Firestorm - Part 2

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Isabel speeds her way along the highway, heading for The Pod Chamber. Tess is with her. She keeps checking her rear view mirror to make sure she hasn't been followed as she speed dials Liz's number on her cell phone. Still no answer. She throws the cell phone on the seat, just missing Tess, and mutters a few choice words directed at Liz. Up ahead, she sees the smoke from the fire raging in Frazier Woods. There's a road block. Is pulls her car over and stops.

"Great!" says Isabel.

"It's okay," says Tess. "I'll just do a mind-warp. It'll be easy. And I know a back way in to the Pod Chamber."

Isabel flashes Tess an uneasy look.

"Maybe we should have come in from the other side," says Isabel.

"It probably wouldn't be any different," says Tess. "They probably have roadblocks on all the roads heading to the woods and Pohlman Ranch."

Isabel pulls back onto the road and drives up to the roadblock. There is a state trooper there.

"Well, whatever you're going to do, make it good."

"Excuse me," says the trooper, as he looks in the window. He sees two firefighters inside. "Oh, sorry," he continues. "The base camp is two miles up."

"Thank you," says Isabel, who drives around the roadblock to disappear up the road.

Alex looks at a copy of a birth certificate for Vanessa Crawford. It reads Dec. 5, 1919.

"Where did you get this?" says Alex to Miss Topolsky.

"It doesn't matter."

"As near as I can figure out, Vanessa Whitaker was using the birth certificate of a woman born in 1919 as late as Mar., 1970. That means Vanessa Crawford would have been almost 50."

Topolsky drops a photo. It's dated 1970. Alex recognizes Vanessa Whitaker.

"This is not a photograph of a 50-year-old woman," she says.

Isabel and Tess are outside the pod chamber. They look in all directions before Isabel opens the entrance. They enter and close the opening behind them.

"Max?" she says again, a little more urgently. No answer.

Tess and Isabel exchange looks.

"Maybe they're at the Granilith," says Tess.

They crawl through the pod membrane to the other side. No Max, no Liz.

"You don't think anyone has found them, do you?" asks Tess.

Isabel looks alarmed.

"They must be here. Max said they'd say put. He wouldn't just leave without telling us."

"Well, they're definitely not here."

They return to the pod chamber room.

She spots Liz's cell phone on the ground and picks it up. "That explains why Liz didn't answer the phone."

"Maybe they took a walk," says Tess.

"They wouldn't," says Isabel. "Something's wrong. What if they were in the Granilith and something happened?"

"Maybe they went to Vegas," says Tess, trying to lessen Isabel's worry.

"Very funny," she returns.

"Well, you were the one who said they went back in Vegas!"

"This is Maria's fault! If she hadn't said that ..."

"Her mother wouldn't have come up with that ridiculous story about them getting married?"

"But if they don't Max and Liz find in Las Vegas, they're going to look so guilty and so will all of us. At least, if they were really in Las Vegas, they might buy that stupid story and Max and Liz wouldn't be fugitives from the law."

"If we can just get them there ..."

"Do you think they would get married?" asked Tess.

"WHAT?" returns Isabel in disbelief.

"Sorry, maybe we should leave them a note."

"Yeah, good idea. We can't stay here too much longer. They'll start looking for us next. Besides," says Isabel, "this place gives me the creeps. I feel like someone is watching."

"Really?" says Tess, looking around the chamber. "It feels like home to me."

"God, I wish Max were here."

"Let's go," says Tess. "There's nothing we can do here."

As they exit, Isabel turns to the wall opposite the pods. On the other side, a lone figure watches, unseen. Isabel turns to the opening and exits after Tess.

The Parkers and Evans sit in the Crashdown. They drink coffee and discuss the Max/Liz problem. Amy DeLuca walks up to the table with a fresh pie. Maria sulks in the corner of the booth, but she's trying to pick up bits of conversation.

"We're booked for the late afternoon flight to Albuquerque, then an early flight to Las Vegas," says Jeff.

"It'll be too late," says Nancy.

"Right now, it's more important to get Max and Liz back in Roswell to answer these charges," says Phillip.

"If they drove to Vegas, we may still have time to stop them," says Diane.

"And if they return voluntarily, it will be better for both of them."

