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"Tom, we just launched the attack on New York City two days ago. 16 people are dead and we are burying them today. You want to start planning another attack now?" Weaver asked incredulously.
"If we take time in between attacks, it gives the Espheni more time to regroup and attack us. We need to strike again before they can do that. This base is far closer than New York, less than a day's drive away. Not as big, so less skitters and Mechs." Tom informed the Colonel.
"But there is an Overlord." Weaver pointed out.
"Yes, but we know if we can get to the Overlord, the Mechs and skitters will stand down. They won't risk their leader getting hurt." Tom stated.
"And we can't get the information from the rebel skitters because?" Weaver waited for an answer.
"Ben already asked them about it yesterday. They know nothing about the power source or an Espheni Queen. Apparently, the Overlords have been keeping it all secret from the skitters. An Overlord is the only alien we can get more answers from."
"When are you planning to launch this attack?" Weaver wondered, knowing that he wouldn't be to talk the President out of his decision.
"At the end of the week."
"In two days? The soldiers need more time than that to recover from the fight in New York." Weaver protested.
"They'll be fine. We need more answers Weaver. Hal's given us some very important information, but we need more. This, gives us a shot at getting it. We need to do this." Tom insisted.
For a long moment, Weaver stared at the man who had become his friend. He was really starting to worry about Tom. He knew that they did need more information, but the lengths the President was now willingly to go showed just how desperate he truly was, and Weaver knew that it had to do with the man's children.
With Lexi being a human/alien hybrid, Ben having his spikes, and with whatever Hal had become, the man was doing everything he could to protect his family. It was something deep down, Weaver couldn't fault him for, as he knew that odds were, he'd do the same if it was Jeanne.
"Alright, but we do this as safely, and as carefully as we can. No rushing into it, and no unneeded risks." Weaver compromised.
"I wouldn't do it any other way." Tom agreed.
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After the burial and memorial for the soldiers who died, Hal sat by the water's edge, looking over the river. The Volm complex stood on the other side. He wondered what was going to happen now. While Karen did give him important intel, there didn't seem to be anything they could do about it. They didn't know when or where the Queen will arrive, and they had no clue how to destroy their power source.
Though the talk with his Dad helped a little, the question still burned in Hal's mind. Why did Karen give him those secrets? She had made it very clear she chose to side with the Espheni, believed in what they were doing, did everything she could to follow them, yet while she laid dying, she gave him the knowledge, or at least part of it, to destroy them. Why?
"There you are. Been looking all over for you." Hal turned around and smiled when he saw Maggie coming up behind him.
"Sorry, just wanted to get away from the crowd a little." Hal told her as she sat down beside him.
"You doing okay?" Maggie asked, grabbing his hand.
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me." Hal replied with a smile, entwining his fingers with hers. Before Maggie could say anything to that, Hal lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers in a kiss. It didn't last long as Maggie pulled away, knowing what he was trying to do.
"Don't think that's going to distract me mister. Come on, I know you better than that. What's going on?" Maggie pressed. Hal sighed, and looked back at the river.
"I know, that the Karen I knew, was long gone before she died. And I hate everything she did, and I hated the person she became. But, I just don't understand why she would give me intel that could destroy the aliens she was working with." Hal explained.
"I can't answer that for you. I don't think anyone can. But, I think the only thing that matters is that she did. And now, we need to act on it." Maggie said. Hal looked back at her, and gave her a small smile.
"She's right," The pair turned their heads to find Tom walking towards them, "And we will be acting on it in two days."
"We're launching another attack? Already?" Hal asked, surprised at how soon they would be going out.
"Well, a few soldiers, Weaver and I will be. You on the other hand are staying here." Tom answered.
"What? But Dad, I'm fine. Anne cleared me." Hal protested.
"It's not a very risky mission Hal, we don't need as many soldiers. And Anne and I both agreed that you need to rest. Don't worry, not even Ben is coming on this one. You just take it easy for now." Without waiting for a reply, Tom turned around and walked back up to the city.
"I guess he's putting his foot down this time." Hal commented bitterly, staring at his father's retreating
"I don't blame him. You scared us all when we found you unconscious with blood running down your nose and ears." Maggie told him.
"I know, but I'm fine now."
"Still, if that's going to happen every single time you connect with an Overlord or skitter, maybe it's a good idea to keep you out of the fight for a while. Just until you get a better handle on controlling who gets into your head." She suggested.
