Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 36

Max kissed Liz on the cheek. "Let go now," he said. "Let's go home."

Liz released her hold on the connection, and immediately the six of them felt the flying sensation again, and then they were back in their bodies on Earth.

It took them a moment to get their bearings again, and they looked around to see the Skin army still around them, and it was full dark now.

Through the open connection with the Skin soldier, they knew that even in their frozen state, all of the Skins, Lonnie, Rath and Tess had witnessed Kivar's defeat.

Max looked around at Nicholas and the peeling soldiers and made a small gesture with his hand, freeing them so they were able to move again. Surprise reflected on the faces of most of the soldiers, and some even showed fear.

Max spoke. "I'll offer each of you a choice," he said, turning so he addressed all of them. "You can die on Earth as your husks fail, or I will send you back to Antar, where you will spend the rest of your lives in prison."

For a moment, nothing happened, but then one by one, the Skins started to kneel.

"Get up you idiots!" Lonnie hissed as she raised her hand. "Kill them!"

But Zan held out his hand. "No more, sister," he said, and used the tremendous power rushing through him to drain her energy, and she slid to the ground unconscious.

The Skin soldiers continued to kneel until they were all down, leaving only Nicholas and Rath standing. For a moment Nicholas glared around at his surrendering troops, and muttered, "Cowards." But then he knelt too. He was outnumbered, but if he stayed alive, there was always a chance to carry on his mission.

Rath looked at Max and Zan and raised his chin stubbornly. "I don't kneel to anyone."

Max shrugged. "I didn't ask you to," he said. "You and Lonnie don't get a choice. We're sending you to Antar where you will go to prison for treason."

"This isn't over," Rath snarled and threw his hand out, sending a dozen balls of energy hurtling at Max and Zan.

Instantly Max's green shield shot out and enveloped the energy balls, and the green wave continued across the space to where Rath was standing and wrapped around him. He struggled briefly as Max drained his energy, and then dropped to the ground next to Lonnie.

Tess was still standing a few feet away from the group and Max turned to her.

"Why?" She asked with a hurt expression. "Why did you exclude me? I'm part of this. I'm your wife."

Max shook his head. "You haven't been my wife for a long time, and you've never really been part of us. You could have been. We tried to include you, but you lie and plan and manipulate to get what you want."

"But you have to see," Tess argued, "that you need me. With me in the group we will be even stronger."

She walked forward until she was standing a few inches from Max. "And I will be with you completely," she said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I'd never make you share me. I'll be devoted to you and only you, and I'll be here for eternity."

"I don't love you," Max said. "I never did, even when we were married."

"You did love me," Tess said angrily. "You'll remember in time, and –"

Max cut her off. "No, Tess. I do remember, and I will never love you."

For a moment she looked lost, but then shook her head. "No, you love me. You're just confused. Liz has you wrapped around her finger by giving you sex." She let her voice drop to a purr, as she held his gaze, "But I can give you that too. I can give you anything you desire."