Part 24

Michael, Isabel, Maria and Alex sat in silence, absorbing the story they had all finally been filled in on. There were no more doubts in any of their minds that Alyssa and Matt were for real. They truly had spent their lives, growing up within the resistance. Their entire lives, Alyssa and Matt had learned to support Max, to fight with him to the death, and so when the opportunity to come to earth and be at his side had been presented before them, they had leapt for the chance.

It blew the whole group away to know that so many people, so far away, that they didn’t even know, felt so passionately about their lives for so long…while the aliens had only known their purpose for a few months. It was refreshing…to know that they had support out there…somewhere.

"Thank you." Isabel finally responded, breaking the deafening silence. "Thank you for caring enough to want to be here for us."

"You don’t have to thank us." Alyssa responded quickly. "We wanted to be here."

"No…this isn’t right." Michael suddenly blurted out. "Why us? Why go to the trouble to recreate us? Anyone could do what we do…anyone with powers. What’s so special about us?"

"You’re the Royal Four." Matt replied simply. "The people loved you."

Michael stared at him like he was crazy for a moment, before Alyssa’s soft, steady voice cut in, trying to explain more clearly.

"When the skins came and took over, we were a peaceful, happy race under the rule of the Royal Four…of you in your past lives. There are many people, even outside of the resistance, that long for the return of that peace, and even to today are still secretly loyal to you. The resistance has a lot of sympathy because we keep the hope of your return alive."

Alyssa paused, her eyes penetrating deeply into Michael’s as she emphasized the words that changed everything for him.

"You four have the capability to do something that no one else could ever hope to do, to reestablish control back home. Khivar rules the people by fear, but you could rule through love and honor and loyalty. The resistance could try all it wants to raise another leader, but no one could do it the way that you four could."

Michael nodded as she finished, finally understanding his purpose, for the first time in his life. He wasn’t useless as he had always lowered himself to believe. He was a part of the team. Together, the whole team can be strong, but separately, alone, they were nothing.

Regardless of the fact that Michael had no true blood connection to Max, or that he and Isabel weren’t in love, he was still one of the Royal Four. He still belonged with the team.

"I have a question too." Isabel added in.

She glanced quickly towards Max and Liz, where they stood silently in the corner, observing the interactions in the rest of the room, while still partially off in their own little world, as they were wrapped up tightly in each other’s arms. Max’s eyes were closed as his face was buried in Liz’s hair, breathing her in deeply.

"Max and Liz were telling us that they feel a connection to you both." Isabel continued, her eyes flashing in concern as both Max and Liz’s heads shot up at the sound of their names, as they began to focus completely on the discussion at hand. "They said that a part of them both knew that you were one of us before you told them, but Michael and I feel nothing. Do you know why that would be?"

Alyssa and Matt met eyes in shock and surprise, as Alyssa’s glazed over, tearing with emotion. Unable to help herself, Alyssa turned her eyes openly on Max and Liz.

"You do?" She asked shyly.

"Yeah." Liz nodded. "I didn’t understand it entirely until we found out about you today, so I just blew it off as nothing. I’m guessing it’s because you guys are aliens like us…but that still doesn’t explain why Michael and Isabel don’t feel it."

"So why is that?" Michael asked shortly. "That Max and Liz feel this thing and Isabel and I don’t?"

"Well…um…" Alyssa stammered, looking desperately at her brother. She was completely at a loss at how to explain this without blowing their identities."

"Alyssa and I had sort of a connection with Max and Liz’s past selves." Matt explained, saving his sister quickly.

"A connection?" Isabel asked, confused. "What kind of connection?"

Max and Liz traded looks of surprise and uncertainty, both racking their brains, searching for some slim memory of the two aliens standing before them, neither finding anything that they recognized for certain.

Trading frustrated glances, Max finally entered the discussion.

"We didn’t know you." Max replied with certainty. "Liz and I both recently gained our memories from the past, and neither of us can find any hint of either of you in them."

"You wouldn’t." Matt replied softly. "It was so brief, and we were too young. Alyssa and I were barely born when you and Liz died…and we never met Michael and Isabel. That’s why they wouldn’t feel whatever you are both feeling."

"Oh my God!" Liz suddenly gasped, all the eyes of the room turning to her.

Understanding swept into Liz’s eyes, as her memory flashed back to the only time in the days before their death, when she and her husband had interacted with children…with their own children.

It was right during the first hostile attack of the skins…the palace walls were shaking and crumbling under their attack, and the forces were fighting hard in defense, while Max and a very pregnant Liz buried themselves deep within the central fortress. Their hearts were pounding in fear, as the danger became apparent…right as Liz went into labor.

She gave birth to two beautiful babies, twins, a boy and a girl. Liz could remember the utter joy that filled her and Max’s connected hearts as they coddled them for the first few hours after their birth, as they realized what dangerous targets their children had instantly become.

It broke both their hearts, but for their security Max and Liz ordered their children to be hidden away from the world…to be kept safe until the skin threat had been neutralized.

Two days later the king and queen were murdered.

"Liz?"

Maria’s voice broke Liz from the haze of memories she had caught herself in.

"Are you okay babe?" Maria continued, but Liz’s eyes remained locked on those of her daughter’s.

Tears filled Alyssa’s eyes, as she processed the recognition in Liz’s, the pure love and astonishment shining openly from her heart.

"Can you guys give us a minute alone?" Liz asked, her eyes never roaming from Alyssa’s.

Michael’s suspicious eyes flicked around nervously for a moment before Max eased his concerns.

"We’ll explain everything in a few minutes." Max insisted, as he caught up with Liz, his gaze shifting in amazement between his son and daughter. "We need a few minutes alone with Matt and Alyssa."