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 If you haven't read Part I, read it first as this is part of a continuing possible storyline. Search topic for "Skinning" and you'll find it under "Skinning the Surface."
 It's the next day. Maria and Liz are finishing the last of Whitaker's files. Maria collects pertinent photocopies they've made and Liz has replaced the originals in the files except for the Alien Files which she finishes shredding. She takes the CD of her recorded phone calls and gives it to Maria for safekeeping. Liz picks up the phone and calls Valenti to file a missing persons report.
Meanwhile, back at the Crashdown, Milton is talking with Max and Michael. He's unsure of Michael, but Max tells him it's okay. He's slightly out of control, a little paranoid. He is unable to stay still. His hands shake when he tries to drink or eat. He tells Max again that he has seen Tess before but he's not sure where. Things are somewhat fuzzy. He doesn't remember everything anymore. "They did things," he says.
Maria comes in and Michael goes to her. She confirms that she and Liz have all the files and that Liz destroyed the rest. They go off to hide the files for future examination.
Isabel and Tess come in and sit down at the table with Max and Milton. Milton clams up. Almost immediately after, Grant comes in and walks up to the table. Milton freaks and runs out. Max starts after him, but Grant blocks the way so he can't get up from the table and makes small talk with Isabel. Grant looks at Tess and asks if she is okay. Max looks at Isabel who looks nervously away.
At Whitaker's office, two men from Whitaker's reelection committee come in (We know Whitaker is up for reelection by the poster leaning against the desk in Surprise). They ask for Whitaker's files. Liz tells her that Whitaker wasn't there and that she can't release the files without Whitaker's approval. They tell her Whitaker is dead. Liz looks shaken and asks how? They tell her they weren't given details, but they were only there to close the field office. Liz says she needs to call Whitaker's congressional office to confirm.
Michael and Maria are returning to the Crashdown when they see Milton running down the street. They stop him, and he says, "She's with HIM!". Michael asks with whom, but Milton breaks free and runs away. Michael and Maria enter the Crashdown. Grant is still talking with Isabel. Michael
waves Max over. Max excuses himself from the table and goes over to talk to Michael and Maria. Michael asks what's going on and tells him what Milton said. They look at Grant. Courtney asks if he wants anything? He says so, he's just leaving. Tess is looking at Max.
Max asks Maria if she has seen Liz. She tells him he left her at Whitaker's office, but that she expected Liz to be here when they got back – that she was just going to make the phone call to Valenti and go home. Max said she hadn't come yet. They take off for Whitaker's office. When they arrive, Valenti is just hanging up the phone. Liz in gone. Maria tries to reach her on the cell, but there's no answer. They spot her bag on the floor. "We have to find her," says Max. "How?" says Michael. There's dead silence. Valenti puts out an APB.
Liz is handcuffed to a chair and is being guarded by a man wearing snakeskin boots with silver tips. There's something oddly familiar about him, but she doesn't know what. She's back at the chemical plant company. She's very scared, but she knows she needs to keep her wits about her.
She knows she is being used at bait. And she's trying to think of some way she can let Max know where she is. If he could only know what she is THINKING. ...
At the Crashdown, Isabel and Alex are talking about Milton when Max, Michael, Maria enter. Max tells them what has happened. As he does, he has a flash. He KNOWS where Liz is.
"You're part of this, too, aren't you?" says Liz.
"Yes. ... It's about power, who has it and who doesn't," returns Tess.
"And Max?"
"He has always loved you."
"So this is revenge."
"Oh, it's more than just that!"
"You hurt everyone to get what you want? Why?"
"Isabel, Michael, Max and YOU!"
"And what DO you want?"
"The Granilith, of course." Grant says.
"I don't understand." Liz knows that Tess has seen the Granilith.
"It doesn't do us any good unless we know how to operate it. Max is the only one who knows how it works ... that is, besides you."
"I don't know ..."
"Oh, but you DO. … You’re THE scientist, aren't you?" returns Grant. Tess is smiling broadly. Liz is genuinely perplexed.
At that moment, the gang appears. A short battle ensues in which Michael and Alex go after Grant and Isabel after Tess. Max frees Liz and asks her if she's all right to which she says yes. Maria finds a board and gives Tess a good whack. "I've really been wanting to do that," quips Maria. Realizing they are outnumbered, Tess and Grant retreat to get help. Maria and Liz hug. Maria asks her if she's really okay and Liz nods. Michael urges everybody it's time to go before the Skins regroup. They take off in a hurry.
Back at the Crashdown, they are discussing the plant and how to come up with a plant to take it down. Liz tells them about the man in the snakeskin boots ... how his voice seems familiar, etc. When she's done, Maria looks at her and says, "It's my dad." They all exchange looks. Liz is looking straight at Maria as Maria looks down at the table.
Later that evening, after everyone has gone, Liz is on the balcony outside her bedroom. She is thinking about what Tess and Grant said. Max calls to her and asks if he can come up. Liz nods. Max tells her that he wanted to make sure she was really okay. She tells me about the conservation she had with Tess and Grant and asks him if he knows what it means. He says no. There's a pause. Liz asks how he knew where she was and he tells her that he heard her talking to him. She nods in understanding and rests her head against his chest. He tells her that he was so afraid of losing her. They embrace. End of story.
Of course, this also leaves some loose ends to tie up like all serials should. It allows further development of stories based on the following:
1. A Maria story about her dad, bringing some closure and a stronger relationship with Michael.
2. A Tess/Grant/Isabel story centering on how Isabel could have possibly betrayed her family, either intentionally or unintentionally.
3. A Max/Liz story centered around the Granilith.
4. Another Skin story about a plan to destroy the chemical plant involving Courtney's role in all of this.
Thoughts? Additions? Any bulletproofing that needs to be done? Things I overlooked?
 Send any comments about this story to mailto: momosroswell@yahoo.com |
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