The Seeker

Alex suddenly found it hard to breathe. Yeah, he remembered. He definitely remembered.

"And the last one, in that one I was thinking about how much I want you to kiss me again," she said.

Maybe she really meant it, he thought. Maybe she really would choose me over Nikolas.

He leaned forward slowly, then he kissed her, his lips barely brushing hers.

Isabel kept her eyes open, looking at him the whole time. At him.

Maria felt like someone was stabbing an ice pick into the back of her eyeballs. She couldn't get her nose to stop bleeding. But she had to hold out a little longer. Valenti was in the warehouse with the ship. She had to see him when he left. If she did, she might be able to give Michael the exact location of the ship, the thing he wanted most.

"Where's Valenti?" she asked, gripping the pen in both hands. The dots spun around her, making her head feel like it was about to explode. When they clumped, she was back in the warehouse. Valenti hadn't moved since last time. A few seconds later the warehouse began to dissolve into the dots, and she didn't try to stop it from happening. She would check back in a few minutes. She needed to rest.

The dots clumped, forming her room. Maria took a deep breath and realized the blood had completely soaked the tissues in her nostrils. She reached for the box of tissues on her dresser-and the paralysis hit. She couldn't stop herself from tumbling onto the floor.

Don't panic. All you have to do is wait it out, she told herself, fighting to stay calm. You're not going to get hurt lying on the floor of your own room, okay?

Maria could feel the blood dripping out of her nose and sliding down the side of her face. The sensation was driving her nuts. She wanted to reach up and wipe the blood away. But she couldn't even move her little finger.

It won't be much longer, she thought. Her eyes started to feel dry and itchy because she couldn't blink them.

Not much longer, she repeated. Her skin felt itchy, too, itchy and hot. She must have given herself a carpet burn when she fell. Except… except all of her skin felt hot. Not just the part touching the carpet.

The heat covered her body, sending pinpricks of heat into every pore.

And it was getting hotter.

Michael didn't know how he was even going to get his two hours of sleep tonight. He had to be living in the noisiest house in America. Dylan was doing his snoring thing in the other bed, and Amanda had the flu. Mr. Pascal kept bringing her into the bathroom across the hall, so Michael got to hear every moment of her puking. He felt bad for her, but still…

He rolled over on his side. He was going nuts. At least Sarah hadn't started her nightly scream fest. He had to be thankful for that.

Sarah must have been a mind reader because right then she started to wail. Michael heard Mrs. Pascal rushing into her room. Which meant the singing would start any second.

I'm out of here, Michael thought. With all this going on, the Pascals probably won't even notice. And if they do, I'll deal with them-and Cuddihy-tomorrow. He crept over to the window, opened it, and crawled out.

He didn't even have to think about where to go. He headed straight for Maria's. He wanted to find out if she'd had any luck with the pen. And maybe he'd try kissing her again. That quick one hadn't brought up any little-sister feelings. Maybe he was ready to move on to the real thing and really let himself taste Maria's raspberry lips.

Michael started to jog. He loved being out at this time of night. He felt like he owned the whole town. He picked up speed, running full out, flying. He turned onto Maria's street. It was after midnight, but he knew she wouldn't mind a late visit. She never did.

Her mom's car was parked in the driveway, so he tried to be extra quiet as he climbed over the fence. He crept around to Maria's window. It was still open, so he climbed on in.

And saw her lying on the floor. A sharp acid taste flooded his mouth as he rushed over to her. Maria's blue eyes stared up at him, blank and empty. Blood was smeared under her nose and down one cheek. And tiny red dots covered her skin-her face, her neck, her arms, her hands, everywhere that he could see.

"Maria!" He took her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. Her body was stiff and still under his hands. "Maria, come on! Say something." She didn't utter a sound.

He grabbed the sports bottle off her dresser and squirted some water on her face. He stared at her intently. Move, please, you've got to, he thought. But he didn't see even the tiniest response.

He didn't think this was another spell of paralysis. There'd never been any blood before. And those red dots-what were they? What had happened to Maria?

Michael pressed his head against her chest. Relief surged through him when he heard her heart beating, fast and sort of jumpy, but definitely beating. Okay, I can deal with this, he thought, fighting to stay calm. I can heal her. I just have to make a connection. Then I'll be able to figure out what's wrong.

