Disclaimer: I do not own Terra Nova or its wonderful characters.
The sun beat down on the grassy field, a last farewell from summer. People gasped and panted for breath as they reigned down punch after kick and their opponent, gasping and panting as well, reigned down their own series of assaults, followed by defense, and vice versa.
When Jim arrived in Terra Nova, he hadn't been sure what to expect. More than three dozen citizens learning combat in an empty field sure wasn't it, nor had he expected to be leading this class. When he decided to teach his family to fight, or at least defend themselves and each other, he hadn't realized how it could snowball into...this.
First it was just Elisabeth, Josh, Maddy, and Zoe. Then Zoe wanted Leah and Sam to know how to defend themselves, too (though having lived in a Sixer camp for as long as they can remember gave them a head start). That meant their guardian, a middle aged woman named Shelly, was participating. Then Josh thought of Skye. And while he wasn't very fond of the girl at the moment, he wouldn't turn her away when she was with Terra Nova and his son's friend. That in turn led to her housemates, Hunter, Tasha, Max, and then their families. And other friends, and their families.
And it just snowballed.
Jim looked around him, a million details attaching themselves to his brain. Some soldiers had offered to help after seeing how many people were there, and he was thankful, because there was no way he could help all of these people by himself. None of these citizens were soldier material, they were scientists and doctors, farmers and architects, engineers and artists. But they were all genuinely trying, and with a little help, most of them had the basics down.
He was careful to make sure people stayed hydrated, particularly the younger participants, some of which, like Leah, were having fun with this, others, like Zoe and Sam, looked miserable. He watched them for a minute before deciding that it was time for a little bit of a break.
"Hey, kiddos. How we doing over here?" he asked.
"They're slow." Leah mumbled.
"We're trying." her younger brother argued. His sister shrugged.
"Daddy, I'm not very good at this." Zoe said, a woeful look on her usually cheerful face.
"You kids thirsty yet?" Jim asked. They gave exuberant nods.
"How about after a break?" Jim asked. There were sighs of reliefs, from both youngster and parent alike. "Sound good?"
"Yeah." they chorused.
Jim nodded, trying to look upbeat and positive. "Alright. Go get some water and a take a rest."
They scrambled, hurrying toward a cooler filled with canteens of water. One of the parents had thought to bring it, and it was definitely proving useful.
"Mr. Shannon." Shelly greeted. "Some of the other parents and I were wondering; any update?"
A constant question, one flying around Terra Nova as people prepared for war (and damn, just thinking the 'W' word scared the hell out of him now).
He shook his head. "Sorry, Shelly. Nothing new. But be prepared for any sign of trouble." he said apologetically.
She nodded, looking older than she actually was with her forehead wrinkling in apprehension.
"Thank you. If there's anything I can do to help around the colony, don't hesitate to ask." she said.
Jim nodded and assured her he would remember. Shelly was a model citizen and already volunteering at the school (as a chaperone should anyone's parents be suddenly called away to fight, or if the fight came to Terra Nova, she was protect the children), in the commissary (the soldiers needed good food now more than ever, they needed to be strong), and who-the-hell-knows-where-else. He would try not to let much else overwhelm the helpful woman.
With one last glance to make sure he knew where his youngest daughter was, he started checking for his other children. Maddy was easy to spot just a few yards away, taking tips from Reynolds on defensive stances (the boy was careful where he touched his daughter, though any contact he made with her irked him). Josh was sparring with Skye. It was like the boy never listened, because Jim had told him time and time again to watch his balance. Skye, small little thing that she was, was going to keep winning their matches simply by knocking him off his feet if he wasn't careful.
And finally his eyes settled on his wife, sparring with Riley. Elisabeth wasn't too bad at fighting, though it was clear she preferred saving someone's life than fighting to preserve her own. She looked a little awkward, with a her fists raised and knees slightly bent like they were, but she was doing well enough.
"Everything going well, Shannon?"
