Author's Note: This story takes place after BIY.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.

Part 1

Home. How could he have actually believed they were going home? Looking back, Max realized it was all too convenient and maybe he was looking for an easy way out. Now the four of them were being held captive by the skins right outside of the pod chamber. Nicolas had activated the pentagon weapon striping them of their powers. They were defenseless and it wouldn't be long before the skins had found the granolith. It was all over. The skins had won.

"I have been waiting for this day for over 50 years," Nicolas faced them. He had a smug grin on his face. "I have been hunting you royal brats down for 50 years!" he continued with bitterness evident in his voice. "Today it ends here. The four of you will die, again but this time you're not coming back. There will be no plan C! There will be no heirs!" He stared hard as Tess.

A lump formed in back of Max's throat. How did Nicolas know Tess was pregnant? She wasn't showing yet. Nicolas walked over to Tess and looked at Max.

"Game over Zan. You lose."

"No," Max said. Nicolas reached out and touched her abdomen. Instantly her face contorted with pain.

"Get away from her!" Max screamed. Finding a strength he never knew he had, he broke loose of his restraints. With all of his being, he sent a devastating blast of energy hurling at Nicolas. The blinding blue-white energy engulfed the entire area. When it faded several moments later, the skins were completely decimated though he could see Nicolas's body a few feet away.

Max slumped to the ground. Almost as fast as he did he got up and rushed to Tess's side. He cradled her in his arms. She looked so weak. She was dying...

"Tess, are you okay?" he said, his voice breaking. Isabel and Michael rushed over to the two of them.

"My god..." Isabel said with tears in her eyes. "Michael, go and get the healing stones!" Tess was badly hurt. The stones may be the only things that could save her life.

"Tess," Max called again. She opened her eyes slightly.

"The baby..." she trailed off. Then she passed out.

"Max," Isabel said in a scared tone. It didn't even sound like she said it. Max followed her eyes to where she was looking. He felt his chest tighten. He felt like his lungs would give way.

Blood. There was so much blood. When he lifted the hand he had on her thigh he saw his hand was red.

To Be Continued...