News about the fight at dinner had spread through the school and by the next morning Jimmy and Ben had a few extra fans. Ben had a few more glares thrown his way, but no one approached him. He told himself they were simply staring at his eyes, which he was perfectly fine with. Better his eye than his back. His eye had healed significantly overnight. The swelling had completely diminished, leaving only a yellowish green tint to the skin around his eye. It made him sick when he checked on it, but he was thankful for the quick healing. Still, he fared better than Jimmy, whose lip was still a bit swollen.

The weather had taken a turn for the worst. Heavy clouds filled with rain, cutting off the sun and letting loose a downpour on the 2nd Mass. The courtyard was sealed up, containing all resistance members inside the school walls. Ben made his restless way toward the library, seeking solitude from the stares. The rain echoed through the ceiling, echoing throughout the entire school.

The library was on the south end of the school, one of the less used sections. He walked through the useless barcode scanners by the front doors. The library was like a labyrinth. Shelves of books remained, unused for fire, lining the walls and interior of the room. Ben walked into the labyrinth, loosing himself. He used to spend hours on end in libraries, reading whatever sounded interesting. Ben passed several fighters and other kids taking refuge in the seclusion of the library. He turned down another row and looked at the spines of the books. He picked a book off the shelf and sat down on the floor. Ben leaned against the shelf and opened the book.

"How's that eye holding up?" asked a familiar voice.

Ben looked up from his book. Jaden was standing at the corner of the opposite shelf, leaning against the frame. Her multicolored braids were pulled up into a high pony. The tips of her braids touched down a few inches below her shoulders. Her jacket and pack were nowhere to be seen, but her thigh holster and shoulder holster where strapped and loaded to her body. Her right hand held onto the strap of her rifle that hung against her back.

She tilted her head, inspecting the condition of Ben's eye. Ben felt his cheeks warm up. "Not too bad."

Ben looked down at his book quickly. He watched Jaden move down the row across from him from the top of his book. She sat down and leaned back against the shelf. He spotted the butt of her rifle out of the bottom corner of his eye.

"So why'd you do it?" she asked.

Ben looked up again. "Do what?"

Jaden rolled her eyes. "Play hero? Is it some genetic thing that all Mason boys have?"

Ben's brows furrowed. "What? No. No, it wasn't anything like that."

"So what was it then?"

Ben shrugged. "That guy had no reason questioning what you do. Just because we got invaded doesn't mean we should resort to turning on ourselves."

Jaden snorted. Ben suspected that was as close as she got to laughing. "You sound like your dad."

Ben smiled. "Yeah he uh…used to practice his lectures with us." He turned his attention back to his book. His eyes scanned over the words, but his brain wasn't processing any of it. He could feel her eyes on him. He glanced up over the top pages, meeting the bright green-blue gaze.

"Why do you want to run?" Jaden asked.

"What?"

Jaden pushed herself off the shelf and leaned toward Ben. "Why do you want to run supplies?"

Ben was caught off-guard by her question. Certainly he had a reason for wanting to do it, but they had suddenly vanished. Ben stared at Jaden silently.

"Because until you can give me a good reason, I won't even consider you." Jaden explained, clearing disappointed in Ben's lack of a response. Maybe she had overestimated him. She rose to her feet and began walking away.

Feeling is opportunity leaving with her, Ben closed his book and followed Jaden. "Jaden!"

Jaden turned around. Her right hand hung to her rifle strap while her left hand was braced against her hip.

Ben stood straight and took a quick breath. "A week ago I was gathering scrap metal for the skitters without knowing why. Day after day we searched for scrap metal. Those harnesses gave us the ability to endure a lot more than any other kid. Running supplies is the opportunity to use what the skitters did to me, for the resistance. Feed the 2nd Mass, you keep the resistance alive."

Jaden looked at him for a long while. Her eyes locked with his, as if she was looking into his soul while she seemed to be contemplating his reason. Then the corner of her lips turned up into a smirk. She released her rifle strap and extended her right hand out toward him. "Congratulations on making the consideration list, Mason."

Ben blinked. Did he just hear her right. "You mean it?"

Jaden nodded. "Yeah. You've got more guts than most fighters I've met."

Ben acted without thinking. He wrapped his arms around Jaden and hugged her tightly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, now let me go." Jaden ordered. Her voice was sharp.

Ben quickly released her. "Sorry. I just-"

"Forget it Mason. I'm just…not a real touchy person." Jaden explained.

Ben nodded.

"Now listen, I said you were under consideration. I still have a few CO's to discuss this with. It may not even happen." Jaden explained.

"I understand. I'm just glad you gave me a shot." Ben said.

Jaden shrugged. "Why wouldn't I? You're older than Jimmy and he's a fighter."

"I just figured you would because of my-"

"Spikes?" Jaden shrugged. "What they did to you makes you one of the best qualified people for this job. Physically, anyways."

Ben nodded.

"Look, I gotta go meet with Weaver. In the meantime, you better brush up on your book." Jaden said. And with that, she turned and left Ben standing in the row.

Ben watched Jaden leave. He caught the sound of...humming? Of Jaden humming as he left. Ben took a deep breath. He'd actually made a consideration list. Granted it wasn't guaranteed that he'd help, but at least she'd given him a chance. He looked down at the book still in his hand and paused. What kind of school stocks survival books?

