~Natalie~

"…And I didn't get any sleep, and I learned that we're probably going to die soon, and I didn't get any sleep!" I sat in the back of the truck and pouted. I was annoyed. There was no way I was going to well at the meet today.

Maureen sighed and furrowed her brow. "You said that already. I know you didn't get any sleep- none of us did!"

I sighed and concentrated on putting on my makeup for the gymnastics event. We were cutting it very close- I would get there right before the doors closed. I already had on my leotard, and I was running through my routines over and over in my head.

I was trying- key word, trying- to not concentrate on the events that had happened less than twenty minutes ago. If I am completely honest, I am really sad that the guys are gone. I know at first I was a little annoyed at the ten random strangers showing up in weird space pod things, but after I got used to them, I really enjoyed their company.

And now they're gone.

I didn't look at Caitlin, because it was pretty obvious she was more than a little sad at this turn of events as well. Not just because Captain Rex had to leave before she could get her first kiss ever, but because she had realized something a little more serious than that:

We were in serious danger. Caitlin was positive that someone would find out she had housed and taken care of the men, and then we would be killed or shipped away to some godforsaken place. Maureen and I told her a million times that she was just being a worry wart and that she should calm down, but she wouldn't take the advice.

Maureen had been really close to some of those guys, and so she was very quiet, which disturbed me, because hello it's Maureen. She is never quiet. But now, she's just staring out the window at the farming landscapes as they flew past. I'm sure that her over-reactive imagination was dreaming up the worst things that were happening to them.

And so, we drove to the big meet, the meet that would decide my future, each of us pondering our own things.

Although, my 'ponderings' were admittedly a little less dramatic than the others.

~Five hours Later~

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting the tears pool and pour their way out onto my face. My heart was pounding, and I was clutching the chair so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I reached up with a trembling hand and yanked my hair out of the bun, letting it fall. My shoulders bent with silent sobs.

I didn't win the scholarship. I didn't even place.

My mind had been so focused on the clones leaving, and the war that might make us victims, and everything else, that I had completely screwed up my floor routine. I tried to make up for it on the uneven bars, but another girl beat me out.

I was just glad my parents hadn't seen this.

I covered my face with my hands, and jumped when I felt Caitlin's hand on my back. Mo and Kat both enveloped me in a hug, and they just sat silently, letting me bawl, because I literally had no future now. I couldn't do anything right.

"Oh, poor Nat… I hate to see you like this…" Maureen said softly.

I sniveled and moaned, "I can't go to college now. What will I do? I'm not smart enough to find a way out! What will I do?"

Kat said gently, "Natalie, let's get you home. We'll figure this out, together. I promise. Okay?"

I shivered and nodded. I stood and slouched my way to get my stuff when I noticed Kat already had it all together. She side-hugged me and led me out to the truck.

On the way back to the ranch house, I stared out the window, the plains blurred by both my tears and the speed at which Kat was racing back. I sighed and relaxed back into my seat, and closed my eyes to finally get some sleep.

After my little nap, we had a quick meeting in the living room. It still smelled like them.

"What are we going to do?"

I looked up at Caitlin. "What do you mean?" I thought she was going to talk about the meet, and my future. It seemed pretty insensitive- usually Kat could read other people's feelings like books.

"Well," she said, leaning back on the leather couch and tucking her legs underneath her, "we are pretty much the only ones on this entire planet who knows the truth: that we are in danger and the people that have been deemed dangerous are in fact the only ones who can save us." She was trying to distract me from my loss.

Maureen said, "Well, obviously we can't march up to the White House and yell at the president. That would end badly."

"Duh."

I said suddenly, "Why don't we go into town, and see what's going on? They probably have a lot of stuff going on, and in the city we can see what everyone actually thinks of it. Then we could keep a record of everything, and send it to the Jedi."

Caitlin and Maureen smiled at me. "I like your thinking, Nat. Let's go right now!"

"Yes, let's- that way I can get the meet off my mind." I stood and practically ran to the car.

