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crossoverficTitle: Stranger than Fiction
Author: Avarra
Character/Pairing: Faith/Buffy with Kate/Castle hints
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Fluffy fun, minimal plot.
Summary: Castle always had the strangest contacts, but she just knew that these two girls would be the strangest of all.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or universes used for Buffy or Castle, they belong to other very lucky people.
Author Notes: Set post season seven for Buffy, no particular timeframe for Castle, this chapter jumps back in time a bit.
"Aren't you that author guy?" The blonde asked him curiously as she casually wiped blood off his forehead, cleaning the shallow wound beneath and applying a bandage with clinical efficiency.
"That's me, Richard Castle, master of mystery." Castle replied, a trifle unsteadily, but giving her his best attempt at a suave smile.
She snorted delicately, pulling away from him and propping her hands on her hips, hips that he could not help but notice were slender but perfectly curved, as well as fashionably clad. "Care to unravel the mystery of why a successful author was playing poker with a bunch of demons?"
He shrugged, heart rate beginning to slow and his breath no longer coming in harsh pants. "You haven't lived till you've played kitten poker." He stated flippantly, before sighing as she arched one perfectly shaped, and utterly disbelieving, eyebrow. Why was it always women who saw right through him?
"I was doing research for a story a few years back when I stumbled across the supernatural world. I make a point to keep up my contacts, and a few games of poker, where I make sure to lose just enough, keeps me from losing any important body parts."
She nodded slowly, green eyes judging him on some internal meter in a way that reminded him of Kate. "Well, Mr. Castle, I suggest you be more careful with your contacts."
He nodded fervently, a vivid flash of a bloodied claw reaching for his face sending involuntary shivers down his spine. If this tiny little blonde hadn't shown up with her ridiculously sharp sword, there would be one less egotistical author haunting New York, and Alexis would never have seen her father again.
That thought chilled him in a way that the violence had not and he turned grateful eyes on the woman in front of him. "Thank you. For saving my life."
She gave him a genuine smile, "That's what I do, master of slayage is me."
He winced at the grammar, but returned her smile, his grin widening when an equally stunning brunette appeared behind her and wrapped an arm around the blonde's waist, dropping a kiss on her neck. "You okay B? I got caught up with the vamp bodyguards in the alley."
"Peachy with a side of keen. Faith meet Richard Castle, author. Mr. Castle meet Faith, the other master of slayage."
The brunette grinned at him cheekily, sex and something else smoldering in her large, dark eyes. "You can call me Mistress."
"I would be happy too, Mistress." He replied, cracking an imaginary whip and winking at her, then cursing softly under his breath as his bruised shoulder protested the motion.
Faith laughed, a low sound that tickled all the right places, and Castle forgot his pain for a moment. The blonde shook her head, an amused grin twitching her lips as she pulled a business card out of her impossibly tight pants. "My name's Buffy Summers, Mr. Castle, we just might be in touch. I have a feeling some of your contacts could be useful to us."
He took the card, staring bemusedly down at the simple silver lettering ISC – New York Branch, with a phone number underneath.
"And if you ever need any help, or come across anything unusual, give us a call."
"What if I'm just looking for some beautiful, and apparently lethal, company?" He couldn't help but ask, his curiosity at just how the blond had managed to subdue and slaughter seven demons breaking through his lingering fear. His fingers were already twitching for his keyboard, he never could resist stories of women kicking ass. It was why Beckett so appealed to him, well that, and her underlying vulnerability. He wondered what vulnerabilities these two had.
"Then pay for it by the hour like everyone else." The brunette said dryly, her hands wandering down the blonde's thighs in a way that sped Castle's heart rate up again, though for a much better reason than a near death experience.
"I'll do that." He muttered distractedly, mouth dry. If he didn't already have inspiration, inspiration he had no intention of letting go anytime soon, he had a feeling that these two would have found themselves a stalker, laptop in hand.
The blonde picked up her sword from where it had been leaning against the wall and he forcibly reminded himself that she, and most likely the brunette, could remove his hands without even blinking. Then he had to fight a smile at what Beckett would say to that thought, most likely something along the lines of 'good riddance'.
Struggling to his feet he managed a slight bow. "It was lovely to meet you two ladies, despite, or maybe because of, the circumstances, and I do hope we meet again."
