CHANGES OF FATE

Author's Note: This is an AU fic based on Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future. I decided to change things up and write a fic about what might happen if Hawk's two kids didn't die. And if their fate is changed...will that change the fate of anyone else? I don't own any of the characters, this just for fun and entertainment. In some instances (particularly in the later chapters) I used direct quotes from the television show. It was necessary to write the story correctly. Please don't sue, I have nothing, seriously.

PROLOGUE

"Do you ever wonder why you keep going?"

Major Matthew "Hawk" Masterson looked at his friend and blinked. Had Tank really just asked him that? Really? Chalk this one up to wonders never ceasing.

"No. I keep going because I don't want my wife and children to have died in vain. Nor Stuart Power." Hawk replied, as they were joined by Captain Jonathan Power. "I keep going because I want Dread to be punished for what he's done to this country...and the world. And I keep going to try and preserve humanity. What little is left."

"I have a question." Jon said. "Do you think things would be different if Dad, Joanna, Mitch and Katie were still alive?"

"Yes." Hawk said instantly, without hesitation. "I don't know if Dread would be gone yet, but with their help...we'd be a lot closer to having that happen."

"I really miss them." Jon said softly.

Hawk sighed. "Me too, kid. Me too."

"Private Katherine Joanna Masterson."

Katie took a breath and glanced to the young man just behind her. They both smiled. Then she walked across the stage to the uniformed man standing in the middle, as confidently as her nerves would allow. She beamed as he pinned the wings to her uniform, and then shook his hand before crossing the stage. Once she was at the other side, she stopped, turned and watched.

"Private Mitchell Matthew Masterson."

Katie's older brother took his turn crossing the stage and receiving his wings as well, then he joined her.

"We did it." Mitch said softly.

Katie nodded. "Mom and Dad would be so proud of us...Do you think Mom's watching us?"

"Yeah...Do you think Dad's still alive?"

Katie sighed. "I hope so...Jon too."

"I want to find them." Mitch said, keeping his voice low so none of their fellow graduates would hear them.

"Mitch, we shouldn't go back there...you've heard the reports of the devastation in the US..."

The duo started walking away from everyone, heading to the door. There was no need for them to stick around, and they had always been more likely to stick together, than with anyone else. Their class knew that, and no one was surprised to see them leaving. Once they were outside, Mitch replied, speaking freely.

"I just feel like if I stay here, it's cowardly." he said. "Especially now that there's really nothing stopping me from hopping in a jet and going."

Katie tried not to roll her eyes. "Nothing except me. Mitch, seriously. Mom died so that we'd have a chance at surviving...a chance at freedom. From what I've heard, everyone was told we'd been killed too. That means that for the last 15 years, Dad has thought we were dead, just like Mom, just like Stuart."

"I know, I know..." Mitch sighed. "But if Dad and Jon are still alive...wouldn't you want to go help them fight in the resistance instead of staying here and trying to pretend we're normal?"

"We're not normal." Katie said softly. "No one else here came from that. We're not like them."

"That's my point." Mitch said. "We know what's it's like down there. We lived it. Up here...god, if Dad and Jon could see what it's like here...it's like the wars never happened...it's like Dread doesn't exist."

"Except we know he does."

"Hey Mitch! Katie! Wait up!"

The siblings paused and looked behind them. They couldn't help but smile at the red-haired young man coming after them. He was the only member of their class they really considered to be their friend.

"Hey Lucas." Katie said when he'd caught up and started walking with them.

"So...what are you two planning on doing now? I mean..."

"We were just talking about that." Mitch replied. Katie shot him a look and he didn't divulge any further information.

"Oh yeah?" Lucas grinned. "Well, I know what I'd like to do, but my parents will never let me."

"What's that?"

"Go down to the States and join the resistance." Lucas said easily.

Mitch and Katie exchanged a look behind their friend's back. This revelation from Lucas came as a surprise to them. He had never mentioned wanting to do that before.

"You've never said..." Mitch began.

"Yeah I know. Dad forbade me from talking about it, so I never brought it up, even at school."

"Why don't they want you to go?" Katie asked.

Lucas sighed. "Jamie."

"Huh?" Mitch and Katie were confused.

"My older brother. I'm not supposed to talk about him either. But he went down and fought for the resistance and was killed. So they don't want me going."

"That makes sense, Lucas." Katie said. "You really should listen to them. Get a job up here. Stay safe."

"Is that what you're going to do?" Lucas asked.

"I...I don't know." Katie admitted. She hated to admit it, but deep down, she wondered if staying was the right thing to do.

"The thing is," Mitch said, trying to rescue his sister. "we're from there. You know that. We lived during the wars, we escaped only because our mother sacrificed herself for us. Our dad and one of our best friends are still there, from what we know, still fighting Dread. We belong there. We should be there helping them."

"But don't they all think you're dead?" Lucas asked. "How would it go over if you showed up, fifteen years later, alive?"

"They'd be thrilled." Katie said. "Especially if we could help them fight."

"So...you're thinking about it."

"I am." Mitch replied with a laugh. "My sensible sister is trying to talk me out of it, while I'm trying to talk her into coming with me."

Lucas stopped. "I should get back. My folks are probably wondering where I disappeared to." He looked at Katie. "If you decide to go...don't forget about me, okay?"

Katie smiled at him and nodded. "Never."

Mitch, knowing it would be appreciated, kept walking to give them a bit of space. As much as Katie and Lucas had tried to hide it from him, he knew that they cared deeply for each other.

They watched him walk for a moment, then turned their attention back to each other. Lucas pulled Katie into his arms and kissed her, a gesture she returned willingly. When they broke the kiss a moment later, Lucas spoke quietly.

"If you do go...please come back?"

Katie sighed. "I can't promise that, Lucas, you know that. All I can say is I'll try."

"You sound like you've made up your mind."

Another sigh escaped Katie's lips. "If we can help...it's where we belong. I didn't want to admit it, but Mitch is right."

Lucas kissed her again. "Okay. So...be safe, alright?"

"I will. And I will come back when...if...I can."

Lucas let her go, turned and headed back to the reception hall. Katie watched him go, then jogged to catch up to her brother.

"Thanks." She said when she got to him.

Mitch smiled. "I'm not stupid, Kate."

Katie nodded. "I know. So...when are you planning on leaving?"

Mitch raised an eyebrow. "You think I should, now? What about Mom dying to give us freedom?"

Katie sighed again. She was doing that a lot, and she didn't like it, but she couldn't help it. "I think...the resistance could probably use a couple more people who can fly."

If Mitch's jaw could have hit the ground it would have. "You..."

"I want to find Dad and Jon, too, Mitch." Katie said quietly.

"Mom would be mortified." Mitch said.

Katie thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. "No. I don't think she would be. I think she'd understand that we have to do what we feel is right...for us, and for the survival of humanity. That's what this is about. If we can help stop Lord Dread and help save even a bit of humanity...it's worth it."

"Yeah...I think you're right." Mitch agreed with a smile. "So...how soon can you be ready?"

"Once we get home? An hour, tops." Katie replied. "Why...?"

"I have already acquired a jet." Mitch explained. "In all honesty, I was going to go whether you approved or not."

"Well, I don't know about approving, but I'm going with you, so I hope it has room for two."

Mitch laughed. "It does. Wanna take turns flying?"

"Hell yeah."