The shouts were getting closer as Karen leaned down, her face inches from his.

"We've been looking for you."

TOM POV

Tom was in the meeting room with Captain Dan Weaver when he heard someone cry out. With a quick glimpse between each other they were grabbing their weapons and tearing down the hallways flanked by a few other fighters. It took them only a couple of minutes to reach the front door and the team spilled out into the dark night.

Karen had her back to him, bent down over a figure, Skitters holding whoever it was in place. The outline of the harness evident on her back, glowing dimly and providing an almost target spot. The fighters fanned out, training their guns on them but they didn't fire, unsure whether to put the mysterious person in danger. Karen turned round on her heel, purposefully blocking the person behind her as she tilted her head, her expression blank.

Weaver stepped forward and cocked his gun threateningly "Karen! Freeze before I'm forced to shoot you!"

There was a flicker of something in her face; it was almost like a smirk of sick amusement. "Captain, you won't shoot us, and we'll walk out of here anyway. There is no need for violence."

The Skitters seemed to nod in agreement but retreated back to her, shielding their prisoner. Whoever it was, they were intent on keeping them, to the point of seemingly desperation.

Tom didn't falter "Karen, we don't want to kill you, but you have to release that person now and come with us! We can save you! We can remove the harness!"

Despite everything, neither Weaver nor Tom could find the heart to shoot the poor girl. She was a victim. She couldn't control her actions any more than they could and for that Tom was truly sorry. But whoever the figure was, they were important to them and nothing that could give them any kind of advantage could be spared. She chuckled lightly, surprising all of them with her unusual, blatant confidence.

"I am saved!" she cried almost cheerfully "And I will never go back to being human again…ever."

Suddenly there was shouting behind them and Matt came barrelling through the doors behind them, heading straight for Karen, followed closely by a very frightened looking Ben. Tom spun round and caught Matt- whose momentum almost knocked him over- and pulled him to a sharp halt.

"Matt what the hell are you doing?!"

Matt was pale and drawn, tears welling in his eyes as he fought his father distraughtly "Let me go!"

Ben also seized Matt and subdued him, trying to calm his little brother down as he held the small boy back. Weaver glanced at the family nervously as Ben spoke.

"He heard the shout and just took off…."Ben gasped, his voice panicked "I couldn't stop him!"

"Hal!" Matt screamed loudly, catching everyone off guard and knocking the breath out of Tom like a freight train "Hal!"

Karen gave a cruel smile and stepped aside, revealing a very breathless and nervous looking Hal. Everyone gasped including Weaver and Tom almost shoved Matt further into Ben's arms as he clutched his gun again and raised it menacingly.

"Let him go!" he spat, edging his way closer as Weaver moved to grab his shoulder "Let Hal go now or I swear to God I won't hesitate to kill you!"

Hal gave Tom a pleading look as the Skitter holding him held its savage claw to his throat, jerking the teens head back by his hair. Crying out, Matt began to struggle again behind Tom, tears trickling down his flushed cheeks. Weaver prickled and the men surrounding them looked to their leader for guidance, waiting for any kind of motion or signal. Tom gritted his teeth together as Karen stepped forward.

"Back off, or we'll kill your son." she stated simply, her face an emotionless mask once again.

Hal began thrashing urgently "No Dad she wants to ta-"

He was silenced by the swift hit of a Skitter and his head rolled dazedly against his chest. Tom flung himself forward in desperation but was yanked back by Weaver.

"No Tom! She's trying to get to you!"

"Dad…"Ben asked nervously, as he clasped his younger brother more firmly to his chest, examining his father closely as he desperately fought Weaver to reach his eldest son. Tom regained a sense of calm and leaned into Weaver's strong restraint.

"Karen…please let him go…"he gasped breathlessly, disappointed that he had shown his weakness so quickly.

Karen chuckled softly, dry and humourless "You humans are so pathetic, ruled by your feeble emotions. You have two other sons; losing one-even if he is your eldest-should not be counted as a significant loss." she paused for a second, evaluating Tom's reaction then continued more boldly "Think of this as a helpful lesson; a free tutorial in how to continue your pointless fight more effectively, then you might at least make this worthless battle more worthy of our time. You should be aware of these things Professor, your sons are your ultimate weakness; you cannot afford weaknesses in war."

Tom was too infuriated by her words to summon a meaning to them and he glared at her menacingly, his eyes drifting to his frightened sixteen year old son.

However much Hal had grown and matured since the beginning of this entire mess, he was still only a teenager; still a kid really, no matter what façade he managed to flaunt to everyone else. Heck, Hal had been studying for some of his most life-changing exams; the ones that would get him into college and shape the rest of his life. The day before the aliens had invaded Tom and Hal had had a massive argument about his revision and how he was preparing. Hal wanted to go to a weekend lacrosse match but Tom had been adamant that he stay in the house and cram every last piece of information he could into his brain. In the end Tom had taken it a step too far, comparing him to Ben and how hard he worked; but Hal had always been more physical, more sporty, and that fact alone had saved both Tom's and Hal's backsides. Tom hadn't had a clue that Hal had martial arts training, or archery lessons or any of the other cool things that Hal had managed to learn without his father's knowledge.

Rebecca had known though. They had always been the closest, they were so similar and Hal trusted her with everything about his life, his dreams. Tom had always been jealous of that, longing for the connection they shared. Though Ben had indeed been his father's son, enjoying his studies and enthralled by the knowledge just as Tom was when he was young. At least Tom had lived a calm, shielded life; free to a life of safety and stability, happy despite the day to day problems of raising three sons. Truthfully, every time he looked at Hal he remembered Rebecca-the day they met, first date, their wedding day, when she had become pregnant with Hal and all the events following that up to the day she died-and it sometimes broke his heart when he realised that his children will never be able to experience that kind of life, encounter that level of joy and care free attitude. They would always have to be constantly alert, always moving, always watching. Unless this war ended, which wasn't going to happen anytime soon; if it did at all.

Tom was thrust back into the present as Weaver interrupted "Why would you wanna help us? Get rid of our weaknesses? You lay a finger on the boy and you'll only fuel our fight!"

Karen stayed quiet, the proud smirk still on her dirty, pretty face. Something didn't feel right; it was like…she was stalling them. Tom felt his heart miss a beat as he swung round sluggishly, searching for any impending danger. Surprised Weaver followed his gaze as two Skitters descended from rooftop and all hell broke loose. Gunshots rang out and Tom was vaguely aware of Matt screaming as he fired along with all the other fighters and was distracted by the heat of battle.