Faith laughed again, "I think we should keep him around B. He's much more entertaining than that last crop of Watcher wannabes the G-man sent us."
The blonde eyed him appraisingly before cursing as something beeped. "We have to go, that's the emergency line." Sliding the sword into a back sheath Castle hadn't even noticed she turned to go, flashing him a smile over her shoulder. "It was nice to meet you too Ricky, and I'm sure we'll meet again."
Then she was gone, and so was the brunette after blowing him a kiss. Castle rocked back on his heels, staring around the room filled with demon body parts and playing cards, before realizing that he probably shouldn't stick around, especially without the gorgeous bodyguards. He was halfway to the door when a mewing sound stopped him in his tracks.
Turning around he walked back and grabbed the box of kittens off the table before finally leaving, a grin still splitting his face at how unexpected, and amazing, his night had turned out to be. And Alexis had been bugging him for a pet, so really it was a win-win all around. Except for maybe the demons he thought with a grimace as he flagged down a cab. It definitely hadn't been a good night for them.
Chapter One
Title: Wander into Darkness
Author: Avarra
Character/Pairing: Liz, Tess, Alex, Full Anita cast, Canon pairings.
Rating: PG13
Warnings: References to violence, sex, death, etc.
Summary: What happens when three teens from Roswell, two human and one not so much, are dropped into the Anita verse as adorable, powerful, six year olds. Inspired by the Mommy Anita challenge on Twisting the Hellmouth.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or universes used for Anita Blake or Roswell, they belong to other very lucky people.
Author Notes: The first three chapters are set in the Roswell verse, and so are a bit slow compared to the rest of the story, but stick with it and we'll have Anita and the gang soon! For the Roswell timeline this is set just after The End of the World and goes completely AU from there. For Anita this is set soon after Blue Moon and therefore almost a year before Obsidian Butterfly with several AU elements mostly in regard to Anita's relationship with the Pard.
Tess turned away from the blankly staring boy in front her, trying vainly to blink back the tears that burned in her eyes. This was wrong, horribly wrong, and she didn’t think she could go through with it. Nasedo would have been furious if he knew she had allowed herself to care for the humans, but it was too late to change that now.
He had pushed her towards this plan after she had mentioned how smart the boy was, something she now cursed herself for ever bringing up. ‘Maybe something good can come of these despicable connections they have formed with the humans; you shall use him to translate the book. If nothing else these humans can be satisfactory as tools.’
Choking back a strangled croak that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob, she dug her nails into her palms until drops of blood started trickling down her fingers. Turning her hands over, she watched the red drops dry into rust brown streaks, a newfound determination bubbling inside of her. Nasedo’s blood wasn’t red but hers was and so was the boy’s. She liked her human side better than her Antarian side right now, and it was time she started making decisions for herself instead of following someone else’s plan. Especially a someone who, as she had begun to realize, had never cared for her at all.
Turning sharply on her heel she reached out and tugged with her mind, the dark haired young man following silently behind her as she left the house and slipped behind the wheel of Nasedo’s car; it was time for a change.
The drive to the cave was disturbingly quiet, only his breathing indicating that the vacant body next to her was in fact alive. It gave her time to think however, and for this she was grateful, making the decision to be her own person was relatively easy when compared to the actuality of it. Nasedo may have been dead but Khivar wasn’t going to accept this without a fight, and she needed to ensure not only her own safety, but the safety of the rest of the group that against her will she had become strangely attached to.
As they headed up the side of the cliff she tried to steel herself for what she was about to do, hoping that despite a million reasons to the contrary that the boy behind her wouldn’t hate her. Waving her hand over the stone she pressed it against the silver symbol that appeared and waited rather impatiently for the telltale groan of the rock wall sliding open.
Now that she had decided to do this she found herself rather eager to get it over with. This was a whole new chapter of her life she was starting, and despite the fact that she knew it had a high chance of going horribly wrong, she was still unable to stop hoping that it would turn out to be the first good chapter yet.
Finally they were safely ensconced inside the stone chamber, the power of the Granolith humming behind her, and gritting her teeth she pulled herself out of Alex’s mind, watching as the life flooded back into his soulful blue eyes just before they narrowed suspiciously at her.