Hal shrugged his shoulders, and looked down at her hand that he was still holding. He couldn't deny that Maggie had a point, and he was getting rather sick of constantly being in the hospital. Though it was annoying that he was being benched after only one mission.
"You want to get out of here?" Hal looked back up into Maggie's brown eyes and smiled.
"Yeah." Together they stood up and headed back to the city.
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Ben stood by the window, staring at the line of jeeps driving away from Charleston. Two nights ago, after the burial and memorial for the fighters who died, his Dad came and told him about the next attack they were planning. That was when Tom told him that he wouldn't be coming with them, but didn't say why. Now, he was left to watch all the other soldiers go, while he stayed with the rest of his family.
"Whatcha doing Benji?" Ben couldn't help but smile at the sound of Deni's perky voice. He continued staring out the window as he heard the young woman come to stand beside him.
"And what is so entertaining about moving jeeps?" Deni asked when she saw what her friend was looking at.
"Nothing. I just, can't think of a reason as to why my Dad wouldn't let me go. I'm not hurt or anything, and I've always been a part of these missions." Ben told her.
"Well, he didn't let Hal or Matt come along either. And I'm still here too." Deni pointed out, as the vehicles drove out of sight.
"I know, but Hal had a seizure on the last mission, and was unconscious for hours. Matt is still too young, and you," Ben stopped when he couldn't think of a reason for why his Dad wouldn't let Deni go with them either.
"I'm what?" Deni teased with a smile before continuing, "I get what you're trying to say, but, maybe there is a reason. For now though, I'm starving. Come on Manga freak, let's get something to eat."
Before Ben could say anything, Deni grabbed his arm and dragged him away from the window and towards the cafeteria.
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It wasn't until the morning did Ben find out the reason as to why his Dad didn't let him, Hal, or Deni on the mission. He had just finished his breakfast when Weaver found him and told him that his Dad wanted him.
Weaver led him through the building towards the basement where anyone barely ever ventured. It was usually just used for storage. Ben was getting a little worried as to what was down here, and why all the secrecy.
The first thing Ben saw was his Dad, then Anthony standing in front of something. And Anthony was pointing his gun at whatever it was they were looking at. Before he could get close enough to see what it was, Tom came over and stood in front of him.
"What you see, stays secret from everyone else, got it?" His Dad may have phrased it as a question, but it was very clear to Ben that it was actually an order.
"Okay." Ben agreed, but Tom didn't move.
"The reason for the attack, was because we need more intel about what Hal told us. And there was someone at the Espheni base who could tell us." Tom explained, walking back to Anthony. Ben followed, and saw an Overlord kneeling, hands chained down to the floor in a makeshift prison cell.
The minute the Overlord was in sight, everything clicked in Ben's mind. The urgency in the mission, especially so quick after he didn't get any answers from the skitters, and why it was kept secret. If word got out that an Overlord was being held in the city, everyone would freak out.
Ben didn't need his Dad to tell him what he wanted him to do. The answer was obvious. He wanted him to get in the Overlord's head and find the answers they needed. He looked over to his Dad, and saw that he was already looking at him, a questioning look on his face. Ben nodded, and turned to face the alien.
Once Ben opened up his mind, he felt the spikes start to glow and connect with the Espheni. The Overlord, who had seemed to be ignoring them, finally reacted. He looked up at Ben with an almost curious expression, before turning to look back at the ground. Ben felt nothing to connect with, and the spikes stopped glowing.
"He's blocking me. He doesn't have anything to say and he's not giving me a chance to get into his head." Ben informed the group when he realized what was happening.
"Can't you push your way in?" Tom asked.
"I can try, but the last time I got in an Overlord's head he connected with me first. I don't know for sure how to do it just by forcing myself in though." Ben told his father, before closing his eyes and trying again.
As hard as Ben pushed, the Overlord's mental walls seemed to grow stronger. He was not letting the young man get inside at all. He wasn't even willing to connect just so he could say something, not even a taunt or threat. And again, Ben couldn't get in.
"No, he's too strong. I can't unless he's willing to connect with me." Ben said, looking over at his father. Tom sighed, turning his gaze from his son back to the Overlord.
"What if we weaken him? Would that help you get in?" Tom questioned, looking back at his middle son. At first, Ben was confused by what his Dad meant by weakening him, when he saw the look in his eyes. Weaken the Overlord by hurting him, which he might end up feeling.
