Author’s note: This story was inspired by a song that a friend of mine wrote. The lyrics are amazing and it made me think of demons. So I guess that’s what this is about.

***

Beeeeeep! Hoooooooooooonk! Max jumped and stared at the road ahead of him. The jerk behind him stood up in his convertible and threw a very rude sign at him. Max stepped on the gas, easing his jeep forward. He must of fallen asleep at the wheel. Stupid thing to do.

Max had been getting less and less sleep every night for the past two weeks. Isabel had ever-so-subtly suggested that it was Liz. That she was throwing him off balance again. Hah. That was a laugh. Being with Liz was the only way he felt grounded. It was something else. Something he was connected to. He kept hearing this little voice in his heart and brain whispering words that didn’t make sense.

Max pulled over. He buried his face in his hands and cried. He hadn’t cried since he was eight. Since that day that he had found Michael. Michael had been at school, leaning up against the swing set, with an angry scowl on his face. He had been looking at Maria. He had been staring at her playing hand games with Liz, her pixie face scrunching up when she lost.

Max had felt the connection then, and had just walked up and said hi. He had never done that before. He had never been that forward. Michael just scowled at him and held up his hand. Max put his up to it and they glowed with the unmistakable glow of family. Then Max had cried. So had Michael. Isabel cried later. But that had been the last time.

Max would be late for Liz’s again. He knew she wouldn’t be upset, just as worried as hell. Am I going crazy? He thought suddenly. Maybe he was. He never heard the voice when he was with people. Only late at night. It would whisper strange incantations in his head, words that he didn’t recognize or understand. Then he would wake up in a cold sweat.

Max eased out into the road again, wiping the tears from his face. Liz would understand. She always did. She would let him come up onto her roof and stroke his head and tell him that it was going to be all right.

***

Liz waited for Max at the Crashdown, holding her hands in her lap. Max wasn’t like most boyfriends. Obviously. She knew he wasn’t late because of another girl, or because he had to finish watching the football game. She was worried about him. Something had been bothering him, upsetting him. She never asked. He obviously didn’t want to talk about it, so she never pushed him. She just kissed him gently and hugged him hard and told him that she loved him, and hoped that would be enough.

The door to the Crashdown opened with the familiar ring and Max looked up at her with those huge beautiful eyes. “Liz, I am so sorry I’m late. I’ve just had a lot on my mind, and-”

“Shh. It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”

With that, Max came over and hugged her, burying his face in her hair. She felt hot tears on her neck. Max was crying.

“Come on.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and led him up the stairs to her room. They climbed out the window into the cool night air and she urged him to lay down on the lawn chair. She sat beside him and stoked his hair. Whatever this was, it was scaring her. The fact that the man she loved was in trouble and she couldn’t do a thing to stop it.

“Max, what is it? Can you tell me?” she asked.

Max knew his girlfriend was worried about him. How could he tell her? How could he tell her without it sounding crazy? Max looked up into Liz’s eyes and he could see the love and concern there. She would love him. No matter what. He buried his face in her stomach.

“God, Liz. I think I’m going insane.”

“Max. If you want me to help you, then you have to tell me.”

He sat up and looked at her. He tried to focus on what was at hand, but Liz looked so beautiful. Her brown hair was shimmering in the moonlight, and her face was glistening with concern. She wasn’t dressed up, because they were only going to a movie. But Max like it better that way. It was the way he fell in love with her. He looked away. He wouldn’t be able to tell her if he kept looking at her.

“At night. I hear voices. They say things that I can’t understand. But the words, they’re so familiar. Sometimes they sing, and the melodies are so beautiful. I thought if I’d hear voices and songs from where I’m from, then I would be happy. But they scare me Liz. It’s like I feel an evil that I can’t see.”

“Do you think it might be Nasedo?” Liz asked.

“Maybe he’s invading my dreams or something. Liz, it scares me to know that people from my home planet are evil. What if I had these genes in me that made me evil, too?”

“Max, according to all the things we know about you and your people, makes it sound like they’re a lot like humans. Not all humans are evil, but there are some Hitlers out here. And you said it yourself: not all of you are the same,” she tilted his face up so that he could see into her eyes. “Max, I saw your soul. I saw what you feel, what makes you. And there is not one bit of evilness in that soul of yours. Only what I love. Everything.”