~
“What’s going on Tess?” Alex asked flatly, his usual good nature suppressed by the unusual circumstances he found himself in. He remembered being pleasantly surprised when Tess came to visit him at his house, asking for his help with a project in her computer class, and then not much else before suddenly coming to himself here, in what he could only assume was the cave where the four aliens were hatched.
Unlike Maria, he had chosen not to judge the strange girl who attached herself rather forcefully to their group. Even after the revelations that had left his best friend heartbroken, he had done his best to be friendly with the small blond. After all, due to those same revelations she didn’t have any friends left.
Isabel avoided her like the plague, hating her for the reminder that she wasn’t a normal girl, Michael appreciated her knowledge but didn’t trust her and made it clear, and Max in his avid pursuit of Liz did his best to ignore her. Liz was the only one who like him seemed to try and be friendly, but Maria was downright cruel to her, and despite the cold front Tess presented to the world, he couldn’t help but think that like Isabel, it was just a façade hiding the insecure girl inside. However being friendly to her didn’t mean he trusted her, and knowing what he did about her abilities, he found his good feelings dwindling. “What did you do to me?”
“I mind warped you. I was going to convince you and everyone that you were going on that exchange student trip and use you to translate this.” She said quietly but firmly as she pulled a strange metal book out from her bag. Holding up her hand to stop him from speaking she continued as if afraid that if she was interrupted she would never finish. “The book would tell me how to use the Granolith to take us back to Antar. It was part of a plan that Nasedo devised with Khivar, the one who killed us. They wanted me to get pregnant with Max’s baby and then return with the other three to Antar. Max and the others would be killed and my child would become Khivar’s heir, his royal blood ensuring the loyalty of the people.”
For the first time in his young life Alex felt he understood the phrase ‘jaw hitting the floor’ as that was what his was currently attempting. “Why…why are you telling me this?”
The petite girl’s lips trembled slightly “Because I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to hurt anyone, and I don’t want to be used as a brood mare, and I don’t want to use you!”
At the beginning of her brief yet impassioned speech she looked about to cry, but by the end her blue eyes were blazing with a fierce determination, and for a moment Alex got a glimpse of what she must have been like in her prior life; a Queen trying to guide her people and her King safely through a war.
“Well as I like not being hurt or used myself I think I’m glad you told me.” He said after a few quiet moments, and then gave a wry grin at the shocked look on her face. “I hope you didn’t expect me to hate you.”
A hint of personality flashed across her face and she replied with good humor “Well yes, but I was hoping you wouldn’t. I need your help.”
He cocked his head to the side and raised a curious eyebrow. “What do you need my help for? I am just a human after all.”
Tess smiled, “You are not just anything Alex, you are incredibly intelligent and you actually care about people, even me who has done everything possible to try and tear down your world.” Her grin widened at his now shocked face, something inside of her dancing up and down at the freedom she felt. “Even Nasedo acknowledged your intelligence and it’s that intelligence that I, that we all, need in order to stop Khivar’s plotting without any of us ending up dead.”
Alex nodded slowly, his mind already turning the problem over as it searched for a solution. “I will help but I think there’s someone else we need to bring into this. I’m not the only smart human after all and I think she’ll be grateful for something to do, plus three minds are better than two and she’s the only one who won’t freak out when she hears what you have to say.”
“Liz.” The hybrid said softly, a statement not a question. “Did you know that she’s been trying to help me get Max’s attention?” She shook her head, “I don’t think I could do that if I was in her place.”
“That’s my Lizzy.” Alex replied with a proud smile, “Always doing what she thinks is right even if it means hurting herself.” Then his smile changed and became a little less nice, and a lot more protective, “She deserves a chance to help with this, she’s done more to earn your guys’ trust than any of us and she’s had the worst luck, maybe helping you with Khivar will give her a chance to fight back.”
Tess nodded sharply, not letting herself pause to think or worry. “Well then call her, the sooner we can figure something out the better. Khivar isn’t here but Copper Summit can’t have been his only forces on Earth, sooner or later he’s bound to figure out I’m not following the plan anymore and decide to take matters into his own hands.”
Reaching into his pocket Alex pulled out his cell phone, surprised to see that he actually had reception in the depths of an alien made cave. It rang twice before Liz’s soft voice came on the line, a lot shakier than he was used to hearing.
“Alex? Are you ok?"
“Yeah Lizzy I’m fine, I need your help. Can you meet me at the cave?”
