Weathering the Storm Prologue
Disclaimer- I do not own Roswell, and mean no infringement. It is owned by Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, UPN, WB, etc. Please note that the Prologue contains portions of Cry Your Name and Departure.
Category- CC, Primarily M/M because of the time frame of the story. See summary for details
Rating- Mature. Lets just start here shall we? Most of this is going to be in the teen range, but there will be some dark matter discussed at points. Then again, I'm not sure it will be that much darker than the show was at this point….. Nah, keep it at Mature. More flexibility.
Summary- This story is in response to a challenge set forth to me by RhondaAnn, who was kind enough to bid and win my services in the last Support Stacie Auction. What she desired to see is the change in the Michael and Maria relationship brought about by the death of Alex. And so we shall. Naturally, I'm going to make it a bit more complicated.
So everything up to Cry Your Name has happened. Oh, yes, the out of order episode of Off the Menu did not happen. One less clue for our heroes.
------
Tess sat on her bed reading the Destiny Book like she had for the last several weeks. There was so much information, so many answers….
Their past lives had been complicated. For instance, Zan and Ava's marriage had been political in nature. Two families tying themselves together in the hopes of averting a cataclysmic war. Vilandra's marriage to Rath had been the same only more so.
Still from what she could read, they had all cared for each other. Their lives intertwined in the aristocratic heights they had live in.
The problem for her was the knowledge that in part she was reading propaganda. She was reading what they wanted her to read, what those who had sent her wanted her to know. She had to wonder how much of what she was reading was actually real.
The sections covering their rebirth and the manual regarding their powers and how to use them were much more clear.
Nasedo, even she referred to him as that now, had known far less than he had pretended.
A rap at her door.
"Come in." Tess tucked the papers under her pillow.
Kyle opened the door, his glance at her full of brotherly affection. "Hey Tess, I picked up Gladiator at video store. Do you want to watch it with me? Its pretty good."
"Um, how about in a half-hour. I just wanted to read a little more for the test I have on Monday."
Kyle rolled his eyes, "Right. Let me know when your ready." He closed the door.
She stared after him. What did she feel for him? Was it love? Or was it just a foolish infatuation? She wasn't sure. What she did know is that her kiss with Max had lacked the passion she'd had with Kyle. But there had been a sweetness there, a memory of…. Of what she wasn't sure.
She was no longer sure that she and Max needed to be together. Now that she'd read part of what had happened, now that she knew….
But shouldn't they at least try? The reasons they had joined together in the last life remained. Her family had little loyalty to the Crown, what is to say they would have any upon his return. Shouldn't they at least see if they could make it work? For Antar's sake if not for their own?
Michael and Isabel would never join together. They were too greatly attached to their human companions. Her work on Alex, done in part to weaken his attachment to Isabel had apparently made him more valuable to her.
Certainly the more so given the pointed questions Isabel had asked about their hybrid physiology. Tess wasn't sure how far Isabel had gone with Grant, but there was little doubt she'd had sex with Alex last night. It was her last year of high school and she'd wanted it to end with a bang.
Would Isabel be surprised at Alex's experience? Tess still had tabs on Jennifer, the foolish girl was still working for her. Did Jennifer even suspect her true purpose? To be a wedge against Isabel, to dampen the ardor Alex had held for her.
It had worked somewhat. But only somewhat. Who would have thought she'd want him, want the new improved Alex as much as she had. It was almost funny some of the conversations she'd had with Isabel over the last couple of weeks.
And then there was Michael. His somewhat inept attempts to woo Maria were a source of constant amusement for Tess…..
No there would be no tie between the Michael and Isabel, not this time.
And Liz…. Why she had given up on Max, Tess would never understand. She still loved him, no matter how much she kept hurting him. And he loved her.
Quite sad really. Not for her, no Tess was actually glad for whatever reason it was. Liz was annoyingly one of the few people Tess found hard to warp. Oh, she could manipulate the edges, shape her current perceptions…. But that was it. She'd even tried a couple of the new tricks she'd picked up, things that worked even on Max….
But no. The bitch remained as hard to affect as ever.
