“And that’s how it happened. We looked just about as shocked at the time as you do right now.” Max concluded.

“Unbelievable.” Alex muttered with amazement. “And you’ve been keeping this from us for how long now…nearly 2 weeks?” He asked incredulously looking at Isabel.

“Alex please, don’t be mad. Try and look at things from our point of view. We were scared and didn’t know what to make of it. We just needed time too digest everything that had happened before we could even think about telling you and the others.” Isabel softly pleaded.

“I guess. But I still think you should have told us earlier Isabel. You haven’t been fare on us, just springing this on us a week before you have to leave.” Alex replied disappointment evident in his voice.

Isabel looked away guiltily. “I’m sorry Alex.”

Maria was just as amazed as the others had been at the news and it took her a while to find her voice. “How do you know if this ship is even going to arrive? From the sounds of it anything could have happened. These …these Montaks could have discovered your Mother’s plan and stopped the ship from leaving.”

“That may be so.” Max said. “But our Mother knew that the Montaks would return to the palace sooner or later so I believe she would have planned ahead for something like that. We have to be ready and plan as if it will arrive.”

“But Max, you could be going back to a planet that might not even be there when you get there!” She implored Max before looking back to Michael. “Michael, you’re going into a war…. where you could be killed. You don’t know the first thing about battle, what makes you think that you can save the world?”

“Well we don’t honestly know that Maria, but we have to try. Mearlaan and the entire kingdom of Deltaria are counting on us and if they believe we can do it maybe we can.” He said matter of factly. “Besides Mearlaan mentioned something about the memory transference of our past lives. That’s probably why we have the flashbacks to the crash in 1947. Maybe once we return they will be able to completely awaken the memories we have and we’ll instinctively know what to do.”

“That’s a lot of maybes Michael.” Maria said.

Michael shrugged his shoulders. “What do you want me to say Maria?” He snapped. “That I have all the answers, because I don’t. Neither one of us does. But we won’t find out if we don’t go.” The pitch of his voice had risen in agitation at Maria’s questions and at himself for not having the answers she wanted. Her eyes immediately filled with hurt and he wanted to kick himself. “I’m sorry baby.” He said pulling her into his arms again. “I didn’t mean to snap. We’re just as scared and confused as you are.”

“Michael’s right, we don’t have all the answers and driving ourselves crazy with ‘what if’s’ and ‘but’s’ isnt going to help…….TESS.” Max yelled.

“What?” Alex asked perplexed. “Isn’t going to help Tess? This day is getting stranger by the minute.” He mused.

“No, umm, I meant Tess is behind you.” Max answered trying to conceal his surprise. This was the last thing he or Liz or needed, or any one of them for that matter.

As Tess made her way to the centre of the group Max leaned over and whispered under his breath to Michael, “What the hell is she doing here Michael? You were supposed to make sure she didn’t know about this! Can’t I even trust you with something as simple as that?”

Maria could feel Michael’s body tense in anger at Max’s words. She didn’t think things would ever be completely calm between the two. Even though they were like brothers, their personalities were far too different and Maria knew that deep down Michael hated the fact that he now had to take orders from Max as well as put up with his constant criticisms on the way he handle d things.

“I did take care of it.” Michael shot back. “You know what she’s like Maxwell. If she has an idea in her head, nothings going to stop her. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she leaves.”

“Well, what’s going on here? A party and I’m not invited?” Tess directed her gaze at Michael. “I knew you were up to something. I can always tell when you’re lying Michael, you should know that by now. So I’m guessing this is our little farewell party, huh guys?” She said, sarcastically, a fake smile plastered on her face.

Michael tried to stop her before she could go any further. “That’s enough Tess. This isn’t the time…...”

“Oh I think it’s the perfect time Michael”. She said, cutting him off mid sentence. “I am going back to our home planet with you aren’t I, or did you all ‘conveniently’ forget that? I should be here for this, I am Max’s wife after all. If anyone doesn’t belong here it’s the ‘humans’.” she spat, making a point of deliberately scrunching her nose up when she said the word ‘humans’ to express her obvious dislike for the creatures. She then sauntered over to Liz before venomously adding “especially you”.

As she stood there glaring daggers at Liz, Tess could feel the shocked stares of everyone behind her burning holes in the back of her head. She knew the risk she was taking in letting her true feelings be known, but at this point she didn’t care. She was tired of putting up with everybody treating her like an outsider and more than anything she was especially tired of having to be nice to the ‘humans’. The only way she was able to keep that up for so long was remembering that it was for Max’s sake. But now, the false pretense she had kept up for so long could be dropped and nothing made her happier. They would all be going home in a week and then she would have all the time in the world to make Max love her, even if he had to hate her right now for what she was doing. “You will love me Max” She thought to herself. “And I’ll make you happier than you could ever have hoped to be with Liz, just wait and see.”

As Tess stood there, outwardly gloating, everyone else was stunned into silence by her outburst, except for Liz….

Tess’s last remark had been enough to pull Liz out of her reverie completely and she was now seething with anger and hatred for the vicious blonde that stood before her. Liz could see the way Tess was practically beaming with self satisfaction at the scene she had created and wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug grin well and truly off of her over made up face for good. “And that’s exactly what I’ll do” she decided. Without giving it a second thought Liz extended her arm right back and slapped Tess full across the face with as much force as she could muster.

