Chapter 4

Later that day, Ben and Jimmy returned from their mission with photographs from across the river. It looked like the aliens had built some antenna-like structure in the woods which according to Ben served as some kind of 'docking' area for the alien space crafts. Jamil figured it must be a communications antenna keeping their drones in the air, so Weaver assigned Hal, Maggie, Ben and Dai to destroy it. Meanwhile, Anthony, Pope and the Beserkers would serve as a distraction whilst the rest of the Second Mass made their way across the bridge.

Grace requested to stay behind and help the convoy cross the river. She wanted to respect Tom's wishes and stay with him, not to 'keep an eye on him' like he asked, but to make sure he was okay. Grace had been on that ship. She had met the 'overlord' plotting against them. She at least had an inkling of what Tom had been through. Now he was tied up, with friends and family members frightened of him. She wanted to be there for him, now that she could be.

Preparations for the move swiftly began. Grace and Jimmy were packing up their tents and loading everything into the trucks. Jimmy was attempting to fold up some tarp, but was struggling to get it flat.

Grace chuckled. "Here." She took the tarp from him and folded it up before dropping it in the pile.

"Thanks."

She smiled at him. "Hey. Thanks for watching out for Ben while he did recon. It's good he has someone looking out for him. I mean, someone besides his annoying older sister," she joked.

"It's fine," replied Jimmy. "To be honest, I was a bit scared of him at first, when he came back with those spikes. But it's been nice to have another friend, especially now Nemo's gone."

She watched him sympathetically. She knew he was missing his trusty dog since he ran off in Fitchburg. At least Ben had somewhat filled that void.

"He's really been beating himself up about your dad," Jimmy continued. "Is it true about the alien bug?"

Grace released a deep sigh, wiping away the thin veil of sweat forming on her forehead. Then she nodded.

Jimmy's reaction was hard to read. After a few seconds, he carried on filling up the boxes with supplies. "That sucks."

"You're not afraid of him too, are you?"

Jimmy shrugged. "I dunno. It's Tom Mason. Hard to imagine him hurting the Second Mass." He and Grace lifted one of the boxes, carrying it over to one of the trucks. "Has he been acting weird?"

"Maybe a little paranoid." She grunted slightly as they lifted the box onto the back of the vehicle. "Do you think I've been weird at all? Since Boston?"

Jimmy dusted his hands off, staring at Grace with a pondering expression. "Not really. Maybe a bit stressed but who isn't? Why?"

"Oh, no reason."

She was about to go back for another box when she noticed Jimmy staring at something behind her. She turned around to see Hal and Maggie walking together, giggling - obviously flirting. She hadn't seen Hal that smitten since he was dating Rita at school. She wanted to roll her eyes back at his hormonal antics, but found herself smiling. It was actually kind of sweet to see him that happy. She guessed Jimmy didn't really care about all of that though, so she quickly turned to face him. "Bleh!" she joked. "Could they be any more into each other?"

"I dunno." Jimmy smiled briefly. "I think it's kinda nice."

He walked off back towards the tents, leaving Grace staring after him. She was surprised by his reaction. She didn't take Jimmy for a romantic, especially given his young age. Then again, she knew the boy had feelings for her. Perhaps he was becoming more interested in the concept. He had come close to admitting his feelings for her in Fitchburg, but she had quickly shut him down before he could. She just couldn't deal with it then. She still couldn't. Jimmy was her friend, and still a kid - or as much of a kid as he could be in a war like this.

Besides, romance was the last thing on her mind. She was too busy concentrating on survival.

Before the convoy set off, Grace hopped onto the med bus. Anne was in the driver's seat, ready to take off. Grace told her they were ready to go.

"Alright," Anne called to her passengers. "Hold on, this old girl isn't exactly a luxury ride."

Grace felt the bus rock slightly as Anne released the handbrake and they began to roll down the bumpy road. She smiled at Lourdes as she made her way down the bus to check on her dad. He was still there, chatting to a sulky-looking Matt, and Casey Taylor - who was cradling a very sleepy baby Charlotte.

"Hi Grace," Tom smiled, shifting awkwardly in his bonds to face her. "I was just catching up with Casey. Didn't expect her to have a little one." He paused, his smile fading. "I heard about Sarah."

Grace walked over to them. "Yeah. Lucky Casey was there." She grinned at Casey and the baby. "How is Charlotte? Sorry - I mean Etta." Grace sat next to her, gently stroking the baby's head.

"Etta?" repeated Tom.