“I just feel like I’m falling and these voices are helping me pick up momentum. They want me to hit bottom.”

“So let the peple you love be your parachute. We all love you, Max. Trust us. We’re going to get rid of these voices, even if it means killing Nasedo.”

“I love you, Liz.”

“I love you, too, Max. I’m guessing you’re not really feeling like going to that movie, huh?”

Max laughed. A good laugh. “Let’s go.”

***

Max clutched Liz’s hand throughout the whole movie. He didn’t really pay attention to the movie. It was something cheesy about a dog. All he could think about was Liz. How the hell could he take care of her, when he couldn’t even keep himself together?

Liz didn’t seem to think he was going crazy. But Liz loved him. And love could be slightly blinding. Max knew that Liz would tell Isabel and Michael and maybe Maria and Alex about it tomorrow. He dreaded Isabel’s tender concern and Michael’s gruff sympathy. Maria would worry, but not offer any consolation. Alex would try to get through to him, talk to him.

Max chuckled silently to himself. A few months ago Max wouldn’t have known what the hell these people were thinking at the most obvious moments, but now he could pretty accurately plot their every move and reaction to different situations. They had all grown so close with out even realizing it. Max felt a connection to these people that he never would feel with anyone else. The least strong one was with Maria, but he still had a close relationship with her and would do anything for her.

Max was shaken out of his thoughts by Liz, who kissed him on his ear gently.

“Max, the movie’s over.”

“Oh, right. I was just thinking about everything that’s happened to us after the past few months, and how close we’ve gotten.”

Liz smiled at him, understanding fully. They stood up and started out of the door. Max put his arm around Liz and pulled her close, breathing her in, memorizing her. This is how it should be forever, he thought. Me and Liz, together. All of us friends forever.

***

Max and Liz drove to the Crashdown in silence. Liz kept stealing glances at Max, worrying, wishing that he could talk to her, tell her what he was feeling. He had a little smile on his face, and his eyes were twinkling. He sure seemed a lot better than he did earlier tonight. She decided to just come out and ask him.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Max looked at her and grinned. “If I told you you’d probably freak out and run away from me.”

“Never.”

“Honestly? The future.”

Liz smiled. “Good or bad?”

“Definitely good. Before I told you and you told Maria and Alex, I always dreamt about our planet. I would think about what it looks like, who my parents were. But now, all I think about is you. And Alex and Isabel, who I know are going to end up together, and Michael and Maria, who are probably together tonight anyway. We’re going to be together forever, always.”

“Yeah, I know. Nothing can come between us.”

“We’re getting really corny aren’t we?”

“Oh yeah,” Liz laughed. “I kind of like it, though.”

Max laughed as they pulled into a parking space in front of the Crashdown.

“What do you say that I treat you to a cherry cola?”

“You mean that the Crashdown would treat me to a cherry cola?”

“Hey, they won’t miss 8 ounces from the soda machine!”

They walked inside. The bell rang and Max fell to his knees. He clutched his forehead and cried out in pain. Pictures flashed through his brain. A boy, naked, walking through the desert. A boy crying, in the shelter of the cave, their cave. A boy huddled in a ball, on the edge of death.

Max snapped out of it like waking from a dream. Liz was sitting next to him, her arm around his shoulders steadying his shaking body. Maria, who had been working, had rushed over and was standing over them with a frightened look on her face.

“The cave. We have to get there, now,” he said breathlessly.

“I’ll call Michael and Isabel. Alex will be here in a few minutes,” Maria wasted no time. She headed toward the back room and told the old-looking waitress that was working the register to cover for her.

Liz looked at him worried. He smiled reassuringly. “Just a vision.”

“Max, a vision has never been that intense. Or looked that painful. Max, What did you see?”

“A kid. In the desert. He’s in our cave. Almost dead.”

Alex walked in as he said those words and almost choked. “Who’s almost dead? Michael again? Oh my god, where’s Isabel?”

Max couldn’t help but smile at his friends concern. “We don’t know him. I just got a vision of a kid at the cave.”