He took a deep breath and studied Maria's still form. He wasn't as good at healing as Max was, but he knew he could do this. He had to. There wasn't any wound that he could see, so Michael rested his hands on Maria's forehead. He focused all his attention on her. He was expecting to get a rush of images from her mind.

Instead he saw two creatures. Their-faces didn't even seem like the right word-were wide at the forehead and narrowed down to pointed chins. Their mouths were gaping circles lined with thin earthworm-length tentacles. The tentacles waved in the air, searching, searching. They had no noses and shallow, bumpy depressions where their eyes should be.

No, Michael realized. Those bumps were their eyes. They had dozens of eyes.

In unison the creatures swung their heads toward Michael. The tentacles of their mouths stretched toward him, straining to reach him.

They see me, Michael realized. He jerked his hands away from Maria. He felt like his whole body was vibrating. His teeth kept knocking together.

What was that? What the hell was going on? Those… things weren't any memory of Maria's. And they saw him. It was impossible, but it happened.

Max. He had to call Max. Michael leaped to his feet and snatched Maria's phone off her dresser. He punched in the Evanses' number. Isabel answered on the second ring. "I need you and Max to get over to Maria's right away," Michael said. "And be quiet. I don't want her mom or her little brother waking up."

If Mrs. DeLuca saw Maria right now, she'd call an ambulance. And that would be a big mistake. Michael didn't know what was happening to Maria, but there was no way any hospital or doctor could deal with it. And while they were trying to figure out what to do, Maria could die.

Michael suddenly felt like he'd chugged a gallon of ice water. Coldness rushed through his body, cramping his stomach, making him ache.

That's not going to happen. Don't even think that, he ordered himself. Maria is not going to die. I won't let her.

"What happened?" Isabel exclaimed.

"Just get here," Michael ordered, keeping his voice low. He hung up the phone and returned to Maria. He sat down next to her. "You're going to be all right," he said softly. "I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to figure out a way to heal you."

He reached out and slid his palm down over her eyes, forcing the lids to close. He hated seeing her eyes all blank like that.

Michael decided he should go wait by the front door for Max and Isabel. It's not like they could ring the doorbell or anything. That would definitely wake up Maria's mom and brother.

He leaned close to Maria, her soft hair brushing against his face. Her skin felt hot under his fingers, way too hot. "I have to go away for a minute," he whispered. "But I'll be right back." Then he kissed her. Her lips were soft and sweet, just like he'd thought they'd be.

"I should have done that before," he told her. Then Michael pushed himself to his feet and crept through the dark house to the front door. He unlocked it and stepped out onto the front porch. He'd wait for Max and Isabel out there.

But he couldn't stand still. He hurried out into the middle of the street and looked for Max's Jeep. Where was he? Didn't he know this was an emergency?

You talked to Isabel about two seconds ago, Michael reminded himself. They'll be here as fast as they can.

Michael wondered if he had time to check on Maria and get back out here before they showed up. He turned back toward the house and caught sight of a pair of headlights out of the corner of his eye. He stared down the street. Yeah, it was the Jeep. Max had obviously broken a few speed limits to get here.

Max pulled up alongside him. "What's going on?" he demanded.

"It's Maria. She's in a coma or something. When I made the connection to heal her, I saw two creatures, I don't even know what to call them, staring at me. They saw me. I know it," Michael explained, his words tumbling on top of each other.

"Okay, we need a plan," Isabel said, her voice calm and steady. "We are going to come up with a way to save her-now."

"Let's take her to Ray's," Max said. "His powers of healing might be stronger than ours."

Ray wasn't exactly Michael's favorite person. But if he could help Maria, Michael would get down on his knees and kiss the guy's feet.

"I'll go get her," Michael said. "You two wait here. There's more chance we'll get caught if we all go." He ran back to the front door and slipped inside. He made his way back to Maria's room and scooped her up in his arms. He cradled her tight against his chest. She still felt so hot. He didn't know if that was good or bad. At least it meant she was still alive.

He carried her out of the house and over to the Jeep. He climbed into the backseat, still holding her. "We're going to take care of you," he said. He hoped somehow she could hear him.