"It's a nickname I gave her," explained Casey. "Thought it suited her." She smiled down at the infant, holding her tiny hand. "And she's fine, thanks. Starting to realise this whole arrangement might be more permanent than I first thought. I'm surprised I've got this far, to be honest."

"You're doing great," Grace encouraged her. "She wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you."

Casey shook her head modestly. "Just right place, right time."

"Well, it sounds like you were very brave," said Tom. "And still are, taking care of her like this. It isn't easy, trust me."

"You mean the boys weren't easy," teased Grace. "I was a dream."

"You were the worst one!" chuckled Tom, giving her a wink.

Grace's lips parted in exaggerated shock whilst Tom and Casey laughed.

"The worst one so far, then," added Grace. "This one's still got to finish growing." She tousled Matt's hair. He batted her away and frowned, glancing nervously at their dad. She wrinkled her nose at him. "What's wrong, Matty?"

"Nothing."

Grace exchanged a worried look with Tom. He was obviously still concerned about what happened earlier.

"Matt, they took whatever it was out. Dad's fine."

"Then why is he tied up?" argued Matt, causing Grace to make an exasperated sound.

"Grace," Tom spoke up. "We're nearly at the bridge. Why don't you help Weaver and the others?"

Grace sighed. "Alright." As she got to her feet, Casey followed her.

"I'll come with you. I think Etta could do with some fresh air."

Outside, Grace helped Jamil and a few others finish the repairs on the bridge. It didn't take long, but it was still tiring work lugging all that spare wood. She kept glancing upwards, worried she'd see a Beamer flying overhead. She hoped Maggie, Dai and her brothers had been successful taking out that antenna. The bridge was just about ready for the convoy to cross and they didn't want any nasty surprises on the other side.

"Fancy a coffee?" Casey joked, indicating to an old truck stop coffee stand behind her as she saw Grace approach.

Grace chuckled. "I wish." She looked at baby Etta who was stirring slightly in her blankets.

"Wanna hold her?" asked Casey.

Grace's face lit up at the offer. "Sure." She took Etta easily, supporting her small head on her shoulder and holding her little body close to her chest. She had forgotten how good it felt to hold a baby.

"You're a natural," Casey remarked, impressed.

"Lots of practice with baby brothers," Grace smiled. "This one is something special. She's been through so much already."

Casey watched Grace gently patting the baby's back, swaying her softly. "My heart breaks for her. No home, no family left for her. Wish I could make it all better."

"You're doing everything you can," Grace assured her. "Being a mom is hard enough, let alone during an alien invasion."

Casey tensed a little. "Except I'm not her mom."

"Oh, yeah. I just meant…"

"It's okay. I know what you meant. It's just, it feels wrong, people calling me her mom."

Grace smiled sympathetically at her. "You know we're all here for you, right? Times like this, it's hard to notice when people are struggling."

Her companion appeared grateful. "Thanks." She paused. "Tom'll be fine too, you know. He's tough. It's in the Mason genes."

Grace stifled a laugh before handing the baby back into Casey's arms. As Casey took hold of her, Grace heard a noise above them, almost like mechanical thunder. She knew what it was before she even looked up.

"Everybody take cover!"

Hal and Ben's team must have been successful, because instead of attacking, the Beamer flew right over them. Grace straightened up, watching as the airship ignored them and flew off into the distance. They must be programmed to fly home when the signal controlling them goes out.

She looked down to see Casey crouched over Etta. "It's okay," Grace said, holding her hand out to her. "They're gone."

Casey took her hand and was pulled back to her feet. "Thank god," she mumbled, soothing Etta who had awoken during the disturbance.

Just as they were recovering, Pope and the Beserkers rode up on their bikes, warning of incoming mechs and skitters.

"Non-essential personnel, dismount!" ordered Weaver, ushering people over the bridge. "Go! Over the bridge on foot now!"

Grace quickly turned to Casey. "Go, take Etta. I'll see you over there."

Casey nodded, already getting lost in the crowd as they rushed over the bridge.

Grace began heading back to the bus for her weapon but before she could step onto it, she was surprised to find her father, free from his bonds, handing over her rifle. She took it from him, confused.

"Get your brother and wait for me on the other side," he instructed before running off towards the back of the convoy to join the ensuing firefight.

"Dad!" Grace yelled after him, but he was already out of earshot.

She turned around to see Matt behind her. She hesitated for a second, then she took hold of his shoulders. "Matt - wait for Hal and Ben on the other side of the bridge. I'm going to get Dad."

