OKAY! So, this kind of just jumps right in, I know. If you have questions, hang on until the end, cos they're most likely answered... I know this chapter is long (3500 words...) but not all of them will be so long, so hang in there? I'd love it if you reviewed, but if you don't, that's cool too...

'Jimmy!' a child's voice rang out. It was eight-year-old Colm. The cry would have been inaudible to a normal human's ears, but the twelve spikes running down Jimmy's back enhanced his senses far beyond the normal range.

'Colm, where are you?' Jimmy called. 'Are Harlem and Abby with you?'

'Harlem got hit in the head and didn't wake up yet,' Colm responded. 'Abby can't hear you.'

'Summer, Mariah, and Amanda are with me,' Jimmy yelled. 'We want to meet up with you guys. Start coming towards my voice and I'll come towards yours.'

'I can't tell where you're talking from!' Colm called after a short pause.

'That's okay!' Jimmy called. 'Just keep calling to me and I'll come for you.'

'Okay!' Colm shouted.

Jimmy prompted the girls to their feet and started making his way towards Colm's voice. 'Colm! Keep talking!'

'Abby says that once she can hear you, we'll start walking towards you,' Colm called.

'That's good,' Jimmy yelled, clambering over another fallen trunk before turning to help the girls. They were all young; Summer was eleven, Mariah was nine, and Amanda was ten. They were small, so the trek through the forest was difficult for them, despite their strength and stamina gained from the spikes in each of their backs.

'She can't hear you yet!' Colm called. 'She says to hurry, she doesn't want the skitters to find us while Harlem's still un-science.'

'What's wrong with Harlem?' Jimmy asked.

'He got hit on the head,' Colm replied. 'Abby says he's un-con-science.'

'Oh,' Jimmy smiled to himself, realizing what Colm meant. 'Ask Abby how he looks.'

There was a long pause before Colm replied. 'She says he has a goose egg that's turning purple, but he isn't bleeding.'

'Great,' Jimmy called back. 'That's really good.'

'Abby says she thinks he's waking up!' Colm shouted, excitement in his voice.

'Fantastic!' Jimmy shouted, helping the small girls over another obstacle. He was about to turn around from lifting Summer over a rock when the cold muzzle of a rifle pressed into his back. Jimmy slowly raised his hands.

'Turn around,' a familiar voice growled.

'Pope?' Jimmy asked, incredulous, as he turned.

Pope's face went white when he recognized Jimmy. 'No way.'

'What?' Jimmy asked.

'You're dead,' Pope gaped. 'I went to your funeral.'

'W-what?' Jimmy stammered, dumbfounded.

'You died,' Pope growled. 'A skitter threw you into a tree and you were impaled on a branch. Dr. Glass couldn't save you and you died.'

Jimmy felt the blood drain from his face. 'That's impossible.'

'Kid, we buried you,' Pope was shaking. 'You were dead.'

'N-no,' Jimmy gasped. His hand rested on the lower part of his abdomen. 'That can't be right.'

'It's right,' Pope cocked his gun.

'Jimmy,' Amanda whimpered. The three girls had clustered behind their "brother" and were peering around his sides at Pope.

'What do you want with me, Pope?' Jimmy asked, reaching back to soothe the girls. He had lost his weapons fighting the skitters, as had the girls. They were defenseless against the ex-con; he had a gun against their strength and speed. At least one of them would die before they could reach Pope, and Jimmy wasn't willing to risk that.

'I want you all to come with me,' Pope growled. 'Colonel Weaver will be interested to see you.'

'Sure,' Jimmy nodded. 'No problem. You don't need the gun for that.'

'Insurance,' Pope grumbled. 'I saw your spikes. Don't want you jumping me. Try to attack me, and one of you gets it.'

'Try again,' a voice came from behind Pope. 'Turn around real slow and take a look at what you're up against.'

Pope turned. When he saw Samson behind him, he gaped and dropped his gun on the ground. 'What the hell.'

Samson grinned and cracked his knuckles, raising his fist to punch Pope.

'No!' Jimmy protested. 'Stop. I want him to take me back with him.'