Max pulled the Jeep out of the driveway and peeled out down the street. Isabel twisted around and ran her fingers down Maria's cheek. "Something weird happened with Maria a couple of days ago," she told Michael. "We were in English, and she had a little spell or something. Like a blackout. When I asked her what happened, she wouldn't tell me."

Michael gave a growl of frustration. "That happened when she was with me, too. I should have known she was hurting herself. She looked like she was half dead when she was paralyzed."

"What are you talking about?" Max demanded.

"Maria's psychic. Every time she uses her power, she gets paralyzed. Can't move, can't talk, nothing. She made it sound like it was no big deal. But she couldn't see herself when it was happening. If she could-" Michael broke off and shoved his fingers through his hair.

"Psychic? Are you sure?" Isabel exclaimed.

Max pulled into the UFO museum parking lot and parked the Jeep at the foot of the stairs leading to Ray's apartment. "Do you want help with her?" he asked Michael.

"No. No, you go ahead. Tell Ray what happened. I'll be right behind you." Max and Isabel jumped out of the Jeep and took off up the stairs.

Michael climbed out of the Jeep and took the stairs more slowly, trying to jar Maria as little as possible. "Ray's going to know how to help you," he told her. He wanted her to know what was happening.

Ray met him at the front door. "Put her down in the living room and let me look at her," he said.

Max shoved a couple of the beanbags together, and Michael carefully laid Maria on top of them. He sat on the floor nearby, keeping her hand locked in his.

Ray knelt down next to them. His eyes were wide as he stared at her. With a shaking hand he lightly touched one of the red spots on Maria's face.

"Bounty hunters," he whispered.

"What?" Michael demanded.

Isabel joined them in the living room. "I called Alex. He's going to get Liz and come over."

Ray grabbed Michael by the arm, his fingers squeezing hard. "Max said you saw some kind of creatures when you connected with Maria. Did they have multiple eyes and tentacle mouths?"

"Yeah. Why? What's going on? Can you help her?" Michael asked.

"The things you saw… they're bounty hunters. A race of creatures from our planet," Ray explained. "Their bodies are designed for hunting, and our people used them to track down criminals. They use a kind of… mental warfare. It leaves spots like the ones on Maria."

"Mental warfare? What's that?" Isabel demanded.

"It's something the hunters use to kill from a great distance," Ray answered. "They use their minds as weapons. Their power is staggering."

"Kill?" Michael exploded. "Someone's trying to kill Maria?"

"It looks that way," Ray said.

"But you're saying an alien did this," Max jumped in. "Why would an alien target Maria?"

"Good question," Ray said. "I don't-"

"I have a better question," Michael interrupted. "How do we stop them? What do we have to do to save Maria?" He stared down at her face-and saw her eyelids flutter. "She moved!" he cried.

He rubbed her hand between his. "Maria, can you hear me?" Michael demanded. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes slowly opened. They had lost their horrible blank expression. "Thirsty," she mumbled.

"I'll get water," Isabel said.

Michael brushed Maria's hair away from her face. He smoothed her shirt down over her stomach. He couldn't seem to stop touching her. "You scared me," he said.

"Sorry." Maria's voice was thick and scratchy. Isabel rushed back in and handed Michael a glass of water. He wrapped one arm around Maria's shoulders and helped her sit up enough to drink.

"Do you feel well enough to tell us what happened?" Ray asked.

"I don't know what happened. How did I get here? What-" She was interrupted by a frantic pounding on the front door.

"I got it," Max said. He hurried out of the room and returned a moment later followed by Alex and Liz.

"Are you okay, Maria?" Liz cried.

"What happened?" Alex half yelled.

"I stopped by Maria's and found her passed out on the floor," Michael explained. "She had these red spots all over her."

Maria raised her hand in front of her face. She gave a soft whimper when she saw the spots.

Michael tightened his arm around her. He knew it was going to be really hard for her to hear the rest. "Ray says alien bounty hunters were after her." He locked eyes with Maria. "They're using some kind of mental weapon on you, but we're going to figure out a way to stop them. Right?" he asked Ray.

