Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)

Hold Your Fire

We ran into the forest with the snow crunching under our boots. We didn't know where Ben and Karen could be or how far they had gotten. We slowed down and scanned the area then lights flashed bright about 500 yards away. We snuck to it and Tector and Booner took their sniping positions. We saw a fish-head in the open field and Ben was being held by a skitter while Karen held a harness near him. Weaver gave the command and Tector shot the harness out of Karen's hand. The rest of us ran behind rocks and shot at the skitters and mechs.

"Get down Ben!" Hal yelled. Ben went beside me near a rock. I took cover to reload my gun.

"I'm so sorry." He said.

I ignored him and went up to shoot again. I saw Hal and Tom moving into the field and I followed them. Tom ran up to the fish-head and raised his gun to it. It froze and so did the mechs.

"What happened?" Ben asked running up to us.

"I don't think they want their master to get hit." Hal said.

"I guess we should take him in." Tom said.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I said. The fish-head looked at me then cocked its head slightly to the side. I felt uneasy under its gaze and I felt like it was trying to connect to me through my spikes, I know I can't hold him off forever so I agreed with Tom's idea so we could get away from here.

...

Two men ran to get trucks and when they came back Tom shackled the fish-head in the back of one and we sat in the back of another; I wanted to stay as far away from that thing as possible. But unfortunately Ben sat across from me in the truck. I didn't look at him, I can't believe he ran off with Karen.

He sensed my distress and knew it was about him. "I'm so sorry." He said again. I didn't say anything back.

"Please talk to me Ashley." He got up and sat by me. "Please." He tried to take my hand and I wouldn't let him. "It didn't happen like it seems."

"How can I trust anything you say Ben? First you say you have no feelings for Karen and then you run off with her!"

"I'm so sorry."

"You can apologize all you want but it won't change what you did." I didn't talk to him after that. When we got to the hospital I hurried out of the truck and went to the room. I grabbed my bag and started throwing my clothes in it. I went towards the door and Ben was standing there.

"What are you doing?" He looked at my bag and then back at me.

"I'm leaving. I can't take this anymore Ben."

"Can't take what."

"I can't take your lies. You lie to me and your family. How can I trust you ever again?"

"I said I'm sorry."

"It's too late to apologize." I try to leave but be blocks the door. "Let me leave."

"No."

"Ben move!" I tried to get around him.

"No I'm not letting you go out there alone!"

"You can't stop me."

He started tearing up. "Please don't go."

"Why should I stay? So you can lie to me some more?" I couldn't look him in the eye, I hated seeing him cry.

"I love you. I can't imagine living without you." He took my chin and lifted my head so I was looking at him. "Please believe me. I've always loved you. I admit I did lie, I did have feelings for Karen-"

"I knew it!" I said pushing his hand away.

He continued, "But it was nothing compared to how I feel about you. I truly do love you Ashley. And I know you still love me too."

He was right, I did still love him. I don't think he could ever do anything to get me to stop loving him.

"How can I trust you again?" I asked looking up at him.

"I know it's going to take time, but I'll prove it to you that you can. I promise from now on I'll always tell you the truth, even if it hurts." He took my hand.

I can't believe I feel like I should believe him, he lied to me, but I love him too much to let us end this way. "That's all I ask for." I kissed his cheek and I put my bag next to the bed. We heard shooting outside and ran to see what was happening.

"We're under attack!" Weaver yelled. We tried shooting the mechs, but it was hard since they were behind the trees. Every shot the mechs took missed.

"Are they drunk?" Crazy Lee yelled.

"Maybe it's a distraction?" I said.

"Like they're trying to get in through the back door?" Weaver looked at Tom. He understood.

"I'll go check it out." Tom left and we held off the mechs. We heard an explosion around the back of the building and within a few seconds the mechs stopped shooting.

"Hold your fire!" Weaver commanded. We waited and a few minutes later Tom came back.

"A mech snuck through the back but I took care of it." He confirmed.

Flood lights went on in the woods and highlighted the road ahead of the barrier. We saw Karen walk and stop about 200 feet away.

"Hey Tom!" She called "I want to talk to you!" She showed a white flag. Tom and Hal hesitated but then walked out to talk to her.

"Everyone be quiet." I said. I closed my eyes and focused on trying to hear what they were saying. I could hear slightly and I repeated what I could make out to the group.

"She's telling them to let her master go...they said no...she says she gives us an hour to give her master back...I-I can't understand what Tom is saying." They turned back and Karen looked angry. She scanned us and when she saw me she smiled evilly.

"Booner get your team out there and scope the area out." Tom said when he got back over the barrier. He nodded and they went to go do their job. We waited by the barrier for any new action to occur. Ben and I were sitting behind the barrier talking and I start to feel better. I wasn't sure I would be able to trust him, but I feel like I made a good choice giving him a second chance.

There were gunshots and I got up quickly. Everyone got ready at the barrier. We heard the shooting again.

"That's Booner's team!" Tech said.

The gunshots were in the same area in the trees.

"Dammit Boon move!" Crazy Lee yelled. The shooting stopped and we waited impatiently. The flood lights came back on and Karen walked back up and yelled, "Tom, one of your soldiers has a message for you!" My breath hitched when I saw Boom walk in the middle of the road. A mech comes up behind him. Karen nods to Boon and he starts limping towards us.

"Oh my god." I whispered once I figured out what this was: an execution.

"Come on Boon!" Lee yelled.

Tector started yelling too. "Get your ass over here!"

Everyone else yelled for him and the mech started shooting. With every shot Boon looked weaker and walked slower. Soon Boon fell on his knees and I couldn't look anymore. I almost broke down and fell but Ben caught me and held me so I couldn't see. I heard the final shot and I flinched, I'm tying my hardest not to cry.

I heard the lights turn off and Karen yelled, "I warned you to give my master back, now you're out of time!"

I lifted my head and saw Tector start shooting into the air. That sent me over the edge and I started crying.

"Hold your fire." Weaver said solemnly, "Hold your fire."

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That scene with Booner is always sad to me :( what did you all think when Boon died in the show? I was shocked, but did anyone predict it?