Part 5 - Man to Man

Michael Guerin had experienced lots of strange things in his life.

First off, he was an alien growing up in Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell was a strange enough place for anyone to grow up, even humans. It was filled with alien memorabilia. Little green men to the right of you, little green men to the left of you. But it was even stranger if you were one of the little green men. Every year, Michael, Max, and Isabel got to go through the strange experience of watching people dress up as aliens and celebrate the crash - the event which killed their family and left them alone on a strange planet. At least, that's what they had always thought.

Then there was the fact that his best friend, also an alien, decided to go to work at a UFO Museum for a man whose life goal was to meet an alien. Michael's days talking to the lunatics who spent their lives searching for extraterrestrials definitely ranked up there among the oddest of his life.

Oh, then there was the fact that he had started having visions. He could get them from objects and people. One person in particular, and there was nothing wierder in his life than the fact that he had developed feelings for one very annoying, very loud, very human girl named Maria DeLuca.

He spun a cocoon around himself once. That was interesting.

Continuing the insanity, they found out that (surprise!) they weren't aliens after all. Or at least not all alien. They were some bizarre combination of human and alien DNA.

And he didn't even have parents. So much for all his hopes that they would come and rescue him someday. He hadn't been born, he'd been made in some bizarre science experiment and hatched. His sole purpose for existence was to protect Max and help him make it back to their planet so he could rule and defeat the evil aliens. Maybe he should have watched more sci-fi movies when he was a kid.

And then there was the situation with Isabel - not his sister after all, but the girl he was supposed to mate with. Now there was someplace his mind simply refused to go. Those dreams had been disturbing enough. The thought of putting them into practice was simply impossible for his mind to even consider.

Topping off the bizarre world of Michael Guerin, he had seen, with his very own eyes, just one month earlier, a giant flying jellyfish burst out of the chest of Isabel's ex-boyfriend. Strange does not even begin to cover a world in which giant flying jellyfish make appearances.

All of this to say that Michael was used to strange things happening. They didn't even throw him that much anymore. Strange girl at the Crashdown who's been flirting with him for months turns out to be an alien spy? He could deal. The town sheriff suddenly goes from hunting you to being your strongest ally? Cool. His kind-of human sister is buried alive in order to be fed on by blue alien crystals? No problem. Unusual events were normal in his life. He learned not to expect calmness and serenity. Like he would even have a chance at calm with Maria around, anyway.

But the most sureal event in his otherwise bizarre life had happened one week ago, when he met with his evil twin and learned a few things about them both. And that was what Michael was thinking about as he sat on his couch, fighting his instincts which were crying for him to go after Maria.

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One Week Earlier

"This is a stupid idea," Maria muttered. Seeing that they were ignoring her, she pulled on Michael's arm. "This is a bad idea, Michael."

Michael was already feeling on edge as they drove up to the old mine. He wasn't sure whether or not he should be surprised that Rath had picked the same place for their secret meeting as they had all used when hiding from Pierce the year before. It made good tactical sense, seeing as how it was far away from anything and the surrounding desert left good visibility. Now he turned impatiently to Maria. "It is not a bad idea. Would you rather we just let them kill our Max like they did theirs?"

Maria's face went pale and she bit her lip. He sighed. He always did that - got angry and lashed out when it wasn't her fault. Forcing his voice to be calmer, he explained, "We don't have any choice, Maria. Isabel couldn't get through to Max on the dreamwalk, and we have to find out where he is. It'll be okay."

"You don't know that. What's going to keep Rath from killing you, too?"

Michael shook his head and went back to observing the mine. "He won't hurt me. We're too much the same."

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Prophetic words, it turned out. Michael shifted on the couch, and finally gave up. He stood and crossed to the window. He felt a tightness in his chest, making it hard to breathe. He knew that it was caused by having hurt Maria again. He was familiar with the feeling. He wanted to go after her like Isabel had suggested. But she was better off without him. That was one fact that he knew without a doubt.

When he went to see Rath, he thought they would be able to talk, and that maybe he could convince his dupe to tell him where Max was. He'd been telling Maria the truth. He honestly didn't think that he was in any danger from Rath. But if Rath did attack, Michael figured that his powers were just as strong as his, so he should be okay. That's what he had meant when he told Maria that they were the same - that their powers were equal. His meeting with Rath showed him that they were the same in other ways, too. Too many ways to ever allow Michael to feel the same way about either of them again.

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The meeting started off politely enough. When Michael entered the old mine, he found Rath waiting at a table. When Michael refused to sit down, Rath laughed, but didn't seem upset. Much to his surprise, Rath tried to make some small talk, asking about Ava, Liz, Maria, and Isabel. It was bizarre to hear his own voice coming out in that unfamiliar accent. Finally, it was too much.

"Let's just get to it, okay? Where's Max?"

Rath laughed. "Why d'you care so much about him, anyways? Cause he's the king?"

"You wouldn't understand," Michael said, voice dripping with contempt.

"You sure of that, bro?" He laughed again. "Maybe I understand better than you think. But it don't matter. You might as well let us kill him now. It'll just save ya the trouble of havin to do it yourself later."

Michael shook his head. "Not going to happen. Not ever."

"You sure?" he repeated. He leaned across the table intently. "Ya think I don't know how you feel? I loved Zan, too, ya know. We were closer than brothers once, man. It didn't matter any. Sooner or later, you're going to have to take him out 'fore he takes you out."

"You're crazy. Where. Is. Max?" Michael spoke slowly, dragging out the words.

Rath leaned back with a smile. "How many you killed?" At Michael's blank look, he went on. "I'm thinkin not too many yet. I know about the FBI fool. Any others?"

