changed it to Serena."

"Surinah," Liz tried the name out, and loved how it rolled right off her tongue. "That’s beautiful."

"Thank you," Serena replied, then stood abruptly with a quick toss of her blonde ponytail. Clearly, this moment of intimacy was over—just as suddenly as it had begun. "Well, there are some things I must do now," she explained, her voice distant and measured. But then she smiled at Liz, so warmly, and it said much more than her words could have.

*****

Marco found Riley sitting right where he’d seen him in the vision—on a large rock beside the creek. Only he wasn’t sobbing anymore now, just staring vacantly ahead, and it scared Marco. Riley was always so full of life, and the dull expression on his face was completely foreign.

"Riley," Marco called, but he didn’t even seem to hear him. He only sat staring silently, as Marco quickly approached him. Marco squatted beside the boulder, so that he was eye-level with him, and he clasped his arm firmly.

"Riley, talk to me. What’s happened?"

Riley shook his head silently, his tear-swollen eyes narrowing slightly.

"You’ve got to talk to me," Marco insisted, his voice almost a growl. "Is Anna okay?"

Riley turned slowly toward him, and Marco was surprised by how pale he looked—and his eyes were terribly bloodshot. Marco rubbed his arm lightly beneath his hand, willing comfort into him. Riley stared at him for a long moment, and he wondered if he’d ever speak.

"Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen Anna?" He finally asked, in a strangely detached voice.

Marco shook his head. "Not exactly, no."

"Six years, three months and eight days," Riley answered, turning back away from him. "I’ve kept track. Because that’s how long it’s been since I’ve held her…touched her…kissed her." His voice was angry now, like a slowly simmering boil.

"Rile, have you heard from her at all?" Marco pressed, because this was starting to frighten him. Riley’s state-of-mind was so thoroughly uncharacteristic, that he couldn’t help wondering if Anna was dead, even though he shuddered at the thought of it.

"No," he answered dully.

"You’ve tried connecting?"

"Until it’s made me insane…she’s not okay, Marco. It’s that simple. She’d have connected by now," he shook his head slowly. "I think they’ve hurt her badly. She wouldn’t have done this to me…couldn’t have. Because in all these six fucking years the one thing we’ve always had is our connection. Something is really wrong."

Tears began pooling in Riley’s eyes again, and Marco rubbed his arm lightly. "We don’t know that, Riley. Not yet."

"No, I do," he answered in a wavering voice. "And the one thing that kept me going all these years was knowing that at the end of it all, we’d be together."

"You still will be, Riley. You’ve got to stay positive."

He nodded silently, wiping away fresh tears with the back of his hand.

"Look, Riley, you need to go to Serena. I’ll take over your patrol. I know there’s not a lot we can do right now, but you need to go to her."

He nodded again, rising slowly. Marco willed his heart to slow from it’s crazy pace, and determined to be strong for this man who was the closest thing he had to a brother.

******

11:47 pm.

It was about the tenth time Marco had glanced at the red glowing numbers of his alarm clock in the past few minutes. It had been nearly twelve hours since they’d realized something was wrong with Anna, yet in all that time, they’d learned nothing more. Riley had continued trying to contact her, but kept coming up empty-handed. It had been a long, tense day for all of them, and now it was almost time for Marco to replace Serena on patrols.

They weren’t ordinarily this stringent about keeping an eye on the security perimeter, but in the wake of last night’s attack, Serena had insisted on twenty-four hour surveillance for a while. He’d take her place down by the security gate at 12:30, which meant it was almost time for him to dress.

And then he’d be up until after 4:00 a.m., which made him feel incredibly tired just thinking about it. Devon and Ari were watching Khivar’s camp, and everyone hoped they might catch a glimpse of Anna. Marco knew Serena was worried, had seen the tension grow in her features as the day had progressed. Early in the day, she’d been very calm about it—hadn’t really worried yet—but when Riley had gone to her late morning and she’d seen how upset he was, Marco knew it had unsettled her tremendously.

Riley had gone to bed a while ago, trying to rest, and was undoubtedly trying to contact Anna. Marco closed his eyes and forced his mind to settle, praying that Anna was safe. He was listening to Bob Dylan, and he turned the volume up a bit. Tangled Up in Blue…the drifter’s life. No wonder he related.

He relaxed a bit, as he savored the music, and he entered a slightly different plane. His mind and spirit were more open, because he’d relaxed a bit into the music. He was shut out from the world by his headphones…just kind of drifting a bit, but not asleep.

Then suddenly, he felt something very strange begin within his body…like a little hum of energy, that grew into a more insistent buzz. Countless emotions began washing over him in quick succession…restlessness, desire…love. Passion, passion, desire…love.

What the hell was happening? Marco wondered, yanking off his headphones as he sat up in bed. It was familiar, but not like last night with Tess. Now this gyrating rhythm of sensations was beginning to overwhelm him, and he felt his hands trembling softly as he sat in the darkness.

As Marco drew in desperate breaths, trying to soothe the myriad physical sensations he was experiencing, he suddenly realized exactly what this was.

Max and Liz were connected, right within this cabin, and he had inadvertently stumbled into their bond again…into their very midst without so much as trying. Without being very near them at all.

And it had just taken his breath away.

He pressed his eyes shut and prayed with all his heart that it would never happen again, because it had been decidedly different this time—more frightening and alluring all at once.

And in the wake of it, he’d been left with one very clear impression--he wanted what they had far too much.