Jim turned and greeted the Commander. "Well as can be expected, sir." He smiled briefly at Wash, who returned it with a thin-lipped smile of her own.
"Quite a turn out." the lieutenant observed.
Jim sighed. "It was just suppose to be my family. It snowballed, starting with those two." he jabbed a finger once in Josh's direction (he was holding Skye in a choke hold, but clearly not very tightly because she was allowed to wriggle her way free) and than once in Zoe's direction.
There was a tense moment as Taylor stared at Skye, an angry look on his. It was gone almost as soon as it had come.
"I guess since they all came, I just can't turn them away." Jim said, moving them along, away from the object of Taylor's anger.
"Got any star students?" Taylor asked casually.
Jim scanned the surrounding people, all hard at work or taking a breather.
"Well, there's the Fallon girl, Aria, I think. She shows promise. And Maxwell Martinez is definitely a valuable asset, and so Dr. Rose." he said, pointing them out as he listed them. He gave Taylor a look. "And Leah Markos? I suggest you be prepared for when that girl turns seventeen, Commander."
Taylor smiled slightly, having gotten over his slight vendetta against the seven year old girl for playing them all to save her little brother.
"I don't doubt it." he said with a chuckle.
It was nice to see the Commander a little less tense and, to be frank, frightening. In the last couple of days the man had become totally militaristic, what, with preparing the colony for what was to come. Not that Jim blamed him, they were all on edge.
Which explained the self defense class.
"How's your family doing with this?" Wash asked politely.
This...or the oncoming war? Jim was sure from the look on her face she meant this.
"Zoe hates it, plain and simple, but I think she's getting a hang of the basics. Maddy is decent with self defense,"-he had reminded her, and everyone else, that if she got the chance, poke the attacker's eyes out or kick them in the nuts if it was a man.- "and Josh wouldn't be so bad if he remembered to keep watch his balance." Jim grimaced as out of the corner of his eye he saw Skye slam him down. "And Elisabeth is doing pretty well with it."
He looked back at Elisabeth and watched as Riley demonstrated jabbing pressure points. He nearly missed it as Taylor passed him with Wash in tow toward the heavily panting women. He caught up quickly enough, though.
"Ladies," Taylor said. They stopped, Riley standing at attention and Elisabeth smoothing out her shirt and wiping her forehead, the sweat proof of her determination to learn.
"Afternoon, Commander Taylor." Riley said.
"Afternoon, Commander." Elisabeth echoed.
"By all means, don't stop on my account. I'm just curious about how much you've learned." he said, waving a hand at them to tell them to continue.
The two women looked at one another before Riley shrugged.
"Yes, sir." she said, slipping into neat position, poised and ready to strike. Elisabeth copied her, smoothing out her nervous look into a professional, almost apathetic expression. She took and deep breath, exhaled-
And Riley sprung at her, throwing a fist none-too-gently at Elisabeth's side. Jim felt his heart seize before a measure of pride flowed through him as Elisabeth blocked and threw her own punch, landing it on Riley's shoulder. The lieutenant quickly balanced herself and parried another of Elisabeth's attacks. Elisabeth wobbled and Riley took the opportunity, kicking at the doctor's leg to make it give out.
As Elisabeth fell, Jim thought it was over. But instead his wife (his brilliant, creative, determined wife), rolled into Riley, and brought an elbow behind her leg and brought her down.
Jim wasn't sure he ever felt so proud.
Unfortunately, this brought Riley's weight, though Riley was a rather small woman, she had considerably more muscles then his doctor wife, down on Elisabeth. They wrestled, but in the end it was Riley who won. She grinned down at Elisabeth, who was scowling.
"No hard feelings, Dr. Shannon?" she asked, letting Elisabeth up.
Elisabeth sighed. "Of course not, Lieutenant."
They both had a layer of sweat and dirt on them, but neither of them complained. Elisabeth's hair was wild, no longer in it's neat waves or up in an impeccable bun. It was curly and wispy (and entirely too attractive to be appropriate for the moment). Jim forced himself to focus. Riley's hair was still mostly up, though she had strands sticking up here and there.