"They're good kids, aren't they?" asks Jeff.

"Max wouldn't hurt anyone," says Diane.

"Neither would Lizzie," says Jeff.

"Well then, we can hope for the best," said Phillip.

Nancy watches warily.

A mysterious cloaked figure stands over a tubular shaped enclosure lit only by what appears to be a black light. Inside are Max and Liz, still in a deep, sound sleep. The figure appears to monitoring their vitals. A woman enters and walks up to the other figure. Their faces are not visible.

"The pre-flight status is operational. They are ready to teleport."

"There's a change in destination. We may not need to remove them from Earth."

"It will not endanger them?"

"There is still some danger, but less so," she says, "We can still retrieve them if it becomes necessary."

"They must be protected."

"Any additional prep work?"

"Costumes and props."

The man presses a button and the glass enclosure slides open. The woman grabs one of the bags and looks inside. From it, she removes the crystals and Liz's diary.

"These will be safer here for now."

The woman then waves her hand over Max and Liz.

"That should do," she says approvingly. "The rest will be prepared on-site before arrival."

"Two hours. Here's the destination," she says, handing him a sliver of paper.

The man reseals the enclosure. They turn to face each other. It is the fifth protector and Serena.

Michael, Maria, Tess, Kyle, Alex, and Isabel meet at Michael's apartment. They munch on some Nachos Tess has made.

"You should see all the stuff Topolsky has," says Alex. (To Michael) "They know about Phoenix, the FBI. It got picked up on the wire service. There is someone out there that's very interested in you and Max and Liz ... and all of us."

"This is all so intense," says Isabel. "And now Max and Liz are missing."

"Missing?" asks Alex.

"We went to the Pod Chamber," says Tess. "They're gone. Disappeared. We found Liz's cell phone on the ground, but nothing else."

"I don't like this," says Maria. "Liz would never leave her cell phone behind."

"And Max wouldn't just leave."

"Maybe they found the janitor's closet," says Kyle.

Maria whacks his arm. Tess looks down, trying to ignore what she herself was feeling.

"Stop it!" says Isabel.

"Well, maybe Kyle's right," says Michael.

"Wait!" says Maria. "Maybe we're looking at this wrong."

"What do you mean?" says Tess.

"Maybe, they really are there ... you know."

"I don't understand," says Isabel.

"You found the Granilith by accident, didn't you?"

"Yes, but what does that ..."

"Maybe Max and Liz found something."

"You mean, like they walked through a Stargate or something?" says Alex.

"Well, maybe not something THAT dramatic," hopes Maria.

"We should go back there," said Michael.

"No, it's too dangerous. There are too many people out there right now," says Tess. "There are roadblocks everywhere."

"Not to mention the press."

"We need to find out," insisted Michael.

"Michael, I want to know what happened to my brother more than you do," says Isabel.

"Okay, time out," says Alex. "We just have to trust that Max and Liz are okay."

"I agree," says Tess. "There's nothing we can do."

"Yes, there is," says Alex.

The Parkers and Evans enter the waiting area of the Las Vegas airport. Phillip Evans sees the waiting policemen holding a sign first. He walks up to them, followed by the others.

"I'm Phillip Evans," he says.

"We think we found them. They're registered at the Bali Hai."

Diane Evans and Nancy Parker exchange looks. That's where Sheriff found them when they skipped school.

Liz stirs slightly in her sleep, but Max awakens. The smell of roses fills the air and he immediately realizes that they'll no longer in the pod chamber.

"Liz," he says softly.

She shifts position.

"Liz," he repeats, "Wake up."

She awakens sleepily, comfortably warm ... too comfortably warm. Her eyes begin to widen as she becomes more aware of her surroundings, of her cheek against Max's bare chest, the thin silk gown she wears, the satin sheets. This isn't the pod chamber. It's a hotel room, and not just any hotel room. White roses fill the room, on the dresser, the table, the floor.

"Max?" questions Liz, as she raises her head from Max's chest and turns to see his face.

" I know," he says, first looking at Liz, then looking around the room. "I don't know how we got here. ...What's that on the table?"

Liz turns to the bed table nearest her. She grabs the slip of paper and reads it. It's an application for a marriage license.

"OMG," she says, turning back to Max with the paper in her hand. "Max, we're in Las Vegas."