Whatever.
Tess was adamant about the fact that Max would never be with Liz. Yeah, it was a little petty, but there it was. Max could do so much better than her.
Another rap at the door, "Hold on, I'll let you know when I'm ready!"
"It's me," Alex said, almost too quiet to be heard through the door.
Tess stiffened. Why was he here? He had already serve his purpose, and should be happily ensconced in Isabel's arms. "Come in Alex."
Alex opened the door and walked in.
He looked awful. There were tears already beginning to form at the corners of his somewhat reddened eyes. Huh. Had Isabel changed her mind again? Tess had been so sure about them when Isabel had asked how to keep from being pregnant, that they would have…..
"How could you Tess? How could you do that to me?"
"Alex?" Alex couldn't be breaking through the warp. He couldn't be. She'd had his mind sown up tight, those memories shouldn't ever break free…. He should just have vague memories of Jennifer and dreams of Sweden.
"You made me go to Las Cruces to translate that stupid book. You mind warped me for two months! Two months!" Alex's voice was starting to rise as he began to become hysterical.
"Alex, just calm down. Calm down and let me fix your mind…."
Kyle walked in, "Uh, what's going on?"
"You can't! You've ruined my mind. Your mind warps have taken everything. There is nothing left to warp!"
"Kyle, go away. I can handle this."
"Hey, Alex, what's wrong man?"
"Kyle, go, now!" Tess reached for the levers she'd left in Kyle. She hated warping him, but it had been a precaution that Nasedo had drilled into her.
Kyle's face went blank as he went to go stare at the TV.
The little hope that had crept into Alex's expression was extinguished as he saw Kyle leave. "No. How many of us? Liz? Maria? Isabel? Is that why she, why we…. Was that, that some sort of payment?"
Tess let her voice calm. It would do no good if she let her agitation show. She reached out for the levers, for the implanted memories…. And found chaos.
"No, you can't. You can't warp me again. There's nothing left. Nothing left at all for me. How could you do this to me?"
"I'm sorry Alex. Just one last time. Just one more time…." She frantically searched for something to do. His mind was literally falling apart at the seams.
It would need Max. Her healing powers weren't up to it.
It would ruin all of her plans. They would all hate her. And she would lose the little she had remaining.
Alex began to flail and whine and cry. She would just stabilize him. Just calm him down until Max came. She reached for the levers, reached for the controls….
Alex fell to his knees. "Please. Please. Don't do this. Don't take it all away….."
Tess nodded to herself as she saw how to at least calm him. She picked up the phone and began to dial Max…. She pushed her controls on Alex's mind, desperately thinking of a way to explain….
The phone began to ring…..
Alex screamed in pain, hands grasping his head.
Tess felt as the mind, as the being that had once been Alex collapsed. It was like an electrical storm passed through his skull.
The phone rang a second time.
Tess felt for some sign of life…
Nothing….
Alex was dead.
The phone rang a third time…..
What was she going to do now?
Max picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Tess was slow to respond, her mind working in overdrive. "Uh, Hi. It's me Tess."
"Oh, hi Tess." His voice sounded clear and happy to hear her. "Did you need something?"
Tess closed her eyes. She had waited, had worked so long to hear him talk to her like that…. "No, I uh, I just wanted to thank you for last night….. I know you've always cared for Liz, but…."
"I did. But she obviously doesn't love me anymore. Look, can we talk about something else?" Pain laced his voice, "Me and the rest of the gang are going to hang out at the Crashdown later on tonight. Do you and Kyle want to come?"
"Sure. I'll ask Kyle."
"And then maybe, maybe we can catch a late movie? Or maybe some dancing?"
"I would like that." If there was a God why was he punishing her like this! To give her everything she wanted …. Just a little too late. "I'll see you at the Crashdown, Max."
"Bye, Tess."
Tess couldn't stop the tears that ran freely down her face. She looked over into the living room, where Kyle sat blankly staring at the TV. She desperately wanted him to comfort her. To hold her and tell her everything would be okay.
But it wasn't okay.
She had killed Alex.
What was she going to do now?