Ray didn't give Michael the answer he wanted. He didn't say he knew exactly how to stop the bounty hunters. He just smiled at Maria. "First I think we need more information," he said. "Tell me about your psychic powers-and the spells you get."

"She doesn't have any psychic powers," Liz burst out.

Maria looked up at Liz. "Actually, I do. I was going to tell you. I just-"

"Maria," Alex said gently, "just tell us the facts."

"I… I found a ring in the mall, a ring with a strange stone," she said slowly.

A ring? Michael thought. Maria hadn't told him about that.

She cleared her throat, and Michael gave her another sip of water. "The stone helped me tap into psychic powers I didn't even know I had. Healing. And I could touch any object and then see the person it belonged to-know exactly what they were doing right at that second."

Michael could feel Maria trembling. But she was holding it together, telling them what they needed to know.

"Can I see the ring?" Ray asked.

Maria pulled the gold chain off her neck and handed it to Ray. A ring set with a green-purple stone hung on the end.

Ray ran one finger over the stone. "It's one of the Stones of Midnight," he said, his voice hushed and solemn. "I never thought I would hold one in my hand."

Isabel leaned over for a look. "That's Nikolas's ring!" she cried.

"I found it the night… the night he, you know," Maria said. "I didn't know it was his."

It was good to hear her talking. Plus her skin was cooler and those little red dots were gone. He'd been so afraid… Michael didn't even want to complete the thought.

"How could Nikolas have gotten the Stone?" Max asked.

"The Stone was stolen by the stowaway on our ship," Ray reminded them. "Maybe someone found it at the crash site. Or somehow it was attached to Nikolas's pod-"

"Who cares about that right now," Michael snapped. "We have to stay focused on Maria."

"Well, now I know why the bounty hunters have targeted Maria," Ray said. "They're after the Stone. The consortium must have hired them to track down the fugitive and retrieve it."

Ray ran his fingers through his thinning gray-brown hair. "Every time Maria used the power of the Stone-what she thought was her psychic power-she was sending a signal to the bounty hunters, helping them track her down. They've obviously gotten close enough to begin using mental warfare against her."

Maria cleared her throat again. "Wouldn't they be able to tell I wasn't an alien?" she asked.

"Not necessarily," Ray answered. "The hunters are probably still too far away to tell anything except that the Stone is being used."

"So if Maria stops using the Stone, it's over, right?" Michael asked. "If she doesn't use it, she doesn't send out a signal, and the bounty hunters can't find her, right?"

"I don't think they'll be able to find Maria if she doesn't use the Stone again," Ray agreed.

"Good. Problem solved. I'm taking her home," Michael said.

He decided he would sleep on her floor. No, not sleep. Lie on her floor and watch her, make sure she was okay.

"I'm fine," Maria protested. But she sounded awful. And Michael was pretty sure if he moved his arm, she wouldn't be able to hold herself upright.

"What I'm afraid of is that the bounty hunters may have been able to target Maria's general location," Ray added. "If they can't find her, they may decide to do something drastic-like destroy the whole town. That way they'd be sure of killing her. And the Stone would still be safe. There isn't a weapon that can destroy it."

"So we get in the Jeep right now and get as far away as possible," Michael said.

"And leave everyone else to die?" Liz exclaimed. "I don't think so."

"I was so stupid. I actually thought I had some kind of special power. I thought the Stone was just helping me use it," Maria cried.

"It wasn't stupid. Were you supposed to think you'd found an alien power stone in the mall?" Liz asked.

"So we need a plan," Alex said. "Anyone have any ideas?"

"Remember how we got our friend the sheriff off Max's trail right after he healed me?" Liz asked. "We convinced Valenti the alien he was looking for was dead. Could we pull the same kind of thing on the bounty hunters?"

"Yeah, if they thought I was dead, they'd stop trying to kill me-and there would be no reason for them to hurt anyone else," Maria said.

"There is a way… but it's dangerous," Max answered.

Dangerous. That was not a word Michael wanted to hear in connection with Maria.

"Maria could use the ring to call the bounty hunters to her," Max continued. "Then I'll use my power to stop her heart. Just for a few seconds, just long enough to convince the bounty hunters she's dead. Then I could start it again."