And at that moment, the door opens. A startled Max and Liz stare at the door.

The Parkers and Evans walk in, followed by a police officer. Max and Liz watch their parents warily, but they say nothing. The two know they are in big trouble. Liz pulls the bedcovers closer to her and turns to Max. He takes her hand in support.

"Hello," says Ms. Topolsky, holding a copy of the Roswell Gazette. There is a front page story about the Pierce murder and his connection to Whitaker. There's also a large titillating sidebar about the suspects, Sheriff Valenti, an alien-hunting sheriff looking to clear his father's name for the 1972 Silo murder; Michael Guerin, a troubled student with a checkered criminal history and his two friends, Max Evans and Liz Parker, two honor students from good families, the last two people anyone would ever suspect of murder. There's also a mention of the Crashdown incident. "I'd like to talk to the reporter who wrote the front page story about the Pierce murder. I have some information she might be interested in. No, I'd rather not leave a name. Yes, I'll hold. Thank you."

Sheriff Valenti knocks on Michael's door. Maria answers.

"May I come in?" he asks.

"Yeah, sure," says Maria.

Valenti steps inside. Isabel, Alex, Michael, Tess and Maria look expectantly.

"They found Max and Liz," says Valenti.

"That's impossible!" says Isabel.

"They were registered at the Bali Hai in Las Vegas," he said.

"That can't be," says Tess in disbelief.

They are all stunned because they know Max and Liz had no means of transportation once they had left them at the Pod Chamber.

"How original," says Michael. "There's a little Rob Roy in Max after all!"

"Michael, there's no way they can be in Vegas," says Maria. "It's physically impossible."

(To Isabel) "Your dad called the station to say they found them and that they, the Parkers, Max and Liz would be back tomorrow to answer the charges."

"Yeah, they're fine. Well, I'd better go. I thought you would all want to know. Kyle, Tess ... let's go."

Kyle and Tess exchange looks. They get up to leave and the three depart.

When they had gone, Isabel gets up and starts pacing.

"I don't understand this," Maria says. "We left them at the Pod Chamber."

"When Tess and I went back today, I had this feeling we were being watched."

"What do you mean ... watched?" says Alex.

"Like someone was there ... besides us."

"Tess made a joke about them being in Vegas."

"So you think someone overheard you ... someone in the Pod Chamber?"

"That's ridiculous," says Michael. "There's nothing else there except the Granilith. Maybe they figured out how the Granilith works or something."

"Maybe, but I just had this creeping feeling."

"Like there's this Phantom of the Pod Chamber," says Maria. "That is freaky!"

"Michael, we need to go back there," says Isabel.

"We can't do that right now. There's too many people out there right now!"

"I know," says Isabel, her frustration beginning to show.

"Max'll be back tomorrow. Talk to him."

"Who are you?" asks the Roswell Gazette reporter. They are sitting in a dark corner of Senor Chow's.

"I can't tell you that," says Topolsky. "Not yet."

"How do I know that you're a reliable source?"

"I think these documents will speak for themselves," says Topolsky, pushing a folder in front of the reporter.

She looks at the file folder, then Topolsky and back to the folder. It's about two inches thick.

"That's a lot of material."

"It's worth your while."

The reporter opens the file. On top is the Vanessa Crawford 1919 birth certificate and the 1970 picture of Vanessa Whitaker.

"Where did you get this?" she says.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," says Topolsky. "You realize, of course, that Pierce and Whitaker had a falling out over the Subcommittee Hearings."

"And her files were destroyed by Elizabeth Parker, her aide."

"Yes, but Parker had access to the files and she's Evans' girlfriend. Opportunity and motive."

Topolsky smiled. She remembers just how resourceful Liz is.

"Before her death, Whitaker had a certain set of bones examined by the Coleman Particle Research Lab," continues the reporter. "She wasn't happy with the results, so she had a second set of forensic tests done. She suspected something was wrong with the first set of examinations."

"That's true," says Topolsky.