Despite knowing that if he was connected to the Overlord when Tom hurt him, Ben nodded and said, "Yeah, that might work."
Tom nodded, then looked over at Anthony, who had been standing guard silently, the entire time. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to the President, then fired his gun, the bullet hitting the Overlord in the knee.
While the Overlord seemed to shriek in pain, hands going to the injury, Ben immediately tried to connect again. This time, he managed to slip in.
The first thing Ben felt was the almost overwhelming pain from the Overlord's injury, but he pushed passed that, and tried to find the answers they needed. He imagined the power crystal from what Hal described, and used that image to guide him in the alien's mind. It didn't take long to find it. His big brother wasn't kidding when he said how bright it glowed.
Just as soon as he saw it though, the Overlord became aware of what he was doing, and instantly shoved Ben out of his mind.
"Did it work?" Tom asked once he saw Ben's spikes stop glowing. The blonde looked up at the Overlord, who appeared to be glaring at him, before turning to his Dad.
"At first, but once he realized what I was doing, he pushed me out. I don't think hurting him again is going to work. He knows what we're trying to do, and what we want to know." Ben answered.
Tom looked down at the ground, then at Weaver, then back at Ben. He started walking away from the prisoner, grabbing his son's arm and pulled him along. Weaver followed behind them while Anthony stayed guarding the Overlord.
"Is there anyway you can think of to get in his head?" Tom questioned almost desperately.
"His walls are too strong for me to get through without him connecting with me. Maybe if Deni and I both tried it together, but I don't know." Ben replied. His Dad looked deep in thought.
"Tom, if Ben isn't strong enough to do this, then we need someone stronger." Weaver chimed in. The young soldier was confused, then quickly realized what the Colonel meant.
"No. No way. Dad, you can't. We have no idea what could happen, and he's never done anything like this. We can't." Ben protested. The President, while keeping his gaze at the floor, said the exact opposite of what he knew his son wanted to say.
"We don't have a choice Ben. Weaver, go find Hal."
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When Weaver told Hal that his Dad wanted him, he thought they would be heading to his office, yet the Colonel was leading him to an abandoned part of the mall's basement. The farther they traveled, the more tense and guarded Hal got. He felt like he was being led to an execution or something. There was no one else down here that he could see, and he wished he had his gun.
"So, what are we doing down here?" Hal asked casually, trying to hide how nervous he was starting to get.
"You'll see." Was the only response he got.
After a few more minutes, Weaver turned a corner which led to a dead end a few feet away where his Dad, Ben, and Anthony stood. They were facing the wall to the right, where Hal could tell was another turn, but Hal couldn't see what they were looking at.
As they approached the group, all three fighters turned to look at Hal and Weaver. The first thing Hal noted, was the almost guilty and upset expression on Ben's face, while his Dad tried to remain stoic.
"How are you feeling Hal?" Tom questioned, voice concerned and quiet.
"For the hundredth time, I'm fine. Does anyone want to tell me what's going on?" Hal asked, again looking around his surroundings, trying to find any answers or clues he could.
"Okay. While you gave us important information, we need more. We need to find out where that power source is. We checked with the rebel skitters, but they didn't know anything. The mission we went on yesterday, was because the base had an Overlord." Tom started to explain before Hal cut him off.
"You're telling me, you guys managed to capture an Overlord, and get it back to the city without everyone knowing about it?"
"With great difficulty, yes, we did. Ben then tried to get into his head, and find out what we need to know, but he can't unless his spikes connect to the Overlord's mind, which he is blocking." Tom finished, looking as though he was feeling guilty yet desperate at the same time.
"So, you want me to try." Hal realized.
"You are stronger than Ben, and you were able to get into Karen's head without her initiating it." Weaver reminded him.
"Not too mention, Cochise did say that you had a longer and much more exposure to their power source, most likely making you stronger than them." Tom included. At that, Ben came over to them.
"You don't have to do this Hal. I can try again, maybe even get Deni to help." Ben assured his brother, but Hal shook his head.
"No, it's okay. I can try." Hal told them. Tom, although looked reluctant, nodded and led his son towards the Overlord.
When Hal had the Overlord in sight, he saw the alien was in a makeshift cell, hands chained to the floor, almost exactly the way the other Overlord they had captured in the hospital was. It looked like his knee was bleeding, but the Espheni appeared to be ignoring it.