There was a pause before she replied, voice suddenly suspicious, “How do you know where the cave is Alex? You weren’t there this summer, is someone there with you?”
“Tess is here with me, we both need your help and no, this isn’t a mindwarp talking.”
There was silence and then her voice, much calmer and colder than before, came across the line. “I’ll be right there, don’t go anywhere.” Then there was a click and silence.
He could tell she was coming more out of fear for him than anything else, and could only hope she came alone. He didn’t trust the rationality of the rest of their group when it came to Tess or any of the alien crap.
Pushing the cell phone back into his jeans pocket he smiled weakly at the blond, “She’s coming but she’s expecting the worst so let’s try and be gentle with the news.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.” Tess said with a wry smile before turning to face the Granolith, her hands hovering just above the glowing surface. They were silent for several minutes before Alex approached her, unable to suppress his curiosity.
“What is it exactly?”
“I’m not sure exactly,” she stated with a wry smile, “My memories aren’t as complete as I’d like them to be. I know the Granolith is important I just don’t know why.” Looking over her shoulder at him she continued, “I was hoping the book could tell me.”
He was more than little surprised at her acknowledging weakness, surprised and pleased, if she was willing to be human than just maybe this alliance would actually work out. “Why would they send you here with a book you couldn’t read? That doesn’t make any sense if they want you to come back home.”
“Well I think we’ve learned that they weren’t exactly thinking clearly when they sent all of you here.” A new and slightly bitter voice filled the cave as Liz stepped through the opening, her eyes dark as she watched the two of them.
“Liz!” Alex exclaimed with a smile that belied the worry in his eyes as he pulled her into a warm hug. Her body was tense against his and after a moment he pulled away. Still holding her arms he frowned as he saw the pain and exhaustion radiating from her face. “What happened?”
Liz ran her hand through her hair and gave him a weak smile. “Oh you know, my future husband came back using an alien time machine and told me to make him fall out of love with me so that the world wouldn’t end; nothing out of the ordinary.”
Seeing the two gape jawed faces in front of her Liz started to laugh, the slightly hysterical giggles quickly dissolving into sobs as Alex once again pulled her into his arms, turning so he could stare worriedly at Tess over her head. What the hell had happened to their lives?
Author: Avarra
Character/Pairing: Faith/Buffy with Kate/Castle hints
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Fluffy fun, minimal plot.
Summary: Castle always had the strangest contacts, but she just knew that these two girls would be the strangest of all.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or universes used for Buffy or Castle, they belong to other very lucky people.
Author Notes: Set post season seven for Buffy, no particular timeframe for Castle, this chapter jumps back in time a bit.
"Aren't you that author guy?" The blonde asked him curiously as she casually wiped blood off his forehead, cleaning the shallow wound beneath and applying a bandage with clinical efficiency.
"That's me, Richard Castle, master of mystery." Castle replied, a trifle unsteadily, but giving her his best attempt at a suave smile.
She snorted delicately, pulling away from him and propping her hands on her hips, hips that he could not help but notice were slender but perfectly curved, as well as fashionably clad. "Care to unravel the mystery of why a successful author was playing poker with a bunch of demons?"
He shrugged, heart rate beginning to slow and his breath no longer coming in harsh pants. "You haven't lived till you've played kitten poker." He stated flippantly, before sighing as she arched one perfectly shaped, and utterly disbelieving, eyebrow. Why was it always women who saw right through him?
"I was doing research for a story a few years back when I stumbled across the supernatural world. I make a point to keep up my contacts, and a few games of poker, where I make sure to lose just enough, keeps me from losing any important body parts."
She nodded slowly, green eyes judging him on some internal meter in a way that reminded him of Kate. "Well, Mr. Castle, I suggest you be more careful with your contacts."
He nodded fervently, a vivid flash of a bloodied claw reaching for his face sending involuntary shivers down his spine. If this tiny little blonde hadn't shown up with her ridiculously sharp sword, there would be one less egotistical author haunting New York, and Alexis would never have seen her father again.
That thought chilled him in a way that the violence had not and he turned grateful eyes on the woman in front of him. "Thank you. For saving my life."
She gave him a genuine smile, "That's what I do, master of slayage is me."
He winced at the grammar, but returned her smile, his grin widening when an equally stunning brunette appeared behind her and wrapped an arm around the blonde's waist, dropping a kiss on her neck. "You okay B? I got caught up with the vamp bodyguards in the alley."