Captain Weaver's office was located in one of the smaller classrooms connected with the next class. He stood over the large table in his office, looking over the maps and noted from his scouts. It was a never ending job, trying to keep his fighters and the civilians alive. A sharp knock caught his attention, but not enough to make him look up from the maps.

"Enter." he called.

The door opened and Jaden entered. "You wanted to see me Captain."

"Yes I did. Get over here." Weaver said.

Jaden walked across the room to the table.

"I've been going over the inventory lists. Both from you and us. You're only bringing in a third of what we need." Weaver said.

"Skitters and mechs aren't making it easy. Even for one person." Jaden explained.

"We need those supplies Jaden."

"I understand sir and I'm doing the best I can."

"The 2nd Mass needs better. Now on you next run, I want you to take a truck and load it full." Weaver ordered.

"With all due respect, Captain, I disagree." Jaden said.

Weaver looked up from his map. "Oh you do?"

Jaden nodded. "The vehicles are too loud. Skitters and mechs will swarm on it and that's one truck we lose."

"Then by all means soldier, offer up a suggestion." Weaver said.

"What about a partner?" Jaden suggested.

Weaver frowned. "Taking another set of hands will give us a better chance. Any of the fighters show interest?"

"Yes sir. Jimmy and-"

"There's not a snowballs chance in hell that Jimmy's going." Weaver interjected.

"That's what I told him, sir." Jaden replied.

"Anyone else?" Weaver asked, turning his attention back to the maps.

Jaden bit her lip nervously. "Yes sir, Ben Mason."

Weaver looked up again. HE straightened his back and folded his hands in front of him. "You making a joke soldier?"

"No sir, Ben Mason's shown significant interest in running supplies." She answered.

Weaver was silent.

"You disapprove."

"Course I do. That boy was just cut from his harness last weeks ago. He's already dealing with coming to terms with what happened. He doesn't need active duty with skitters and mechs chasing him." Weaver explained.

"I do it." Jaden said.

Weaver sighed and nodded. "That you do Jaden. You been with us longer, off the harness longer, your heads clear. His might not be."

"Captain, I believe that Ben is completely capable of running supplies. He needs training, sure, but he can do it. Any other fighter I take won't be able to keep up or carry as much. Ben can, and he's ready to show the 2nd Mass what he's capable of doing." Jaden explained.

"Tom Mason already has Hal in with the fighters. The last thing he wants is another son put in harm's way." Weaver explained.

"I understand sir. But do you have any other objections? Because Ben is the only serious candidate I have." Jaden explained.

Weaver sighed and thought hard. "You train him, you watch him, and you talk to Tom about this. If he agrees, then you have my permission."

Jaden nodded. "Give me the hard job, sir?"

"Damn straight. You got one hell of a job to do." Weaver said.

Jaden saluted Weaver and turned. She walked out of the office into the hall. She ran her hand through her braids and sighed. The hard part was yet to come.

The Mason quarters were dark when Tom entered them late that night. All three of his boys were fast sleep in their cots. Matt had snaked his way to the middle of his cot, curled in a ball with his blanket. Only his curly blonde hair peeked over the covers. Hal was lying on his back with his left arm above his head. The blankets were drawn up to his chest and his feet stuck out beneath the blanket. Ben was lying on his stomach, as he had every night since he arrived at the school. His shirt was on the floor beside his cot. He'd already kicked his blankets from his back.

Tom walked to the chair by Ben's cot. He set his gun down by the bookcase and sat down on the chair. He watched Ben sleep for a moment. He thought back to when he'd first found Ben without his blankets. Ben had been hanging halfway over the bunk bed he and Hal had shared. Tom slowly reached out and gently shook Ben's shoulder. "Ben."

Ben lifted his head off his cot. He looked over his shoulder, still groggy. "Dad? Everything okay?"

"I hope so." Tom said. "I think we need to talk."

"Can't it wait until morning?" Ben asked.

"No."

Ben sat up.

"I talked to Captain Weaver and Jaden." Tom began. "You want to run supplies for the 2nd Mass."

Ben seemed instantly awake.

"Do you know how dangerous running supplies is?" Tom asked.

"No more than you and Hal fighting mechs and skitters." Ben answered.

"Hal and I have another hundred fighters with us. You and Jaden are on your own."

"We can handle it dad. Two people have a better chance of running beneath skitter radar." Ben explained.

Tom sighed.

"Dad, I see how everyone looks at me. Like I don't belong here and I'm nothing more than a burden. But I can do things that six fighters and a truck can't. I can help the resistance instead of hang around the school reading." Ben explained.

Tom watched his son.

"Jaden's already told me that I'll need to be trained. I can do this. I want to do this, dad." Ben said.

"And I can't say anything to make you change your mind can I?"

Ben shook his head. "Sorry dad."

"No, don't be sorry. You're growing up where isn't not easy." Tom said. He didn't like the idea of another son out in harm's way. Supply running was just as dangerous as fighting, only with no backup. Still, Jaden had done an excellent job running in supplies and always made it back in one piece. He'd also seen her handy work in hand-to-hand combat.

Tom nodded. "Okay then."

"I can do it?"

"Yeah." Tom said. "Jaden's good at what she does; I can trust her to make sure you don't get hurt. And I know how bad you want to help out."

"Thanks dad."

"Oh don't thank me. Jaden's coming by at oh-five hundred to start straining." Tom said. He stood up from his chair. "Which means, you have another three hours of sleep left."

Ben groaned and lay back on his cot. Just what had he gotten himself into?

yay! let the training begin!