'Back where?' Abby asked, appearing beside Samson. Colm stood next to her. Dallon, supporting Harlem, appeared on Samson's other side.

'Are you still with the 2nd Mass?' Jimmy demanded.

'Yeah,' Pope grumbled, not daring to lie with Samson staring him down.

'I want him to take me to them,' Jimmy asserted, straightening where he stood.

'Seriously?' Samson growled. 'Humans? You want to go to humans!?'

'Yeah,' Jimmy frowned.

'You think they'll take you back with those spikes running down your back?' Samson scoffed. 'They'll turn you out on your ear. Better just stick with your pack.'

'The 2nd Mass is different,' Jimmy protested. 'They rescue kids and deharness them. Or at least they used to. Pope, is Ben still there?'

'Yeah,' Pope grumbled.

'That's how they're different,' Jimmy asserted. 'Ben was one of the first kids they deharnessed. He still has his spikes. He was my best friend there.'

'They have a spike-back there?' Samson scoffed. 'Humans hate you guys. They don't trust you.'

'Samson, quit it,' Abby snapped. 'I think it sounds good. If they'll take us, why can't we go with them? They probably have a doctor who can help Harlem. Just for a little.'

'Go ahead,' Samson sneered. 'I'm not coming with you, though. Go on yourself. Good luck keeping this one under control.'

'I have my gun,' Abby shrugged. 'I think I'm the only one who still does. I can keep him under control.'

'Fine,' Samson growled. 'Do what you want. I'll see ya.' Without further ado, he vanished into the trees.

Abby raised her gun and pointed it towards Pope. 'Jimmy, grab his gun. You, start walking.'

With a gulp, Pope stumbled towards the main road through the forest. Abby followed directly behind, pressing her gun into his back. Jimmy jogged to catch up as the younger children fell in behind Abby, Dallon and Harlem bringing up the rear.

The group trekked through the forest until they reached the main road. Abby was soaked with sweat, her damaged spikes not lending her the stamina of the other spiked kids. When they reached the shoulder, Jimmy turned to face Abby. 'You guys stay here. They're only a few feet that way, but I'll go in first. I know them; they'll trust me more than a whole bunch of us together.'

'Okay,' Abby nodded, panting. 'Do you want him?'

'Sure,' said Jimmy. He beckoned for Pope to follow him and the two stepped onto the road. They made their way towards the camp, the others walking beside them in the woods, almost completely silent.

'Who's there!?' a voice cried from the camp perimeter.

'Answer,' Jimmy whispered, poking Pope with the gun he'd picked up earlier.

'It's me,' Pope shouted reluctantly. 'And… friend.'

'Friend?' the sentry called, stepping into the light of the fires flickering inside the camp.

'Yeah,' Pope called. 'Get Mason and Weaver.'

Jimmy and Pope waited outside of the camp while the sentry sent someone for Mason and Weaver. A smaller figure appeared next to the big sentry, staring out towards Jimmy and Pope. Jimmy squinted at the figures; he didn't recognize the big one immediately, but the smaller form was familiar. 'Ben?'

'Jimmy?' Ben called back, shock evident in his voice. 'Is that you?'

'Yeah, it's me,' Jimmy replied. Ben started to move out towards Jimmy and Pope, but a new figure that arrived to be silhouetted against the firelight grabbed his arm.

'Dad, it's Jimmy,' Jimmy heard Ben protest.

'That's impossible,' a voice that Jimmy recognized as Weaver's put in.

'Clearly not,' Ben grumbled, pulling away from his father.

'What are they waiting for?' Pope complained. 'I can't hear them, but I bet you can.'

'They think it's impossible that I'm here,' Jimmy replied.

'It's Jimmy,' Pope shouted. 'Let us closer and you'll see for yourself.'

'You sure about that, Pope?' Weaver called.

'Yeah,' Pope replied. He glanced at Jimmy. 'He has spikes.'

They saw the silhouettes look at each other. 'Fine,' Weaver called. 'You can come closer.'