"Peachy with a side of keen. Faith meet Richard Castle, author. Mr. Castle meet Faith, the other master of slayage."
The brunette grinned at him cheekily, sex and something else smoldering in her large, dark eyes. "You can call me Mistress."
"I would be happy too, Mistress." He replied, cracking an imaginary whip and winking at her, then cursing softly under his breath as his bruised shoulder protested the motion.
Faith laughed, a low sound that tickled all the right places, and Castle forgot his pain for a moment. The blonde shook her head, an amused grin twitching her lips as she pulled a business card out of her impossibly tight pants. "My name's Buffy Summers, Mr. Castle, we just might be in touch. I have a feeling some of your contacts could be useful to us."
He took the card, staring bemusedly down at the simple silver lettering ISC – New York Branch, with a phone number underneath.
"And if you ever need any help, or come across anything unusual, give us a call."
"What if I'm just looking for some beautiful, and apparently lethal, company?" He couldn't help but ask, his curiosity at just how the blond had managed to subdue and slaughter seven demons breaking through his lingering fear. His fingers were already twitching for his keyboard, he never could resist stories of women kicking ass. It was why Beckett so appealed to him, well that, and her underlying vulnerability. He wondered what vulnerabilities these two had.
"Then pay for it by the hour like everyone else." The brunette said dryly, her hands wandering down the blonde's thighs in a way that sped Castle's heart rate up again, though for a much better reason than a near death experience.
"I'll do that." He muttered distractedly, mouth dry. If he didn't already have inspiration, inspiration he had no intention of letting go anytime soon, he had a feeling that these two would have found themselves a stalker, laptop in hand.
The blonde picked up her sword from where it had been leaning against the wall and he forcibly reminded himself that she, and most likely the brunette, could remove his hands without even blinking. Then he had to fight a smile at what Beckett would say to that thought, most likely something along the lines of 'good riddance'.
Struggling to his feet he managed a slight bow. "It was lovely to meet you two ladies, despite, or maybe because of, the circumstances, and I do hope we meet again."
Faith laughed again, "I think we should keep him around B. He's much more entertaining than that last crop of Watcher wannabes the G-man sent us."
The blonde eyed him appraisingly before cursing as something beeped. "We have to go, that's the emergency line." Sliding the sword into a back sheath Castle hadn't even noticed she turned to go, flashing him a smile over her shoulder. "It was nice to meet you too Ricky, and I'm sure we'll meet again."
Then she was gone, and so was the brunette after blowing him a kiss. Castle rocked back on his heels, staring around the room filled with demon body parts and playing cards, before realizing that he probably shouldn't stick around, especially without the gorgeous bodyguards. He was halfway to the door when a mewing sound stopped him in his tracks.
Turning around he walked back and grabbed the box of kittens off the table before finally leaving, a grin still splitting his face at how unexpected, and amazing, his night had turned out to be. And Alexis had been bugging him for a pet, so really it was a win-win all around. Except for maybe the demons he thought with a grimace as he flagged down a cab. It definitely hadn't been a good night for them.
Chapter One
Title: Wander into Darkness
Author: Avarra
Character/Pairing: Liz, Tess, Alex, Full Anita cast, Canon pairings.
Rating: PG13
Warnings: References to violence, sex, death, etc.
Summary: What happens when three teens from Roswell, two human and one not so much, are dropped into the Anita verse as adorable, powerful, six year olds. Inspired by the Mommy Anita challenge on Twisting the Hellmouth.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or universes used for Anita Blake or Roswell, they belong to other very lucky people.
Author Notes: The first three chapters are set in the Roswell verse, and so are a bit slow compared to the rest of the story, but stick with it and we'll have Anita and the gang soon! For the Roswell timeline this is set just after The End of the World and goes completely AU from there. For Anita this is set soon after Blue Moon and therefore almost a year before Obsidian Butterfly with several AU elements mostly in regard to Anita's relationship with the Pard.
Tess turned away from the blankly staring boy in front her, trying vainly to blink back the tears that burned in her eyes. This was wrong, horribly wrong, and she didn’t think she could go through with it. Nasedo would have been furious if he knew she had allowed herself to care for the humans, but it was too late to change that now.