"But-"

"Go!" She didn't waste another second before following her father into the fight.

She ran past the abandoned vehicles, taking cover behind some barricades with several other fighters who were trying to force back the incoming alien forces. She saw Tom had jumped on the machine gun loaded on the back of a truck.

"Dad!" she yelled over the spray of bullets going back and forth. He glanced back, clocking her, but before he could react a skitter leapt onto the end of his barrel. It clawed at him, shrieking. He tried to fire at it, swinging the barrel to shake it off, but the skitter was holding on too tightly. Grace was about to pull her trigger on it when a shot rang out behind them. A bullet pierced the skitter's head and it dropped to the ground.

They both glanced back to see Matt lowering a rifle - a little startled with himself - before grinning in triumph. Normally, the sight would have given Grace a heart attack, but right now all she felt was relief. It seemed so did Tom as he grinned back at Matt, then waved at him to go.

Grace watched him scurry back to the bridge. She was about to turn back to the fight when a bullet zipped by her ear, making her jump. A body promptly slumped next to her, then another, and another. Fighters were falling all around her. They had to go. They were being overwhelmed and Weaver's plan was to blow the bridge any minute. But Tom didn't know that.

She sunk low behind the barrier, reloading her gun with the ammo left by her fallen allies. Then she sprung up, wasting a few skitters before calling out to her dad. She could just about hear Weaver and the others in the distance, shouting at them to get out of there, but Tom's firing was too loud for him to hear.

She crouched behind the barrier, taking a breath, then launched over to the truck where her father was.

"Dad!" she shouted as loud as she could. "They're gonna blow the bridge! We have to go!"

Tom glanced back at her, then at the crowd on the other side of the bridge. Their family and friends were calling and waving at them. In Jamil's hand was the detonator.

Grace could see the swarm of skitters and mechs heading straight for them. Tom saw them too. They were all about to be blown sky high if they didn't get a move on. He jumped off the truck and put his hand on her back, pushing her. "Go, go, go!"

She ran for her life, leaping over bodies and weaving through vehicles. She could see her people up ahead, she could hear them yelling. But she sensed the enemy close behind, ripping through whatever remained of the convoy. Her legs began to wobble, but she refused to slow down. She saw her brothers waving and calling her name. Matt, Ben, and Hal. And then she saw Pope, snatching the detonator from Jamil's hands.

She didn't remember falling, but somehow she landed in a bush some distance from the bridge. The air felt dense and warm as she caught her breath. All she could see was the dark and smoky sky above until Hal's face appeared into her vision. She felt hands pull her to her feet. It took her a second to regain her balance - and her memory.

"Where's Dad?" she demanded, wiping moist soot from her brow.

Hal looked back towards the destroyed bridge which was now set ablaze, along with anything else that had been on it at the time. Ben was pulling a tearful Matt away from the wreckage as a crowd of onlookers gasped and muttered and stared with shock at the sight. Then her eyes met Pope's frosty exterior.

"You son of a bitch!" she screamed, scrambling towards him. Surprisingly, Hal let her take the swing, but Weaver was having none of it. He pulled her back as Pope watched, unmoved by her outburst.

"There's no time for this, we have to go right now!" He pushed her and Hal towards the forest. "Everyone, go, now!"

With an angry grunt, Grace picked up her rifle and ran into the woods with her brothers, despite every muscle in her body screaming at her to go back and look for their father.

She was really getting tired of losing him.

They stopped for a break a few miles up the river. Weaver said they had lost six fighters, three vehicles and a truck filled with food rations. Losses they couldn't afford. But the only thing Grace cared about was her dad. He had been right behind her. How could she lose him again? The captain promised they would look for him as soon as they reached the next camp. But that wasn't good enough for Grace.

"Tea?" Lourdes offered her, handing her a thermal mug. Grace took it from her seat on the tarmac.

"Thanks," she mumbled without so much as a smile.

"We'll find him," Lourdes promised her. "He found us once already, he can do it again."

Grace didn't respond, just brought the warm liquid to her lips, felt the heat slide down her throat as she sipped it. Then, she sat the cup down on the ground and got to her feet. "I can't wait that long. I'm going back."

Lourdes' lips parted in protest. "Oh, no. Grace, you can't."

But Grace was already grabbing her rifle. "I'm not losing him again." She started heading back towards the river bank, Lourdes chasing after her, when she stopped in her tracks.

There on the bank - soaking wet- was Tom Mason.