The alien didn't move until he heard them approach the cell. He lifted his head to look at them, and tried to lunge at Hal.
Tom's arm immediately shot out in front of Hal, pushing him back slightly, and Ben grabbed Hal's shoulder, both putting him in a sort of protected position. It wasn't really needed though as the Overlord didn't get far since he was still restrained, and the cell door was still shut and locked. Despite that, Hal appreciated the gestures because they covered up the fact that he had visibly flinched when the Overlord moved. Even Anthony and Weaver had pointed their guns at the alien's head. And there was something about the alien, that almost seemed familiar to Hal, but he didn't know what or why.
"Guess he doesn't like me." Hal commented, trying to lighten the mood.
"This is a bad idea." Ben insisted, but again, Hal shook his head.
"No, It's okay." Hal repeated, shrugging his brother's hand off his shoulder, then pushed his father's arm out of the way. He walked closer to the cage, and stared down the Espheni leader. Then he lowered his guard and instantly connected to the alien's mind.
Rage. Pure anger, that was all the Overlord was feeling. It was overwhelming, Hal wanted to punch something just to release it, but he pushed through the emotion, focusing only on the Queen and the power source.
Hal suddenly was standing in front of a statue in front of a building. At least, that's what it looked like. He lifted his eyes up, and saw the statue was a man, sitting down on a chair. The head had been broken off, but he still recognized it. Abraham Lincoln.
Pressing farther, he allowed the memory of the power crystal to guide him.
A Volm stood in front of stone, holding a stick, the end moving towards it. Hal recognized the stick the alien was holding as the weapon Karen used to torture his Dad nearly two years ago, when she held them all captive.
The end started glowing blue and crackled with electricity as it got closer to the crystal. In response, the power source started to glow. The minute the end touched the stone, the light became to bright that it forced Hal to shut his eyes, and the crystal let out let out a force wave that would've pushed Hal to the ground if it wasn't a memory.
The Overlord's voice echoed in Hal's head, "It gives, but cannot receive."
As soon as it came, the image and voice was gone, replaced by something else. Hal saw himself, lying on a table, bloodied ropes around his wrists and appeared to be unconscious.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance" The Overlord said.
Hal was suddenly cut off from the connection as Ben's fist slammed into his jaw.
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Everything appeared to be going okay. Hal opened his eyes, revealing the fact they were glowing. The Overlord didn't make a move on him, and Hal didn't start bleeding from his nose or ears at all. However, everyone was so focused on Hal that no one saw Ben's spikes starting to glow.
Ben suddenly punched Hal in the face, and pushed him to the ground. Tom was immediately pulling his middle son away from his brother, while Weaver and Anthony both fired at the Overlord's head, killing it instantly.
Once the Overlord was dead, and Ben's spikes stopped glowing, Tom knelt down beside Hal who was lying on his back, hand up at the corner of his mouth with blood on his fingers.
"Hal! Hal, are you okay?" Tom demanded to know, trying to move Hal's hand so he could see the injury.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." Hal assured his Dad, keeping his hand on the small cut Ben had made on his upper lip.
"I'm sorry Hal, I'm so sorry. He got into my head, I didn't think he would do that. I'm so sorry." Ben apologized, coming to kneel beside his brother.
"It's okay. It's not your fault." Hal replied, as Ben and Tom helped him sit up.
"I take it if the Overlord felt the need to have Ben attack you, that you found something." Weaver deduced.
"Yeah. Lincoln Memorial, in Washington D.C. I think that's where the Queen is, or will be." Hal informed the group, his voice muffled by his hand still by his mouth to keep the blood from getting everywhere.
"Anything else?" Tom asked.
"No. I was trying to look for anything about that power source, but that's when he made Ben tackle me." Hal lied, trying his hardest to be convincing. The fighters bought it, though Ben was giving Hal a look that he knew meant his younger brother would be confronting him about something later.
"It's okay. The Queen is the most important thing to worry about anyways. I'll contact Cochise and see if he can check it out. But are you sure you're okay?" Tom wondered.
"Yeah, it's just a cut. I'll be fine." Hal didn't wait for a response. He immediately pushed himself to his feet and started heading back up to the main part of the building. Away from his Dad, his brother, Weaver, Anthony, and the dead Overlord, who had been there when Hal was captured, tortured, and experimented on by Karen.