Disclaimer- I do not own Roswell, and mean no infringement. It is owned by Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, UPN, WB, etc. Please note that the Prologue contains portions of Cry Your Name and Departure.
Category- CC, Primarily M/M because of the time frame of the story. See summary for details
Rating- Mature. Lets just start here shall we? Most of this is going to be in the teen range, but there will be some dark matter discussed at points. Then again, I'm not sure it will be that much darker than the show was at this point….. Nah, keep it at Mature. More flexibility.
Summary- This story is in response to a challenge set forth to me by RhondaAnn, who was kind enough to bid and win my services in the last Support Stacie Auction. What she desired to see is the change in the Michael and Maria relationship brought about by the death of Alex. And so we shall. Naturally, I'm going to make it a bit more complicated.
So everything up to Cry Your Name has happened. Oh, yes, the out of order episode of Off the Menu did not happen. One less clue for our heroes.
------
Tess sat on her bed reading the Destiny Book like she had for the last several weeks. There was so much information, so many answers….
Their past lives had been complicated. For instance, Zan and Ava's marriage had been political in nature. Two families tying themselves together in the hopes of averting a cataclysmic war. Vilandra's marriage to Rath had been the same only more so.
Still from what she could read, they had all cared for each other. Their lives intertwined in the aristocratic heights they had live in.
The problem for her was the knowledge that in part she was reading propaganda. She was reading what they wanted her to read, what those who had sent her wanted her to know. She had to wonder how much of what she was reading was actually real.
The sections covering their rebirth and the manual regarding their powers and how to use them were much more clear.
Nasedo, even she referred to him as that now, had known far less than he had pretended.
A rap at her door.
"Come in." Tess tucked the papers under her pillow.
Kyle opened the door, his glance at her full of brotherly affection. "Hey Tess, I picked up Gladiator at video store. Do you want to watch it with me? Its pretty good."
"Um, how about in a half-hour. I just wanted to read a little more for the test I have on Monday."
Kyle rolled his eyes, "Right. Let me know when your ready." He closed the door.
She stared after him. What did she feel for him? Was it love? Or was it just a foolish infatuation? She wasn't sure. What she did know is that her kiss with Max had lacked the passion she'd had with Kyle. But there had been a sweetness there, a memory of…. Of what she wasn't sure.
She was no longer sure that she and Max needed to be together. Now that she'd read part of what had happened, now that she knew….
But shouldn't they at least try? The reasons they had joined together in the last life remained. Her family had little loyalty to the Crown, what is to say they would have any upon his return. Shouldn't they at least see if they could make it work? For Antar's sake if not for their own?
Michael and Isabel would never join together. They were too greatly attached to their human companions. Her work on Alex, done in part to weaken his attachment to Isabel had apparently made him more valuable to her.
Certainly the more so given the pointed questions Isabel had asked about their hybrid physiology. Tess wasn't sure how far Isabel had gone with Grant, but there was little doubt she'd had sex with Alex last night. It was her last year of high school and she'd wanted it to end with a bang.
Would Isabel be surprised at Alex's experience? Tess still had tabs on Jennifer, the foolish girl was still working for her. Did Jennifer even suspect her true purpose? To be a wedge against Isabel, to dampen the ardor Alex had held for her.
It had worked somewhat. But only somewhat. Who would have thought she'd want him, want the new improved Alex as much as she had. It was almost funny some of the conversations she'd had with Isabel over the last couple of weeks.
And then there was Michael. His somewhat inept attempts to woo Maria were a source of constant amusement for Tess…..
No there would be no tie between the Michael and Isabel, not this time.
And Liz…. Why she had given up on Max, Tess would never understand. She still loved him, no matter how much she kept hurting him. And he loved her.
Quite sad really. Not for her, no Tess was actually glad for whatever reason it was. Liz was annoyingly one of the few people Tess found hard to warp. Oh, she could manipulate the edges, shape her current perceptions…. But that was it. She'd even tried a couple of the new tricks she'd picked up, things that worked even on Max….
But no. The bitch remained as hard to affect as ever.
Whatever.