As Jimmy and Pope moved closer, the sentry, Weaver, and Tom Mason raised their guns towards them. Jimmy raised Pope's gun in one hand, returned it to Pope, and raised his hands into clear view of the men in the camp. A few other gun-bearers approached, some of them recognizable as Hal Mason, Maggie, and Dr. Glass.

'Jimmy!' Ben grinned. Ignoring his father, he hurried forward to embrace the other boy. 'What happened? I thought you were dead. We kind of buried you.'

A flashlight shone out form the camp, directly into Jimmy's eyes, as Ben stepped back. Jimmy blinked and squinted.

'He's right,' Weaver said, disbelieving. Jimmy and Ben stood about fifteen feet away from the camp, half of a dozen flashlights trained on them. 'It is Jimmy.'

'Yeah, definitely me,' Jimmy said drily.

Dr. Glass pushed her way to the front and approached Ben and Jimmy. 'Oh my god,' she gasped. 'It really is you.'

'Yep,' Jimmy grunted as Dr. Glass pulled him into a tight hug.

'I am so sorry,' Dr. Glass sighed.

'It's okay, ma'am,' Jimmy shook his head.

'Anne,' Tom called from the camp. Dr. Glass turned and walked back.

'It's definitely Jimmy,' he heard her whisper to Tom.

Ben walked around Jimmy. 'Pope said you have spikes,' he said, stopping behind Jimmy.

Jimmy brushed his hair—too long and desperately in need of a cut—away from the back of his neck. 'Yeah,' he said. 'I do.'

A soft sound came from the edge of the forest. Jimmy and Ben turned to look at it, Ben starting to raise his gun. 'No,' Jimmy said, putting his hand on the muzzle of the gun.

'Ben, what is it?' Tom called, noticing the interaction.

'There's something in the woods,' Ben called.

'It's fine,' Jimmy reassured. 'They're with me.'

'Who's with you?' Weaver asked. He and Tom started to move closer.

Summer burst out of the woods, ran to Jimmy, and flung her arms around his waist. 'This is Summer,' he explained, bending down to pick her up. 'There are eight of us.'

'She has spikes,' Ben observed; the fabric of Summer's shirt had been pulled taught across part of her back when Jimmy picked her up and her spikes poked through the fabric.

'Yeah, we all do,' Jimmy said, slightly defensive.

'Why didn't they come with you?' Weaver asked. 'Why hide in the woods?'

'We didn't want to overwhelm you,' Jimmy shrugged. 'Eight spike-backs, all showing up at once? You wouldn't have reacted the same way.'

'Yeah, you're right,' Weaver nodded. 'But I don't like surprises, as you may remember.'

'I was going to explain and then have them come out,' Jimmy explained.

'Well, why don't you have them come out now,' Dr. Glass suggested. She approached again to look at Summer. 'How long have you guys been in the woods? This one looks hungry, too. I'm sure you all are.'

Jimmy nodded. 'I'm not sure how long we've been around here. A few weeks at least. Samson had us come here when we heard that the Espheni tower in Boston was destroyed. He said it was a weak point.'

'Wait, you know Samson?' Ben asked, glancing at his father and Weaver. 'You're working with the skitter rebellion?'

Jimmy nodded. 'All of us work with the rebel skitters. Samson tells us what to do.'

Ben rolled his eyes. 'Yeah. He thinks he's so cool.' Jimmy smirked in response. 'Wait,' Ben said, glancing at the point in the foliage that Summer had emerged from. 'He's not in there too, is he?'

Jimmy laughed. 'No. He left when we decided that we were going to come here.'

'Oh, good,' Ben sighed. 'He would not be good to have around here.'

'Well, I don't know how far he went,' Jimmy started.

'Point taken,' Ben grinned. 'I'll shut up.'

'Who is this guy?' Tom asked, clearly suspicious.

'Samson?' Ben said. 'He was harnessed for so long he started to turn skitter. But the rebel skitters found him and cut off his harness before he could completely change. Now, he works with them, coordinating with those of us with spikes who don't work quite as closely with the skitters themselves.'

