An image filled Max's brain, an image of him and Ray in the museum, both dressed in the goofy sequined Elvis outfits Ray had had made, both laughing so hard, their faces were all scrunched up.

Ray was showing him one of the great times they'd had together. But the emotion Max was getting off Ray didn't match the picture. He wasn't getting anything close to laughter. There was relief, and sadness, and something that felt like a good-bye.

Another presence touched Max, breaking his connection with Ray. The image of the control panel of a spaceship replaced the image of Max and Ray. Knowledge about the mechanics of the panel filled his brain. Max tried to shove it away. He needed to connect with Ray again. What was going on with him? Why was there all that sadness pulsing off him?

"Ray!" Max called. "Where are you?"

Another new presence touched Max, and the sound of a low clacking surrounded him. With the sound came information-the clacking was a warning that a poisonous insect was nearby.

Max didn't care about that right now. "Ray!" he shouted. But there was no answer. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Max opened his fingers, allowing the communication crystals to fall free of his hand. He could still feel the presences around him. Another one touched him, showing him the image of a being changing shape as it stepped out of a spaceship.

"Stop! Just stop!" Max yelled. He sat up in bed and immediately turned to his sister. "Isabel, tell me what happened to Ray," he demanded.

"Are you okay?" Liz cried. She pressed her palm against his forehead. "You look so much better. Are you-"

Max didn't take his eyes off Isabel. "I'm fine," he interrupted. "I just need to know what happened to Ray."