Fury slammed through Michael. How could Max even think about putting Maria in that kind of situation? "There is no way I'm letting you do something like that," he spat out.

Maria tightened her grip on his hand. "It's not your decision. It's mine," she said firmly. "And I'm doing it."

Maria stared down at her arm. She wished the red dots would reappear. When the dots came back, that would mean the bounty hunters had targeted her again-and that she could get this over with. She hated the waiting, knowing that soon she was going to die.

"Are you okay?" Liz asked. "We should have let you rest more first."

"This way it will make it easier for Max to kill me," she said. She meant it to come out light and teasing. But Max stiffened, Liz turned pale, and a shiver ran through Maria's body.

"If Max and Michael and Ray screw up, don't worry," Isabel jumped in. "You've still got me. I'll bring you back."

"I don't think talking about screwing up is helpful right now," Alex said.

"No, it's… I appreciate it," Maria answered. She did, too. It meant a lot that Isabel was willing to heal her even though she'd sworn never to use her powers again. "Thanks. Thanks, Izzy."

"I still don't think-" Michael began.

"I'm going to use the Stone again," Maria announced. She couldn't stand waiting. "I used it a bunch of times in a row the last time."

Maria wrapped her fingers around the bracelet she'd borrowed from her mother. "What's Mom doing?" she whispered.

The dots swirled, then clumped. And Maria found herself standing in her mother's bedroom. Her mom was asleep, a small smile on her lips. What if I never see her again? Maria thought.

The dots started to swirl. "I love you, Mom," Maria called. Then the dots clumped and she was back in Ray's living room. The paralysis struck immediately this time. Maria could see and hear everything, just like she had when Michael held her in his arms and told her everything was all right, when he kissed her.

"It's time," she heard Alex say. "There are dots on her arms."

Think of Michael. Keep thinking of Michael, she told herself. That would help get her through the next few minutes.

Max stood up and crossed the room to her. Maria felt her heart flutter in her chest-like it knew what was about to happen. Like it knew it was going to be forced to stop beating. He knelt down next to her.

"Don't touch her," Michael ordered.

"Michael, there's no other-" Liz began to protest.

"I'll do it," Michael said. He took a deep breath and pressed his hands against her chest. She knew he was getting ready to make the connection. In a few seconds she'd be dead.

Michael lowered his head so his eyes were only inches from her own. "Don't think about anything but me," he told her.

She wished she could tell him that's what she'd been doing.

Michael's eyes never left hers as he slid his hands up from her chest to her throat. Was he having trouble making the connection? "Just think of me," he murmured.

Maria felt his hand slide through her hair and then-Michael tore the gold chain from around her neck.

"What are you doing?" Alex cried.

Michael shoved the ring onto his finger and sprang to his feet. "I want to be the one to die," he announced.

"We have to stick to the plan," Max said urgently.

"No," Michael answered. "End of discussion." He curled his hand into a fist. "No one is taking this ring off me. So either you use me instead of Maria or the plan fails."

No! Maria wanted to scream at them to stop. But she couldn't get out even a word.

"They're connecting with me now," Michael announced. He held out his arm, showing everyone the red dots. Max rushed over to Michael. He shoved his hands down on Michael's chest.

A shudder ripped through Maria's body as the paralysis broke. She sat up fast. "Don't do it!" Maria wailed. This wasn't right. She should be the one to die.

But it was too late. Michael crumpled to the floor. His body gave two jerks and then lay still. Maria could see little bubbles of foam on his lips.

"Max, what did you do?" Isabel yelled.

Max stumbled away from Michael's body. "I didn't do anything. I didn't even get a chance to make the connection."

"Is he dead?" Maria cried. "Is Michael dead?"

"I don't know what happened. I didn't even make it in, "Max cried.

Isabel pushed her way past him and dropped down next to Michael's body. She placed her hands on his chest.

You can do this, she told herself. You have the power. Just relax and focus on Michael. Only on Michael. She took a few deep breaths and waited for the flood of images from Michael's brain. They didn't come.

She wasn't going to let him die. She couldn't save Nikolas. She'd been too terrified to even try. She'd just stood there and watched Valenti shoot him. But she wasn't going to stand around and let Michael die. She was going to save him.