“Our cave?”

“That would be the one.”

“What are we waiting for?”

“Maria.”

“Here I am,” Maria came rushing out of the back room, hopping on one foot while trying to get the other shoe over her heel. “Michael and Isabel are going to meet us down there. Michael’s picking her up.”

Alex grabbed Max’s arm and pulled him out the door. “Well, come on. That boy’s not going to wait for us.”

They jumped in Alex’s car, which was definitely more reliable than Max’s jeep. They drove there just under the speed limit, Max filling them in on the way there.

“Max, you know what that sounds like,” Liz said from beside him.

“I know, but it’s pretty unlikely. I mean, we came out of the pod ten years ago. Why would another one come out now?”

No one answered. They jumped out the doors even before the car stopped moving. Isabel and Michael had driven up at the same time as them and they ran all the way to the cave while Max brokenly told them about the vision. They reached the cave with their chests heaving rushed inside. The boy was still on the floor.

“Do you see him breathing?”

Everyone stared at the boy’s unmoving body, not answering Alex’s question. Liz was the first to snap out of her trance and rush over to the small boy. She held the tiny wrist in her hand, waiting for the drum. She breathed out a huge sigh of relief.

“He’s got a pulse.”

Max hadn’t moved, hadn’t breathed till that moment. Maria walked over and helped Liz try and revive the boy. “Does anyone have any food?”

Michael snapped out of it and took a sandwich out of his pocket. Maria gave him a strange look as he handed it to her. “Do you always carry around an extra sandwich?”

Michael didn’t answer. He just stared as Liz brought the boy into a semi-conciousness and urged him to chew the small piece of meat that she had taken from the sandwich. He obediently chewed, though he was barely strong enough to swallow. But soon he got stronger. Soon he was strong enough to cry again.

Max walked over and sat beside Liz, who was cradling the little body in her arms stroking his hair. There was something about Liz holding him so close, being so tender to such a small child that brought something up in Max.

“Shh. It’s okay, baby. We’re here to help.”

“Is he-” Michael didn’t finish the question. He didn’t have to.

“I don’t think he’s one of us,” Max touched the boy, took his small hand into his large calloused one, and stroked it gently.

“Then why is he in the desert? Alone? And naked?” Isabel spoke for the first time. Alex walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

“I don’t think he’s one of us,” Max repeated, still stroking the boy’s hand. Suddenly the boy stopped crying and stood up. His face was just eye-level with Max’s and he stared him defiantly in the eye.

“I don’t think he agrees with you Max,” Alex laughed.

Max looked at the boy, surprised, but didn’t break the stare. Suddenly the boy flung himself in Max’s arms and laid his head on his shoulder. Max wrapped his arms awkwardly around the small body as Michael laughed his head off. Liz caught Max’s eye and smiled gently at him. He smiled back and relaxed. The boy pulled back after a minute and then hugged Liz in the same manner. Then he went on to Michael, Isabel, and Maria.

When he came to Alex, who was the only one standing up at this point, he stared defiantly at him, just as he had with Max. Alex stared just as defiantly back. The boy jumped up high enough to grab on to Alex’s shoulders and pulled himself up to a hug with Alex. Alex laughed slightly and swung the boy around before setting him down.

Then the boy spoke, for the first time. “All of you hug differently, but all are nice.”

By then, everyone in the room was smiling. The boy yawned with an amazingly big mouth and Max looked at his watch.

“God, it’s late. What are we going to do with this munchkin?” Max took of his jacket and wrapped around the boy’s body.

“He can come to my house, at least for the weekend. My parents went to Albuquerque for a restaraunt-owner’s workshop.”

“Can we all stay there? I want to keep and eye on this guy,” Alex ruffled the kid’s hair.

Max almost choked. Overnight? At Liz’s? That might be too much for his will power to bear.

But Liz didn’t seem to mind. “Sure. I think it would be better if all of us were there with him.” She gathered him up in her arms and walked out of the cave. The rest of the group had no choice but to follow. As they wlked through the desert the boy perked up his head curiousely at the stars. Every once in a while he would mutter, “Pretty,” then lay his head back on Liz’s shoulder. Liz didn’t seem to mind the weight of the boy. In fact, she seemed to revel in it. Maria caught Max looking curiously at her.

