Falling Down - A Falling Skies Fan Fiction

Tara and Mik - Chapter 2

Tom blinked slowly for a few moments, processing the woman's exact words. The seventh mass. But how? The seventh Massachusetts had been obliterated not only by their forces but mostly the aliens. However, it had been their own fault. They brought decimation upon themselves. One would expect that after you make alliances with foreigners who's soul mission is to wipe out man kind.

"But they were destroyed?" Hal remarks, breaking Tom's brief day dream. 

"Yeah well not all of them." The blonde grumbles, lowering her weapon. She looks like she's given up, like this was just a small quarrel and all is well. While it was a complete relief, Tom was still wary of her and looks to Hal for words, but all that follows is a silence shared among them.

She reaches down and picks the tuna can up off the ground and zips it into a small pocket of her backpack. The blonde haired girl continues to putter around before stopping abruptly and turning to face the surprised group.

"You can relax you know...I don't bite." She scoffed, packing up more things here and there.

Ben arched a brow at his father before shifting his gun strap so he can fold his arms over his chest. "I find that extremely hard to believe." The middle Mason mutterd before leaning on the old car behind him. Although Tom shared a reprimanding look with his son, Ben's easy going nature had definitely dissipated some of the tension wafting in the air.

The girl only responded with a glare in his direction before shifting her weight onto her other foot, relaxing. Tom found it odd that the girl felt as if they were no threat. Even though they had stated they were from the seventh Mass and that was some common ground between the strangers, it was still strange for the girl to be so willing to trust them. A minute ago her gun was poised in a defensive position, and her finger white on the trigger. Maybe it was because she was so desperate for human contact, a friend, some connection to anyone. Maybe she had lost family and these people could be the closest connections she had. The possibilities were endless, but Tom was positive that he would be weary of her. Especially once he figured out what she was doing with the harnessed girl.

"Who's that?" He asked nodding towards the red haired prisoner. 

"The that you're referring to has a name." The blonde said, tipping her nose up at Tom, glowering at him. 

Tom nodded again, making a slight motion as he brought his hand up to stroke his stubbly chin. "Right, sorry. Who is...she?" 

Ben couldn't help the frown on his face as his father hesitated over referring to the harnessed girl as a she as if she wasn't even human. Every harnessed child was in every way shape and form alive and filled with life. While it may temporairlly be suspended, they all still had emotions and thoughts for themselves and their families. Just right now...they were suppressed. Tom never discriminated against the harnessed kids at the facility, Ben was the most special case anymore. However, he may not be if this girl proves to be of some worth which she has to be if the blonde was keeping her, Ben thought. But again this could just be another family member case in which no one can let go of their family anymore. Ben had always felt like that was the worst part of all this. They were constantly in danger and it was inevitable that eventually one of them was going to be eliminated from this world at the alien's hands. Quickly, the teenager shoved the thought from his mind and turned back to the blonde who began to speak.

"Tara. Her name is Tara." She glanced back at the red haired girl sadly, her eyes dropping to the ground in what appeared to be shame before sighing and glancing between them all. "She was harnessed around 8 months ago. As you may know, after you guys came and discovered what __ was doing, which by the way me and Tara were both strongly against it but..." Her voice dropped again, bitter at the subject.