He had pushed her towards this plan after she had mentioned how smart the boy was, something she now cursed herself for ever bringing up. ‘Maybe something good can come of these despicable connections they have formed with the humans; you shall use him to translate the book. If nothing else these humans can be satisfactory as tools.’
Choking back a strangled croak that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob, she dug her nails into her palms until drops of blood started trickling down her fingers. Turning her hands over, she watched the red drops dry into rust brown streaks, a newfound determination bubbling inside of her. Nasedo’s blood wasn’t red but hers was and so was the boy’s. She liked her human side better than her Antarian side right now, and it was time she started making decisions for herself instead of following someone else’s plan. Especially a someone who, as she had begun to realize, had never cared for her at all.
Turning sharply on her heel she reached out and tugged with her mind, the dark haired young man following silently behind her as she left the house and slipped behind the wheel of Nasedo’s car; it was time for a change.
The drive to the cave was disturbingly quiet, only his breathing indicating that the vacant body next to her was in fact alive. It gave her time to think however, and for this she was grateful, making the decision to be her own person was relatively easy when compared to the actuality of it. Nasedo may have been dead but Khivar wasn’t going to accept this without a fight, and she needed to ensure not only her own safety, but the safety of the rest of the group that against her will she had become strangely attached to.
As they headed up the side of the cliff she tried to steel herself for what she was about to do, hoping that despite a million reasons to the contrary that the boy behind her wouldn’t hate her. Waving her hand over the stone she pressed it against the silver symbol that appeared and waited rather impatiently for the telltale groan of the rock wall sliding open.
Now that she had decided to do this she found herself rather eager to get it over with. This was a whole new chapter of her life she was starting, and despite the fact that she knew it had a high chance of going horribly wrong, she was still unable to stop hoping that it would turn out to be the first good chapter yet.
Finally they were safely ensconced inside the stone chamber, the power of the Granolith humming behind her, and gritting her teeth she pulled herself out of Alex’s mind, watching as the life flooded back into his soulful blue eyes just before they narrowed suspiciously at her.
~
“What’s going on Tess?” Alex asked flatly, his usual good nature suppressed by the unusual circumstances he found himself in. He remembered being pleasantly surprised when Tess came to visit him at his house, asking for his help with a project in her computer class, and then not much else before suddenly coming to himself here, in what he could only assume was the cave where the four aliens were hatched.
Unlike Maria, he had chosen not to judge the strange girl who attached herself rather forcefully to their group. Even after the revelations that had left his best friend heartbroken, he had done his best to be friendly with the small blond. After all, due to those same revelations she didn’t have any friends left.
Isabel avoided her like the plague, hating her for the reminder that she wasn’t a normal girl, Michael appreciated her knowledge but didn’t trust her and made it clear, and Max in his avid pursuit of Liz did his best to ignore her. Liz was the only one who like him seemed to try and be friendly, but Maria was downright cruel to her, and despite the cold front Tess presented to the world, he couldn’t help but think that like Isabel, it was just a façade hiding the insecure girl inside. However being friendly to her didn’t mean he trusted her, and knowing what he did about her abilities, he found his good feelings dwindling. “What did you do to me?”
“I mind warped you. I was going to convince you and everyone that you were going on that exchange student trip and use you to translate this.” She said quietly but firmly as she pulled a strange metal book out from her bag. Holding up her hand to stop him from speaking she continued as if afraid that if she was interrupted she would never finish. “The book would tell me how to use the Granolith to take us back to Antar. It was part of a plan that Nasedo devised with Khivar, the one who killed us. They wanted me to get pregnant with Max’s baby and then return with the other three to Antar. Max and the others would be killed and my child would become Khivar’s heir, his royal blood ensuring the loyalty of the people.”
For the first time in his young life Alex felt he understood the phrase ‘jaw hitting the floor’ as that was what his was currently attempting. “Why…why are you telling me this?”
The petite girl’s lips trembled slightly “Because I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to hurt anyone, and I don’t want to be used as a brood mare, and I don’t want to use you!”
At the beginning of her brief yet impassioned speech she looked about to cry, but by the end her blue eyes were blazing with a fierce determination, and for a moment Alex got a glimpse of what she must have been like in her prior life; a Queen trying to guide her people and her King safely through a war.
“Well as I like not being hurt or used myself I think I’m glad you told me.” He said after a few quiet moments, and then gave a wry grin at the shocked look on her face. “I hope you didn’t expect me to hate you.”