"How did you know....... "

Rath cut him off. "Not important. Me, I've gotten rids of plenty already. But I remember the first one. Just like yesterday."

For the first time, Michael was genuinely nervous and thinking that Maria was right. This was a bad idea. He had to get out of here. "If you're not going to tell me where Max is ..... "

"Oh, I'll tell you, bro. But first, take a seat and listen to me educate you."

Michael's instincts were telling him to get out of there. He hadn't felt this panicky and claustrophobic since Hank left. But this was their best chance to find Max. Rath and Lonnie were the only ones who knew where he was, and she wasn't in the mood to communicate openly with them. That left Rath. Michael walked carefully over to the chair, keeping a close eye on Rath. He sat down carefully. "Fine. Say what you have to say, and then tell me where Max is."

"I took out my first four years ago. There was this guy who'd hang out on the street corner near where we was livin. He was makin trouble for Ava. Bad trouble. Zan tried talkin to him, but he wouldn't listen. So, Zan and me went and took care of him. Dumped the body in the river after. So far's I know, they never found it. I killed some others, before Zan and since. It's not that big a deal, ya know."

Michael was just looking at him. "You killed someone to protect Ava?" he asked in surprise.

"Sure," he said with a smile. "The only reason I bring it up is 'cause I remember how I felt right after. Thought you could use someone to talk to, since you offed what's his name."

"Pierce," he whispered.

"Pierce. Okay. Let me guess. You've had nightmares, keep seeing it, keep remembering how it felt?"

Michael just nodded.

"Thought so. Here's the thing you gotta know, though, Michael." Rath leaned forward again. "All that stuff - it'll pass. You gotta know that's what we're made for." He smiled, remembering. "You get over the fear and the guilt and you remember the rest. The way it felt at the moment when you let loose. Remember that, too?"

Michael had to look away. This was too much. He hadn't talked to anyone about that part, not even Valenti. Because the sick truth was, a part of him had liked letting loose on Pierce like he did. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Rath shook his head. "No good, bro. You and I can't lie to each other. It don't work. I know how you felt, cause I felt it, too. Your blood boils and you just let go. It's better than anythin, better than drugs and booze even. It's the best high you're ever gonna get, Michael. Enjoy it." Rath leaned back and looked at Michael speculatively. "We never feel as alive as when we're the only ones standing. And we will be the only ones left standing, Michael, so longs you don't make any dumb mistakes."

Michael got up and walked away, not looking at Rath. The thing was, Rath was right. They couldn't lie to each other. Michael knew, without a doubt, that his dupe was telling him the truth. And he remembered how glad he had been to see that he was still alive and Pierce was the one lying on the ground. But he also had to remember that Rath couldn't be trusted, no matter how much he seemed to understand. And there was Max to think about.

"Like what, Rath? What dumb mistakes?" He was trying to sound casual, like Rath's words hadn't affected him, but he wasn't even fooling himself. More than anything else, he wished he had listened to Maria and never came in here.

"Like trusting Max." Michael looked back and laughed.

"Trusting Max? Of course, I trust him. I trust him more than anyone."

"Why? Cause he's the king and we's just the number two?"

"Because he's Max," Michael said simply.

Rath looked at him in disbelief. "You really are that stupid, ain't ya? Listen up, bro. You're probably thinkin all that 'he's good, I'm bad' crap. I went through it, too. But you really need to listen on this one - you can't trust him. He'll turn on you eventually. Trust me on this."

"Is that why you killed Zan? Did he do something to you or Lonnie?"

"Ain't important. Zan's dead - no problem there. Max is the problem. You and Isabel done it yet?"

Michael didn't understand the sudden change in topic, but as uncomfortable as this made him, at least they weren't talking about murder anymore, so he went with it. "No, and we're not going to."

Rath nodded absently. "You've got that little human now, right. Now there's someone I wouldn't mind gettin to know a bit better." He looked up at Michael's face and laughed. "Don't worry, bro, I won't go there until you want to share. The point is Lonnie right now. She's great for sex, but I don't trust her anymore. So, I was thinkin of a new partnership, with someone who I could trust." Then he made his offer to Michael.

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Michael dragged himself away from his memories. He didn't know why he kept thinking about it over and over again. He said no. Rath was upset, but kept his end of the bargain and told them where Max was. He kept his word about being honest. Of course, he never said it wouldn't be a trap.

You keep thinking about it because it was the first time you talked with someone who understood, a little voice spoke in his mind. Because he was right about how you felt when you killed Pierce, that there was relief mixed in with the guilt and disgust, that you were glad he couldn't threaten you or your family again. What kind of sick person would have pleasure in something like that? But it was so natural, like it was what you were meant for. And you can't help but wonder what it means. That you and Rath are more alike than you've ever been like Max. And what does that make you?

He knew the answer to that, of course. Killer. Murderer. Just like Rath. And so he pushed Maria away again. Distance from him was the only way to keep her safe.

The tightness in his chest was getting worse. Maybe some water would help. He walked over to the sink, but stopped and dropped to the ground as a sudden burst of pain raced through his body.

Maria. He could see her, surrounded by a bright light. It was her pain he was feeling.

When the pain faded, he jumped to his feet and was out the door and on his bike before he even stopped to think. Maria was in danger, and she needed help. As he started the bike, he realized that there was one problem. He didn't know where Maria went when she left his apartment.

Think, Michael. Her mother was out of town until later tonight, so where would she go when she was upset? Liz. Michael started off in the direction of the Crashdown. He had to get to her before something really bad happened.

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