Tess was pleased with the way things were going. She knew she held the floor now and was planning on making the most of it. “Great party” she thought. “I wouldn’t have missed this one for the …….” Before she could finish her train of thought, a hand came out of nowhere and connected with the left side of her face. “SLAP!” She was sent stumbling back from the force of the blow, her hand instinctively shooting up to nurse her now very red and stinging cheek.

Liz stood almost triumphantly over Tess, just daring her to give her an excuse to do it again. The fact that Tess could do some serious damage to her with just a blink of an eye never even entered her mind. Instead Liz stood her ground and waited, completely running on the adrenaline that was now spreading through her veins like wild fire.

Maria couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed with her own eyes. Her best friend, …quite, …shy, …reserved Liz had just slapped Tess! “Amazing.” She thought. “And not a moment too soon.” She couldn’t help but add her two cents to the mix. “Go Liz, it was about time someone did that. I just wish I had been the one to do it.” She said.

Liz looked over at Maria and they exchanged understanding smiles. She drew courage from her best friend and took comfort in the knowledge that Maria would back her up no matter what. Their total and utter dislike for Tess was something they shared whole-heartedly. As Liz brought her gaze back to Tess she realized that she might need that back up a little sooner than expected.

Tess had recovered from the blow and her face now reflected a mixture of humiliation and pure rage. “How dare you, you.. you bitch!” She hissed.

“Oh, pipe down Shirley Temple.” Maria bit out, making reference to the blonde’s annoying head of perfect curls. She had to take Tess’s attention away from Liz before things got ugly. Maria could tell Liz was running on pure adrenaline and she knew that high would melt away the instant Tess attempted to retaliate. “Don’t think we don’t know what you’re up to Tess. It’s more than obvious that you think nothing you say or do now can harm you. You’re going home soon right? Who’s going to care then? Well that’s where your wrong see, because Michael, Max and Isabel are more human than you’ll ever be, and no human in there right mind would put up with you and your crap. Take the hint Tess. The truth is your not wanted here, you never were, and that fact alone won’t change the minute you get up there.”

As she was talking Maria had managed to come within a few feet of Tess and she now slowly, so as not to be too obvious, backed up against Michael in apprehension at what was about to be aimed at her.

Michael could see the red-hot rage burning in Tess’s eyes and he knew she was ready to unleash all of her powers on Maria. He quickly stood in front of Maria blocking her from Tess’s view. “Don’t even think about it Tess. Hurting Maria isn’t going to help your plight.”

“Get out of the way Michael.” Tess warned. The truth of Maria’s words hadn’t stopped reverberating in her head since they had left Maria’s mouth and it was adding to he fury with every passing second. “She isn’t walking away from here today if I have anything to do with it.” She thought to herself.

“You know I won’t let this happen Tess. If you want to hurt Maria, you’re going to have to hurt me first.”

Tess didn’t want to hurt Michael but he gave her no choice. Maria would not get away with treating her like a piece of unwanted trash. “If that’s the way you want it Michael, then that’s the way it has to be.” And with that she prepared to let loose her brutal energy force on both Michael and Maria.

Michael half expected his ultimatum to have no effect and was ready for the blast. At the same time he let loose his own much stronger energy force to counteract with Tess’s. Tess, receiving the stronger end of the blast was sent flying back a few feet. Michael only stumbled back into Maria slightly from Tess’s blow and almost sent her flying as he tried to regain his balance. He reached behind and grabbed her arm to steady her though. He quickly turned to Maria. “Are you okay?” He asked still holding tightly to her arm, genuine concern in his voice.

“Yeah, I’m fine Michael.” She said smiling softly. “I don’t think we can say the same about Tess though.”

Michael turned to look at Tess’s form sprawled out on the desert floor before he turned back to Max. “Watch Maria.” He said.

“Michael…” Maria started, ready to tell him he was being too over-protective.

“Just humour me Maria…please?” He asked knowing what she was about to say. “I’ll take care of Tess.”

“Alright Sir Knight.” Maria joked before turning serious. “But be careful, who knows what she’ll do now.”

Michael nodded and walked over to Tess who was just starting to come too. He reached down, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder before making his way back to the car she had come in. She groaned her protest but her head was still too fuzzy to comprehend what was happening. A few feet from the car her mind started to clear and she remembered what had happened. The anger started to boil inside her again and she struck out at Michael’s back with her fists. “PUT ME DOWN MICHAEL.” She screamed. “Or I’ll…I’ll….

“Or you’ll what? You'll kick my ass like you just did?” He said sarcastically before opening the car door and unceremoniously dumping her on the seat. “You’ve got me scared now Tess.” He said mockingly.

“Bastard.” She yelled.

“I love you too. Now just go home Tess and stay away from Maria. You hurt her and I’ll hurt you. Got it? That goes for Liz and Alex too.”

“Screw you Michael.” She spat.

“Try not to be such a bitch Tess. You’ve got what you wanted. You’ll have Maxxy all to yourself soon so just let him enjoy the time he has left on Earth with Liz in peace.”

The only response he got was a glare. Michael couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face. “Now be a good little girl and run along.” He said patronizingly before making his way back to Maria and the others.