Isabel pulled up his T-shirt and repositioned her hands on his bare skin. Skin-to-skin contact always helped her make the connection. She closed her eyes, willing herself to keep her breathing slow and steady. She knew if she got tense and tried to force things, it would only make the connection harder to achieve.

The images still didn't come. Maybe her power had gotten dulled because she hadn't been using it. She opened her eyes. "Max, you've got to help me. I can't make the connection," Isabel told him.

Max crouched down next to Michael and positioned his hands on either side of Isabel's. "Let's try together," he said.

They had known Michael their whole lives. They loved him. If anyone could connect with him, they could. So this had to work. It had to.

Isabel listened to Max's deep breathing and matched her breaths to his. She starting running through all the moments with Michael she had stored in her brain.

"Something's happening," Alex said softly. "Look at Michael."

Isabel stared down at him and saw a sickly gray glow forming around his body. That had never happened during a healing before. Was it a good sign or a bad one?

"Let's see what a little more juice can do," Ray said. He knelt next to Max and put his hands on Michael's forehead. The light around Michael grew a little brighter.

Then it flickered and went out.

"Come on, Max. What are you waiting for?" Michael demanded. "You've got to do this now. Before it's too late."

Max didn't answer. No one answered. The room was completely still and silent. Even the clock had stopped ticking.

Michael opened his eyes and sat up. Max, Maria, Isabel, Alex, Liz, and Ray-they had all disappeared. What was going on? He stumbled to his feet, fighting against a wave of dizziness. "Where are you guys?" Michael shouted.

He rushed to the front door and threw it open. He took the stairs two at a time. Max's Jeep was still parked in the UFO museum lot. He could see it clearly. But… but everything outside the lot was covered in a thick mist.

"Max! Maria! Anyone! Are you out there? Can you hear me?" Michael yelled.

Again he got no answer. But something was moving deep in the mist. Something was coming toward him.

Michael squinted into the mist. Two figures began to form-tall and thin, with incredibly long arms and legs. They moved closer and he got a glimpse of their faces. It was them. The bounty hunters.

"You're just the guys I've been hoping to run into," Michael yelled. He was going to show them exactly why they shouldn't have messed with someone he cared about.

He locked his eyes on one of the bounty hunters and ran straight at him. He tackled the hunter and knocked him to the ground. He grabbed the hunter's head and smashed it against the asphalt. He lifted it up and smashed it again. He did not want the guy getting back up-ever.

The second bounty hunter yanked Michael away. Michael landed hard on his back, the breath rushing out of his lungs with a whoosh. The hunter pressed his fingers against Michael's stomach. Instantly a connection between them formed. Michael felt the hunters mind probe his internal organs-and begin ripping a hole in Michael's stomach. He could feel the hot gastric enzymes spilling into his body cavity.

"You want to play, let's play," Michael muttered. He did a quick check of the hunter's body. He could see the organs and muscles and tissue. He spotted an unfamiliar gland at the base of the throat. Let's see what this little baby does, Michael thought. He focused his attention on it and squeezed with his mind.

He felt the hunter rip another hole in his stomach. Michael squeezed his eyes shut as more acid flooded his body. Enough fooling around, he thought. He didn't see anything in the hunter's body that looked exactly like a heart. But he figured that pulsing thing where his liver should be must do something important.

He focused on it and crushed the cells together. He tried to imagine that he was a trash compactor and the heart thing was an aluminum can. He gave it another good squeeze. And it stopped beating.

Michael pushed the hunter off him and pressed his hands against his stomach. He nudged the molecules of the gastric acid, urging them farther and farther apart. The burning in his stomach lessened until it felt like he'd just eaten too many chili dogs with lemon.

Michael caught a twitch of movement out of the corner of his eye. It was the first bounty hunter. He lived?

Time for round two. Michael shoved himself to his feet and took a step toward the first hunter. He heard a wet, squishing sound, and the hunter's body split in two.

Both halves stood up and turned toward Michael, their dozens and dozens of eyes locked on him.

Michael backed away and stumbled over the hunter still on the ground. Before he could move, they were on him. One latched onto the biggest artery in Michael's brain. The other went for his heart.