'Look, Jimmy, call your friends out and we'll talk,' Weaver sighed. 'I don't like the thought of a bunch of kids wandering around skitter territory, even if they are spiked.'

'Guys, come on out,' Jimmy called, turning to face the forest. Mariah and Amanda were the first out. They scurried over to Jimmy as he put Summer down. Dallon, still supporting Harlem, came next. Abby followed last, still out of breath from the hike, and holding Colm's hand.

The 2nd Mass surveyed the children. Summer was small and bony, with knobby elbows and knees and long fingers. She had short blonde hair, and wore a long, once-pink long-sleeved shirt and jeans with sneakers. Mariah and Amanda looked similar, both with long stringy brown hair and big brown eyes, but Mariah was several inches shorter than Amanda, and both were very thin. Mariah wore a too-big green sweatshirt with ragged jeans and snowboots, while Amanda wore a long sleeved grey shirt under a holey brown t-shirt, jeans with holes over the knees, and brown sneakers. Dallon wore oversized sweatpants, tied tight to his legs with mismatched strips of cloth, and tucked into muddy workboots, along with a long-sleeved t-shirt and doubled up hoodies. Harlem was dressed similarly to Dallon, but with jeans instead of sweatpants. Colm wore jeans, layered t-shirts, a thick hoodie, and sneakers. Abby, unlike her companions, wore leggings, short denim cut-offs, and a tank top with beat-up fake Ugg boots. She had a hoodie and jacket tied around her waist, and her skin was still beaded with sweat.

As Abby, and Colm approached, Jimmy heard Ben gasp. Before anyone could react, Abby screamed out in pain, collapsing to the ground and clapping a hand over the spikes on the back of her neck. 'Abby!' Colm cried. Jimmy glanced at Ben, noting that his spikes had lit up a vibrant blue and he was stiff.

'Abby,' Colm repeated, reaching out to touch the girl curled up on the ground.

'What's going on?' Dr. Glass demanded, stepping towards Abby. Jimmy glanced at Ben again, realizing that no-one had noticed his glowing spikes.

'Back off,' Dallon growled, stepping in front of Dr. Glass as she approached Abby.

'It's her spikes,' Jimmy explained. 'They were damaged when her harness was removed, so when she connects with someone, it causes her a lot of pain.'

'Who did she connect with?' Tom demanded.

Jimmy looked at Ben again. 'Ben. And he's frozen up because he can feel her pain. They'll break off eventually and both of them will be fine.'

'Are you sure?' Dr. Glass peered at Abby around Dallon, concerned.

'Yeah, it's happened before,' Jimmy nodded.

'Often?' Dr. Glass asked.

'I don't know,' Jimmy shrugged. 'Kind of. Any time she connects with someone. With each of us, the first time we met, with Samson, whenever he shows up, and any time she connects with a skitter. So yeah, I guess pretty often.'

With a gasp, Ben sagged next to Jimmy. Jimmy reached over to support him, pulling one of Ben's arms over his shoulders. 'Ben?' Tom called out, concerned.

'I'm fine,' Ben replied. 'We're not connected anymore.'

'You're not connected to her,' Jimmy corrected. 'She takes longer to disconnect because of the damage to her spikes, so she's still in pain.'

'We should take this back into the camp,' Maggie suggested from the camp perimeter. 'You never know when skitters could show up.'

'She's right,' Tom looked at Weaver.

Weaver sighed. 'Fine. Come on in. Anne, you help the girl if she needs it.'

Dr. Glass nodded and stepped towards Abby. Dallon allowed her past this time, and she helped Abby to her feet. Jimmy continued to support Ben into the camp, the three girls walking ahead of them. 'You okay?' Jimmy asked, looking over at Ben.

'Yeah,' Ben nodded. 'Just… weird. I don't know.'

'I know,' Jimmy nodded. 'I remember the first time I met her. You'll be fine.'

'Will she?' Ben asked.

'Yeah,' Jimmy nodded. They reached the center of the camp inside a the circle of vehicles and tents and Jimmy left Ben sitting next to the fire burning in the center, next to Matt and a small, unfamiliar girl. Jimmy and the rest of his pack followed Dr. Glass and Abby to the med-bus.