"Don't look so sour, Doc. Riley's had years to practice." Taylor said.
Elisabeth made an 'hmm' sound.
"I'm sensing there's something you want to add?" Wash prompted.
Elisabeth sighed again. "I just think that, all things considered, I should be learning to handle a knife, or how to aim a scalpel."
"Definitely not a bad idea." Taylor mused. "Perhaps that should go for all doctors."
Elisabeth put one hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes at Jim.
"I tol-" she started.
"Told me so? Yes, you did." Jim admitted. "But I still think you should know how to throw a punch."
"I wasn't aware I could throw a punch, Jim."
Elisabeth looks tired, and usually when she's tired she's not in a cheery mood. Jim immediately backtracks, knowing he just stepped on her pride (and no one likes that, now do they?).
"I just wanted you to pick up a few tricks, is all." he said carefully. "You know..."
Riley barely contains her smile, and as soon as Wash realizes he is backpedaling, she smirks (Jim guesses that with all the 'trolling', as his son calls it, that he apparently does, he deserves it.)
"I think what he means, ma'am, is that he is incredibly worried and very protective." she said, giving his wife, apparently her new buddy, a look as if to say, 'typical men, right?'.
"Alright, I get it. But I've shown I can punch, and if it's a man, that I can raise my knee," Taylor and Jim automatically cringe at the tone of her voice when she says it. "But I still think that I should know how to utilize my resources."
Taylor nodded, and Wash gave Elisabeth an approving look.
"It is, of course, up to the teacher, but I can't find any fault in that logic." Taylor said.
"We'll figure out a time to go over that." agreed Jim, albeit tiredly. "But it's hot and people are tiring out. We'll figure it out, later."
Taylor clapped his shoulder. "Speaking of later, Wash and I left a pile of paperwork in the office to get back to. I'll see you soon, Shannon. You too, Doc."
Wash stated her farewell, and surveying the scene once more, followed behind Taylor, looking rueful to have to do paperwork when she'd obviously rather be out here.
"I'm going to start ending, uh, class," Jim said awkwardly. Elisabeth smiled. "Thanks for helping out today, Riley."
Riley smiled and nodded, gave Elisabeth a little encouragement, and then started rounding up her fellow soldiers.
Jim wrapped Elizabeth in his arms, not caring about dirt or sweat (he probably doesn't look or smell very nice), glad when she returned the sentiment.
"Tired?" Elisabeth asked.
"When we get home, let's just all go to sleep." Jim answered.
Elisabeth chuckled. "No can do, I'm taking over the bathtub."
Jim hums at the thought, and because she's Elisabeth and she knows him so well, she laughs and slaps his shoulder, pulling away.
"Not today." she said teasingly.
"Fine. Tonight will do." he said. Elisabeth continued to smile, and roll her eyes. "I'll be home soon, I've just end class."
"Alright, I'll take the kids back home." Elisabeth said.
Elisabeth gathered up the kids, who look like they've been given a rare treat. Some people take this as a sign that it's time to go, others pay little to no attention and he tells them that they should go home and relax (because just because they're tired, doesn't mean they'll be any less busy in the near future).
Something tugs at his heartstrings. It's heavy and frightening and altogether depressing.
Because Jim has a feeling he just trained Terra Nova's last line of defense.
Am I the only one who's noticed the fact that Terra Nova's military force is going to be like the size of an ant compared to this 'Phoenix Group'? And that the majority of its citizens probably have little to no clue how to fight or even defend themselves? Seriously, these people need to learn how throw a good punch, use a gun, and aim a knife. I can't imagine Jim would continue on knowing his family is practically defenseless. And maybe he wont in the next episode. But for now...I present to you The Last Defense.
I'm planning on making this a two-shot, but it may end up as three.
M'kay, question: who do you think is going to die? I think it's either Wash or Elisabeth, though I'm really, really hoping it's neither of them. Or anyone I like.
And remember, everyone loves reviews, including me!