"A simple check of dental records revealed an exact match with Special Agt. Daniel Pierce, a missing former FBI agent. A forensic sculpturist also reconstructed a face from the skull. It bears an uncanny resemblance to Pierce as well. There's more. Someone was trying to cover up Pierce's death. Two of the suspects, Sheriff Valenti and Michael Guerin, can be put at the murder scene. Deputy Hanson, who was on duty the night that Valenti made that police report on Guerin, claims no such calls or reports were made that night. And Guerin's knife was found at the scene with his prints on it. Valenti's protecting Guerin. Why, unless he had something to do with it. Guerin also has been busted several times: breaking and entering, drinking, a fight in a Las Vegas casino. He was initially brought in on an investigation when his step-father disappeared and now he's been arrested for the murder of Hank Guerin."

"Michael Guerin is the product of child abuse, but he didn't kill Hank Guerin. The first time Guerin disappeared, Michael had an alibi, and there's really no evidence to tie him to Hank's death now."

"They examined Hank Guerin's bones, too, and they found traces of Cadmium-X. The appearance of the bones resembled Pierce's except they had not been aged."

"No Cadmium-X was found on Pierce's bones."

"The initial tests are considered suspect ... someone may have tampered with them."

"And who would that be?"

"Max Evans is Michael Guerin's best friend. He's always been there when Guerin gets into trouble. He bailed him out when he was arrested for breaking and entering; he was arrested with him when Guerin started the fight in the casino; he witnessed Guerin's emancipation. They're close. And Evans is close to the Parker girl."

"Guilt by association. So you believe that Michael killed his stepfather first, then Pierce, then Whitaker? What's the motive?"

"I think he and his stepfather got into a fight and Guerin killed him. Pierce found out and Guerin killed him and when Whitaker got suspicious, he killed her too."

"That's a lot for an 18-year-old boy."

"He had help from his friends. Why else would the FBI be interested in these kids? There are no angels here, in spite of what they appear to be."

"Well, these files will change your mind -- about these kids, about Pierce and Whitaker."

The reporter began thumbing through some of the files, fast reading. But she could tell the material was hot, very hot.

"Who ARE you?" she asks again.

"I have the originals. Agent Duff of the FBI can verify some of these copies. I have to go," says Topolsky. "It's not safe for me to be here any longer.

In Las Vegas, the Evans and Parkers are in the lounge for a late supper. Max and Liz are there, at opposite ends of the table, deliberately separated by their parents. They all eat in silence as the live band performing on stage is so loud, it's impossible to carry on a conversation. Occasionally, Max and Liz steal a look across the divide. Nancy Parker seems nervous and tense. Diane Evans notices that Max and Liz seem to want to talk with each other. Their husbands seem content with their meals. Finally, the band stops for an intermission.

"Were you aware that the police were looking for the two of you?" asks Phillip Evans (to Max).

"No," Max lies. "Why would they be looking for us?" Liz watches him carefully, unaware that Diane Evans is watching her.

"Your friend Michael has been arrested for the murders of Hank Guerin and Special Agent Daniel Pierce."

"They found his body outside of town."

"Michael couldn't have killed Hank."

"He never saw Hank after the night they had that fight and he went to Maria's."

"Did you know about this?" says Nancy to Liz.

"Isabel told us, Maria and I," confirms Liz, "in the Crashdown, that Hank was hurting Michael when Hank went missing and Sheriff Valenti brought Michael in. But he WAS with Maria. Maria told me."

"What about after that?" asks Phillip.

"I don't know about that, but I don't think so. He doesn't really talk to me. But Michael wouldn't do that."

"What about Agent Pierce?"

"I don't understand," says Max.

"Michael, did he kill Pierce?" questions Phillip.

Liz feels her heart pounding, but stays still. Too still? Diane Evans looks from Liz to her son.

"Why would Michael want to kill Agent Pierce?"

"That's what we need to find out."

"Michael is excitable, but ..." says Max.

"Michael is really a good guy," says Liz.

"But he doesn't confide in you," says Phillip.

"I trust Maria," says Liz.

"Okay," he says. "We need to get you back to Roswell tomorrow. We'll go direct to the station to make your case.

"You sound as if we did something wrong," says Liz.

"Well, these are serious charges."

"Max wouldn't hurt anyone."

"I don't understand how anyone could think that," says Liz. Diane Evans was struck by the sincerity of her concern. Did Liz really love her son?

Liz stops herself from continuing. She looks at her mom who just begins to understand how deep her daughter's feelings run. The moment she fears is here.