'You can put him down there,' Dr. Glass pointed towards an empty stretcher bed in the front of the bus. Dallon laid Harlem on the bed while Dr. Glass rested Abby on a sofa in the back of the repurposed RV.

'I'm fine," Abby sighed, brushing off Dr. Glass's attentions. 'Harlem needs your help; I don't.'

'If you're sure,' Dr. Glass sighed, moving away from Abby and towards the front of the bus. 'You guys cannot all be in here; there is not enough room. Go outside. I'll let you know when I'm done with him, and she can come out when she feels better. Shoo.'

'Come on, guys,' Jimmy prompted, stepping outside so the others could get past. 'Dr. Glass needs to work.'

The other kids filed past, Dr. Glass shooing them from behind. 'Jimmy, why don't you take them to the fire circle? Supper should be ready soon, and you can talk to Colonel Weaver and Tom.'

Jimmy nodded and followed his pack to the circle. He found Tom and Weaver with Ben, Tom standing next to the boy with his hand on his shoulder and Weaver to the other side. 'Jimmy, we need to talk,' Weaver said, catching sight of Jimmy and the pack. 'Bring your friends.'

The pack, minus Abby and Harlem, followed Weaver, Tom, and Ben to one of the larger tents circled around the fire and filed in.

'First things first,' Weaver glared at the kids. He and Tom stood next to each other behind a table covered with maps. Jimmy stood opposite them, Dallon next to him and the younger children behind them. Ben stood near the entrance of the tent, still looking shaken from his connection with Abby. 'Who are you guys?'

'Well, I'm Jimmy Boland, although you knew that,' Jimmy sighed. 'This is Dallon, and that's Summer, Amanda, Colm, and Mariah. Abby is the older girl and Harlem is the boy in the med-bus with the head wound.'

'What are you doing here?' Weaver asked, leaning on the desk.

'We've been tracking a pack of skitters through the area,' Dallon replied to this question. 'Samson led us into their camp while they were supposed to be asleep, but they weren't. We tried to fight our way out—I guess that's when Harlem got his head injury. We had to split up. I was with Samson. We were in the woods, and we came across Abby, Colm, and Harlem. We heard Jimmy and the girls with that guy, so Samson led us to them. Then he brought us here.'

'Okay,' Weaver nodded. 'Fair enough. Now the big question is what happened back there on the road, with Ben and—what was her name, Abby?'

'Yeah, Abby,' Jimmy nodded. 'When her harness was removed, some of her spikes ripped out. She almost died, and now only has seven spikes. She doesn't have the same abilities as us; she's weaker, slower, doesn't have heightened senses, but has higher than normal stamina. Also, some of the spikes she still has are broken off. Because of that, whenever she connects to someone through the spikes, it causes her pain.'

'What happened to Ben though?' Tom asked, glancing at his son standing by the door.

'When we connect with someone else with spikes, it's sometimes more than just an exchange of thoughts,' Ben replied, stepping forward. 'Sometimes it's a fuller connection than that. It can be thoughts, emotions, feelings… When Abby and I connected, it was full-strength. I could feel the pain she was feeling. I don't know how to describe it. It wasn't like I was in pain, or like my spikes were in pain, but I knew exactly how she was hurting.'

Jimmy nodded. 'It's terrible. The first time I met Abby, we connected like that. If you ask her what it feels like, she'll say it's like her back is on fire or someone has a knife buried in her spine and was dragging it down her back. When we connected, I knew that she was feeling this, and I knew how it was making her feel, but it didn't feel like my back was burning or whatever.'

Weaver scowled. 'Fine, last question: how the hell are you here?'

YAYYY! CHAPTER ONE! BTW, this was uploaded at the behest of BrokenSky49... So yeah.

Also, I'm only going to disclaim once: I DO NOT OWN FALLING SKIES OR ANY OF THE FALLING SKIES CHARACTERS! However, I DO own THIS STORY, as well as Abby, Harlem, Dallon, Colm, Mariah, Amanda, and Summer. Don't steal them (without permission) or I will cry.