Tess was adamant about the fact that Max would never be with Liz. Yeah, it was a little petty, but there it was. Max could do so much better than her.
Another rap at the door, "Hold on, I'll let you know when I'm ready!"
"It's me," Alex said, almost too quiet to be heard through the door.
Tess stiffened. Why was he here? He had already serve his purpose, and should be happily ensconced in Isabel's arms. "Come in Alex."
Alex opened the door and walked in.
He looked awful. There were tears already beginning to form at the corners of his somewhat reddened eyes. Huh. Had Isabel changed her mind again? Tess had been so sure about them when Isabel had asked how to keep from being pregnant, that they would have…..
"How could you Tess? How could you do that to me?"
"Alex?" Alex couldn't be breaking through the warp. He couldn't be. She'd had his mind sown up tight, those memories shouldn't ever break free…. He should just have vague memories of Jennifer and dreams of Sweden.
"You made me go to Las Cruces to translate that stupid book. You mind warped me for two months! Two months!" Alex's voice was starting to rise as he began to become hysterical.
"Alex, just calm down. Calm down and let me fix your mind…."
Kyle walked in, "Uh, what's going on?"
"You can't! You've ruined my mind. Your mind warps have taken everything. There is nothing left to warp!"
"Kyle, go away. I can handle this."
"Hey, Alex, what's wrong man?"
"Kyle, go, now!" Tess reached for the levers she'd left in Kyle. She hated warping him, but it had been a precaution that Nasedo had drilled into her.
Kyle's face went blank as he went to go stare at the TV.
The little hope that had crept into Alex's expression was extinguished as he saw Kyle leave. "No. How many of us? Liz? Maria? Isabel? Is that why she, why we…. Was that, that some sort of payment?"
Tess let her voice calm. It would do no good if she let her agitation show. She reached out for the levers, for the implanted memories…. And found chaos.
"No, you can't. You can't warp me again. There's nothing left. Nothing left at all for me. How could you do this to me?"
"I'm sorry Alex. Just one last time. Just one more time…." She frantically searched for something to do. His mind was literally falling apart at the seams.
It would need Max. Her healing powers weren't up to it.
It would ruin all of her plans. They would all hate her. And she would lose the little she had remaining.
Alex began to flail and whine and cry. She would just stabilize him. Just calm him down until Max came. She reached for the levers, reached for the controls….
Alex fell to his knees. "Please. Please. Don't do this. Don't take it all away….."
Tess nodded to herself as she saw how to at least calm him. She picked up the phone and began to dial Max…. She pushed her controls on Alex's mind, desperately thinking of a way to explain….
The phone began to ring…..
Alex screamed in pain, hands grasping his head.
Tess felt as the mind, as the being that had once been Alex collapsed. It was like an electrical storm passed through his skull.
The phone rang a second time.
Tess felt for some sign of life…
Nothing….
Alex was dead.
The phone rang a third time…..
What was she going to do now?
Max picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Tess was slow to respond, her mind working in overdrive. "Uh, Hi. It's me Tess."
"Oh, hi Tess." His voice sounded clear and happy to hear her. "Did you need something?"
Tess closed her eyes. She had waited, had worked so long to hear him talk to her like that…. "No, I uh, I just wanted to thank you for last night….. I know you've always cared for Liz, but…."
"I did. But she obviously doesn't love me anymore. Look, can we talk about something else?" Pain laced his voice, "Me and the rest of the gang are going to hang out at the Crashdown later on tonight. Do you and Kyle want to come?"
"Sure. I'll ask Kyle."
"And then maybe, maybe we can catch a late movie? Or maybe some dancing?"
"I would like that." If there was a God why was he punishing her like this! To give her everything she wanted …. Just a little too late. "I'll see you at the Crashdown, Max."
"Bye, Tess."
Tess couldn't stop the tears that ran freely down her face. She looked over into the living room, where Kyle sat blankly staring at the TV. She desperately wanted him to comfort her. To hold her and tell her everything would be okay.
But it wasn't okay.
She had killed Alex.
What was she going to do now?
. she thinks she can mind warp anyone into doing whatever she wants and
get away with it.