A hint of personality flashed across her face and she replied with good humor “Well yes, but I was hoping you wouldn’t. I need your help.”
He cocked his head to the side and raised a curious eyebrow. “What do you need my help for? I am just a human after all.”
Tess smiled, “You are not just anything Alex, you are incredibly intelligent and you actually care about people, even me who has done everything possible to try and tear down your world.” Her grin widened at his now shocked face, something inside of her dancing up and down at the freedom she felt. “Even Nasedo acknowledged your intelligence and it’s that intelligence that I, that we all, need in order to stop Khivar’s plotting without any of us ending up dead.”
Alex nodded slowly, his mind already turning the problem over as it searched for a solution. “I will help but I think there’s someone else we need to bring into this. I’m not the only smart human after all and I think she’ll be grateful for something to do, plus three minds are better than two and she’s the only one who won’t freak out when she hears what you have to say.”
“Liz.” The hybrid said softly, a statement not a question. “Did you know that she’s been trying to help me get Max’s attention?” She shook her head, “I don’t think I could do that if I was in her place.”
“That’s my Lizzy.” Alex replied with a proud smile, “Always doing what she thinks is right even if it means hurting herself.” Then his smile changed and became a little less nice, and a lot more protective, “She deserves a chance to help with this, she’s done more to earn your guys’ trust than any of us and she’s had the worst luck, maybe helping you with Khivar will give her a chance to fight back.”
Tess nodded sharply, not letting herself pause to think or worry. “Well then call her, the sooner we can figure something out the better. Khivar isn’t here but Copper Summit can’t have been his only forces on Earth, sooner or later he’s bound to figure out I’m not following the plan anymore and decide to take matters into his own hands.”
Reaching into his pocket Alex pulled out his cell phone, surprised to see that he actually had reception in the depths of an alien made cave. It rang twice before Liz’s soft voice came on the line, a lot shakier than he was used to hearing.
“Alex? Are you ok?"
“Yeah Lizzy I’m fine, I need your help. Can you meet me at the cave?”
There was a pause before she replied, voice suddenly suspicious, “How do you know where the cave is Alex? You weren’t there this summer, is someone there with you?”
“Tess is here with me, we both need your help and no, this isn’t a mindwarp talking.”
There was silence and then her voice, much calmer and colder than before, came across the line. “I’ll be right there, don’t go anywhere.” Then there was a click and silence.
He could tell she was coming more out of fear for him than anything else, and could only hope she came alone. He didn’t trust the rationality of the rest of their group when it came to Tess or any of the alien crap.
Pushing the cell phone back into his jeans pocket he smiled weakly at the blond, “She’s coming but she’s expecting the worst so let’s try and be gentle with the news.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.” Tess said with a wry smile before turning to face the Granolith, her hands hovering just above the glowing surface. They were silent for several minutes before Alex approached her, unable to suppress his curiosity.
“What is it exactly?”
“I’m not sure exactly,” she stated with a wry smile, “My memories aren’t as complete as I’d like them to be. I know the Granolith is important I just don’t know why.” Looking over her shoulder at him she continued, “I was hoping the book could tell me.”
He was more than little surprised at her acknowledging weakness, surprised and pleased, if she was willing to be human than just maybe this alliance would actually work out. “Why would they send you here with a book you couldn’t read? That doesn’t make any sense if they want you to come back home.”
“Well I think we’ve learned that they weren’t exactly thinking clearly when they sent all of you here.” A new and slightly bitter voice filled the cave as Liz stepped through the opening, her eyes dark as she watched the two of them.
“Liz!” Alex exclaimed with a smile that belied the worry in his eyes as he pulled her into a warm hug. Her body was tense against his and after a moment he pulled away. Still holding her arms he frowned as he saw the pain and exhaustion radiating from her face. “What happened?”
Liz ran her hand through her hair and gave him a weak smile. “Oh you know, my future husband came back using an alien time machine and told me to make him fall out of love with me so that the world wouldn’t end; nothing out of the ordinary.”
Seeing the two gape jawed faces in front of her Liz started to laugh, the slightly hysterical giggles quickly dissolving into sobs as Alex once again pulled her into his arms, turning so he could stare worriedly at Tess over her head. What the hell had happened to their lives?
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