“She’s always loved little kids. Always.”

Max nodded and smiled at her. Even though his connection with Maria wasn’t as strong as it was with Alex or Liz, she could still pick up what he was thinking. He liked the fact that he had these special friends.

When they reached the car the boy pointed at Michael’s convertible. “That one!”

“I guess he likes the air,” Alex commented as he tried to make the backseat of Michael’s car as comfortable as possible. Liz climbed in the backseat and Max followed. Alex and Isabel drove in Alex’s Honda and Maria decided to drive with Michael for obvious reasons.

Max pulled Liz close to him and she laid her head on his shoulder as the little boy curled up in a small ball on her lap. As he stroked her soft hair he thought, So this is what it would be like. Me and Liz and a kid. He smiled at the thought. I’m only sixteen and I’m already thinking about kids. But then again, it’s with Liz. He grinned wide and Liz looked at him quizzically. “What is it? What’s so funny?”

“My own little thoughts. How's the kid?”

“Asleep,” She looked down at the blond head. “You know, we didn’t even ask his name.”

“We will when he wakes up. I think he needs his well-deserved rest.”

“Granted,” she looked up at him and kissed his nose. “This feels nice. You and me and . . . whatever his name is. It feels right, you know?”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, word for word.”

Liz curled up closer to him and looked up at Michael, who was staring at them through his rear-view mirror looking amused. He made a gagging motion with his hand and snickered. Liz stuck her tongue out at him and nodded her head at Maria’s hand which was curled tightly in Michael’s. She gave him a pointed, snooty look and continued to stroke the boy’s head. Michael almost smiled a real smile at the silent teasing. Almost. He was still Michael.

***

They pulled in at the Crashdown and Max crawled out of the tiny backspace and held out his hand for Liz. She took it and dragged the boy out with her. He woke suddenly and jumped out of Liz’s arms like a gazelle. He ran inside and stared at the alien spoofs hanging everywhere. He ran over to a particularly comical one, next to the door. It was an X-file type alien with a cowboy hat on its head and a lasso around its neck. He suddenly laughed out loud. “Funny. Doesn’t look like your daddy.”

He looked pointedly at Michael when he said that Michael almost choked. “You know my dad?”

“I’m tired now. I want to sleep.”

Liz smiled and put a hand on Michael’s shoulder, motioning him not to badger the small child. “Okay, sweetie. We have a nice bed for you upstairs.”

“What’s your name buddy?” Alex asked gently.

“Damien.”

“That is one awesome name,” Isabel smiled widely at Damien, still wrapped in Max’s jacket. “Why don’t I show you to your room, monsieur?”

“Oui-oui, mademoiselle.”

All of them stared at the little boy, who had just spoken perfect French. Most kids his age couldn’t even speak English yet. After Damien had left the room with Isabel, the rest of them burst out laughing. All except Michael.

“He said he knew my dad. How can he know my dad?”

Maria tried to hide a smile from her resident Czech, but it was hard. “Don’t worry about it, Space-boy. We’ll figure it out in the morning.” She wrapped a cozy arm around his waist. “Meanwhile, there’s a trundle bed with our names on it.”

That put all other thoughts out of his mind. At least for a while.

As they headed upstairs, Max began to feel his hands sweat and breathing become shallow. He was scared as hell. He was going to spend the night in Liz’s room. He knew they weren’t ready. They both knew it. He just hoped they would be able to remember that they knew it.

So when he threw his shirt and pants to the floor, leaving only his boxers to sleep in and he climbed in her bed, curling an arm around her, he was thankful that she just laid her head on his chest and went to sleep.

Max didn’t go to sleep quite yet. He waited until he was sure that he could hear the steady breathing of Liz beside him, Michael and Maria’s on the floor and Isabel and Alex’s movements in the next room with Damien. Only then did he fall asleep, knowing that his friends, his responsibility were alive and safe.

The voices came again. They were worse this time, insisting. He still couldn’t understand what was being said. They got louder and louder, and then they stopped. He only heard one thing, five words being said over and over again.

“We’re coming for the boy.”

Back to Area 51 (Section II)