We had driven for about twenty minutes or so when we saw our first droid. I shook my head; I bet all the scientists in the world are drooling over this technology right now. From the way the clones talked about droids, they were crude, stupid robots, but from our point of view, this was the epitome of technology. I could suddenly see why everyone was jumping on board with the Separatists so quickly; in their minds, nothing could surpass the Separatists' level of style and knowledge.

We knew better, though.

As Caitlin drove around, and Maureen looked out the windows, a few thoughts kept rebounding inside my head: How can the U.N. not see the danger with droids running around carrying guns all over the place? Why did they just hand over the world to the Separatists? Does the government even know what they are 'separating' from? Why can't they see the obvious evil?

By the time we reached home again, a good two hours later, those thoughts had formed themselves into something. When we came into the house, I quickly grabbed a pencil and paper and started to scribble it down before I could forget. When they followed me in, I started, but continued writing furiously.

"Why are you so jumpy?" Maureen's voice asked hotly. She sounded annoyed, but I didn't answer her until I had written down the last thing. I turned, pressing the paper to my chest. Both of my best friends were standing there, regarding me with worried looks. I grinned and said, "Remember how in history we learned about Martin Luther, and those 95 Theses?"

Maureen looked taken aback, but Caitlin replied, "Of course. Why?"

"What was he doing again?"

"Opposing the Church. Ninety-five complaints against the Catholic Church."

I nodded, my breath catching, I was so excited. They still didn't understand it, but they soon will. "And what did he accomplish? Or, I guess I should say, what did he start?"

Maureen stomped her foot. "Why does it matter what that son of a miner did?"

However, Caitlin cocked her head and held my gaze. "He started the Protestant Revolution."

I grinned, "Right. A revolution. Against something he knew was wrong. He wanted to help the people." I handed them the sheet and said, "Well, so do I."

As they read, their expressions changed from confused, to stunned, to absolutely ecstatic. While Caitlin jumped around, beaming, Maureen said softly, "You should change your name. Use an alias, because these guys are dangerous."

After thinking and searching for a name that all Americans could identify with, I finally put down: Lady Liberty. "Cheesy, but it will have to do," I said, hiding a small smile.

Caitlin laughed and replied, "Ok, that works out perfectly! Mo and I will get jobs at the Separatist Center in downtown-"

"Huh?"

Maureen giggled and Caitlin said, "Apparently, in every major city- they spread fast- the Separatists have set up bases looking for 'Republic traitors'. It's in an old building, and they needed some help. So we two will go out tomorrow, get jobs, and that way-"

"And that way, we might get access to everything that they could be planning!" Maureen finished excitedly.

"It'll be dangerous." My grin faded when I thought about how much we would all be risking our lives.

She shrugged. "Someone has to do the dirty work." And with that, it was decided- three teens from Kansas City were going to plan a revolution.

When the good people of this town wake up tomorrow morning, they are going to find their entire town plastered with this note:

Dear Senators, Representatives, and Governors of the United States of America:

I am deeply disappointed in you. Ever since the birth of this nation, one we are all blessed to call home, you and your predecessors have been squabbling amongst yourselves every four years- no, let me rephrase that. Every single year since our Founding Fathers signed that document and refused to submit to the whims and wills of another country, you and your predecessors have been arguing what is best for the United States. Yet when a group who calls themselves 'righteous' and 'accepting of all' shows up from a galaxy we had no idea existed, and had never heard our pleas for help, you have handed the leader of the Separatists the keys to this country, and the world!

Have you even asked what they are separating from, or why? Have you done any background checks at all? Have you even attempted to learn anything from their previous endeavors on other planets? If you have answered no, it is most likely you have heard and listened and accepted their side of the story. Remember there are two sides to every story.

Some of the population, and maybe even some amongst yourselves, have only accepted them because they represent everyone's' childhood desire of other life than us. However, just because the Separatists arrived with fancy toys does not account for handing over the country.

Our Founding Fathers would have been upset. When they signed the Declaration of Independence over two hundred years ago, they sent a clear message to the rest of the world: America will fight for its freedom, justice, and its people.

What are you doing?

Lady Liberty