Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)

The Deharnessing

"Wait! I don't know how to de-harness kids." I said, but Maggie was already pulling me towards Anne. She was furiously working at the metal table where a kid was laid out. I tried to resist but my efforts were futile.

"Ashley good you're here!" Anne said, "I need you to take this harness and lift it up slowly and a little bit more after I tell you."

I looked down at the kid, belly-down, unconscious, and with a yellow-orange glowing harness attached to his back. This was only the second time I had seen a harness, and the first time I'd seen one attached to someone's back. It was amazing and frightening at the same time. I looked mechanical yet alive. I couldn't even imagine what the kid wearing that thing was thinking, if he was thinking at all.

"Ashley!" Anne said snapping me back to reality, "Grab hold of the harness." I did as she told me, took hold of the harness, and waited. Anne set up her blowtorch and I started to lift the harness up. Anne slowly burned each spike until they broke away and I continued to lift the harness up.

I looked to see the spikes and it wasn't a pretty sight, it was borderline grotesque. The boy's back was covered with some type of clear slime and his spike's tips were actually inside of his spine and was still slightly red from the fire from the blowtorch.

Finally Anne finished the final spike, "Put it on that table there." I did as she said, though it was no easy task. The harness seemed to come alive and started squirming more than a fish out of water. I slammed it down on the counter and after a few seconds it stopped moving as its lights dimmed. It must be dead, I thought.

"Ashley go help the kids having seizures, Lourdes come help me over here." Lourdes walked over to Anne, who was helping another kid on the table, and I rushed over to the other side of the room. I had previous experience with kids having seizures, and Anne knew that. Danny used to have asthma attacks and seizures all the time, so I knew exactly how to help.

I put the first kid on his left side and checked his breathing and heartbeat. I put him on his back, and quickly took off my jacket and placed it under his head. "Tom!" I called.

He came running in, "I'm here is something wrong?!"

"No," I said, "But I need help. Can you get some wet cloths and some sheets."

"Ok." He said, running to get the supplies

I put his right arm at a right angle of his body, palm up. Then I lifted the other arm across his body, and the back of his against his cheek. Tom came back and put the wet cloths and sheets on the table nearest to me.

"Ok, now can you please hold this boy's hand here on his cheek and put a wet cloth on his forehead?" I told him.

"Sure I got it." He said as we switched places and I went to the boy's legs. I lifted his left knee up, so his foot was flat and then pulled it towards me.

His body rolled to the side, his seizure slowly ended and his breathing and heartbeat slowed. I was relieved but knew I couldn't waist another minute, there were other kids having seizures in need of help too. "Ok, he should be fine. Let's finish with the others." I said to Tom as he let go of the boy's hand. We continued the process with the other three kids. After the second child Tom left to give the de-harnessed kids' parents an update.

I was ready for the fourth, but unfortunately he died during the operation.

"It's Ok Anne," I said trying to cheer her up, "You saved 5 lives today, that's more than any of us expected."

All Anne did was sigh, "But I didn't save them all." She sadly went by the kids to turn down their morphine dosage.

I looked around and noticed Tom walking back into infirmary. "What are you doing back here? You should go get some sleep." I laughed.

He had a hint of worry on his face, "Is Ben ok?"

This was shocking news for me, "Ben's here? He's Alive?"

Tom looked very confused. "Yea, he was one of the harnessed kids I brought in. You didn't see him?"

"No, I helped with the kids having the seizures."

"Ben didn't have a seizure though."

"That must explain it."

I followed Tom as he walked over to a cot with a boy in it. Hal came in with Matt and brought him over too. The boy moved his head and face towards us, it was Ben! I couldn't believe it. If Ben's alive, then maybe Danny is too! This is such great news, and even better because if Danny's harnessed now Anne can remove it safely...

Ben started waking up. Tom held his breath. "Dad?" Ben said, looking up at Tom, confused.

"Yes, it's me." Tom said excitedly, "Your safe now son. Your harness was removed, now get some sleep." Ben nodded and laid his head back down.

I looked down at Tom; I don't think I've ever seen him so happy in all of the time I've known him. Anne walked over to Tom and asked to talk to him in private. Matt and Hal were talking about how happy they were to have Ben back, but I was too busy trying to hear what Tom and Anne were saying.

"I'm very surprised." Anne said.

Tom looked at her questioningly, "Why?"

"When Rick's harness was removed he didn't remember much of anything, let alone his dad, Mike, at first. I don't know I guess every case is different. But I want to keep a close eye on him to make sure he is OK, as well as the rest of the kids."

Anne called me over. "Can you talk to all of the de-harnessed kids; you know make sure they're fine mentally?"

"Ok, I can do that." I answered.

"How have your sessions with Rick been going?"

"Not so well, he won't even say a word. I don't think I can get through to him."

"Well I guess you just have to keep trying." Anne said. I nodded.

Tom walked back to Hal and Matt. "It's getting late and you two should be going to bed, especially you Matt, you've got school tomorrow. Don't worry Ben will be here when you done." They walked out of the room and into the hallway. I left to my room a few minutes later.

As I walked through the deserted hallway I found myself a little spooked by the echo of my footsteps. I turned the corner and entered my room. My "roommate" was already asleep. Weaver had assigned everyone roommates so we could all fit. I lay in my bed, but couldn't shut my mind off. Maybe Hal, Tom, or another one of the fighters will find Danny. Maybe Ben will remember seeing him. Maybe I should put Danny's picture up on the bulletin board full of pictures of kids taken by skitters.

And so the next day I did.