I am so so so so so sorryr! I got distracted by the overpowering popularity of my other story but I'm back for another chapter. I adore all your reviews and to be honest I actually enjoy writing this fic more than the other because I can do whatever I like because of its fantasy style setting. Keep reviewing and I will do my best to post more…please forgive me *gets on knees* I will do my best not to disappoint you again! I am you loyal servant! I blame exams and tedious revision. Morgan xxx

PS This is set a three months after Hal's abduction and the group have been moving gradually to Charleston and only to escape the aliens detection-unless it's not clear.

She smiled and leaned in closer to his ear, her whisper like a summer breeze "Always."

HAL POV

Hal stood atop the roof of a large factory complex, overseeing the constant work down below. The harnessed children were working well, despite their obvious lack of passion or enthusiasm, but humans did not deserve that privilege. Hal was special; an exemption to the rule of normal mindless slaves. The Skitters would occasionally look to him, checking whether he was pleased and Hal could practically smell the fear radiating off them. Even the mechs bowed before him whenever he passed and the feeling of absolute power was an indescribable cascade of emotion. Hal chuckled softly to himself, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"Are the preparations almost complete, my son?"

The Overlord's voice was so clear to him, despite the distance between them and Hal marvelled at the intimate power of their connection. Once again Hal scanned over the proceedings below, listening to the quiet, informative chatter of the Skitters and evaluating the progress of the workers.

"Almost, my lord. I suspect it will take only two more days but I will summon another group of children to try and shorten the time."

"Any conflict from the resistance and Tom Mason?"

Hal glowered and almost scolded himself as a wave of unidentifiable emotion suddenly ploughed into him; raging with one another in a deep savage battle but once again the harness won and Hal swallowed the other useless, weakening sensations.

"Not so far but I have extra mechs on patrol in case, there was a supposed sighting of them in Sector 6 but there were no signs anyone had been in the area."

There was a pause and Hal titled his head questioningly as he waited for his master to answer but did not press him. That was not his place. Finally he could once again feel the stronger, powerful presence in his mind.

"Very well, but their lack of movement is concerning the other Overlords, we must find their base and destroy them before they can interfere with our plans; I am trusting you with this my son, do not disappoint me. I'll be in communication in two days and I expect results."

"Of course, master. When in the last few months have I given you reason to doubt me? The 2nd Massachusetts will be gone by tomorrow; I still have yet to prove my undying gratitude to the Overlords for such a prestigious honour to be bestowed upon such a lowly human."

Hal could feel a somewhat amused emotion spike off the alien and it filled him with a strange sense of pride as he stepped up onto the brick wall and leant on his bent knee, his chin on his hand. The ebony cloak fluttered gently beside him like an elongating shadow and he took a deep breath of the open air, a hidden dwelling memory welling inside him but he submerged it when the gut wrenching pain flooded his body, sourced from the harness deep in his back.

"Indeed."

The loneliness that flooded Hal made him incredibly uneasy and for a second his calm façade faltered but his eyes darkened as the patrol of mechs returned with a couple of new dirty, children to recruit. They were obviously stunned and unconscious but Hal felt a tug in his heart saying he needed to help them but quickly swallowed it and focussed as he leapt from the roof of the six floor building and landed on the ground with a crouch; the tarmac cracking under the force of the impact. Hal stretched out, unscathed and briskly paraded toward the arriving patrol; ordering a couple of Skitters to take the children to the harnessing chamber nearby before summoning the mechs to follow his lead; heading for the northern quadrant and toward the last few human sightings.

It was not long before Hal raised his hand, stopping the group in the centre of a large empty street. The mechs obliged silently, stopping the instant he lifted his hand in the wordless gesture and prepared. Hal could sense the two humans-though he could not pinpoint them- their ragged, nervous breathing was clear in the quiet air and Hal closed his eyes, centring his mind so he could hear the fast thumping of two heartbeats.

Licking his lips playfully, Hal tiptoed toward the source of the sound, an impish finger to his lips as he crouched low beside a car and leaned down so he could see the two pairs of shoes on the opposite side. With a wicked laugh he leapt onto the roof of the car and rose to his full height. Two frightened faces turned to face him, staggering back as the struggled to grip their guns in shock.

"Dai, Anthony, what a surprise!" Hal chuckled mirthlessly, hopping onto the ground in a carefree manor as they trained their guns on him "It has been such a long time. How is dear Dad and my two adorable little brothers?"

"H-Hal…"Anthony gasped, almost choking on the words as if they were suffocating him.

Hal smiled and opened his arms "The one and only. So, where are my family right now, I'm sure they'd absolutely love it if I visited."

The mechs were now approaching with Hal's silent, mental message, aiming to kill the two in a few painfully long moments. Their guns whirred with life and Anthony and Dai both visibly flinched.

"We'll never tell you!" Dai shouted indignantly, though he lowered his gun in submission to the far greater firepower. Anthony glanced at him with a petrified look and Hal sniggered as he followed suit.

"Well then, I guess we have to kill you."

The two froze in terror as the mechs lit up and their strange sounds echoed around. Anthony shut his eyes, his lips moving in silent prayer but Dai held Hal's gaze fiercely.

As the weapons were about to offload, Hal stepped forward again, his smile showing his bright shining teeth.

"Wait-"he watched their reaction with amusement before continuing "Tell you what. We make a deal; you send a message to my father and Captain Weaver to get their asses here, tomorrow twelve pm sharp and we see if we can't negotiate a bit, eh? Some harnessed kids for I don't know-whatever I feel I want-or something like that? That way you both get to live and I get a loving reunion with my family. Win, win."

Again Anthony looked to Dai who hesitated uncertainly, before nodding slowly, his gaze never meeting Hal's. The backed off to leave but Hal cleared his throat, flashing them a pleasant smile.

"Aren't we going to shake on it? We are civilised gentlemen after all." Hal extended his arm, outstretching his hand to Dai who studied it for a minute; searching Hal's eyes for a hint of deception. Finally he took it, though his grip was weak and uncertain. Hal took advantage, shaking more vibrantly and laughing aloud before he turned away.

"See you tomorrow then, it was a pleasure to see you again. Do tell everyone I send my greetings and I hope to see them again very soon."

The Hal nodded to the mechs and sauntered confidently back the way he had coming, leaving a startled and confused Anthony and Dai behind.