Red dots exploded in front of Michael's eyes. Then everything went black.

Maria moaned as the light around Michael went dark. This couldn't be happening. She wasn't going to let this happen.

But what could she do? She was back to being an ordinary girl. She didn't have any power.

"Michael, don't give up!" Maria cried. At least she could let him know she was there. Let him know she cared about him. Maybe somehow he'd be able to hear her, the way she'd heard him.

Liz slipped her arm around Maria's shoulders. "Yeah, come on, Michael. You've got to fight. I know you're a fighter."

Alex wrapped one arm around her and one around Liz. "You've got to come back, Michael. You still owe me two bucks!"

At least her friends were here with her. Maria didn't know what she'd do if she had to go through this alone.

That's it! she thought. I couldn't do it alone. None of us can do it alone.

She rushed over and squeezed between Max and Isabel. She grabbed each of their hands in hers. "Alex, Liz, come on. Form a circle-like we did that night in the cave."

Liz and Alex didn't ask questions. They quickly joined the group around Michael. Liz took Ray's hand and then linked hands with Alex. Alex locked fingers with Max. Ray reached out and took Isabel's hand.

The moment the circle of hands was complete, bands of color wrapped themselves around Michael. The sparkling blue emanating from Maria, the emerald green from Max, the bright orange from Alex, the rich amber from Liz, the deep purple from Isabel, and the creamy, almost colorless light from Ray.

Tears streamed down Maria's face. This had to work. What she had felt that night in the cave, the night Max had formed a connection between them, was the most powerful experience of her life. Stronger and deeper than anything she'd felt using the Stone. If the force of the group connection wasn't enough to save Michael, then it was over. He was dead.

"Come on, Michael. Come back to us," Max cried.

"Don't you dare walk away from me," Isabel added.

"I love you, Michael," Maria whispered.

They waited.

"Concentrate, everyone," Maria begged her friends.

She could feel Max's death grip on her left hand, and Isabel's nails digging into her right hand.

Slowy, slowly, a new color appeared, mixed with the bands of blue, green, orange, purple, amber, and white. The brick red of Michael's aura. It grew brighter and brighter until it soaked the room, throwing red light on everything.

Michael opened his eyes. "Can't you get along for one second without me?" he mumbled.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Maria asked. She kept a tight grip on Michael's hand. She didn't think she'd ever let go.

"It's the only way," Ray replied. "I don't want to put it back out in the world where some other innocent human might find it. And nothing on this planet could destroy it. If I keep the Stone here, it will be safe."

"You won't use it?" Michael pressed. "I don't want my 'death' to go to waste. Those bounty hunters were nasty."

"I'll never use it," Ray promised. "How about another Lime Warp?"

"I'd love one," Michael said.

When Ray headed into the kitchen, Maria turned to Michael. "Are you sure you're okay? You didn't really tell us what happened."

Michael's beautiful eyes took on a pained expression. "I don't want to talk about it," he murmured. "They killed me, I know it. I was dead. I don't know how you saved me."

Isabel took Michael's other hand and smiled at Maria. "Teamwork," she said gently. "Turns out we all need powers."

"No," Maria corrected her. "We all need each other."

"That was pretty intense," Liz commented to Max as they started down the stairs to the parking lot. "I have to say, my life's gotten a lot more exciting since we became… friends."

Max winced. "Maybe we should stay away from each other completely," he said. "Even being friends might be too-"

"Stop." Liz grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around to face her. "Don't even say that. Didn't you feel what happened in there? Do you think that would have happened with just any group of people? There's something special between us… between all of us. You can't throw it away."

Max stared down into her eyes for a long moment. "You're right." He slipped his arms around her, pulling her against him.

Liz leaned into the embrace, resting her cheek on his chest. Even if they were just friends, she could stay like this forever. Just holding Max, feeling his heart beat.

His heart… it didn't sound right. Didn't sound strong.

Max's arms dropped away from her. Liz watched, terrified, as his eyes rolled up into his head. He slumped to the ground.

"Max?" she cried. "Max!"

[ Version History]

1.0 – scanned, formatted, and spell-checked from mass-market paperback.

2.0 – July 12, 2004 – The_Ghiti – proofed in detail against deadtree format.