When they returned back to camp, the first thing Ben could even think of doing was ask anyone who was outside, including Dr. Glass and Austin, if Anna had returned before they did. But every answer was the same.

She hadn't.

She never came back to camp.

'She was kidnapped and harnessed, she had to have been. The aliens wouldn't have just missed out on an opportunity to take an important person from the 2nd Mass. away,' he thought to himself.

Ben followed closely behind his father as they stepped inside of the tent that was currently serving as Headquarters. It was anything but calm inside as all of the higher-ranked people bickered back and forth over solutions to the layering problems at hand.

"We need to get moving as soon as possible. If the aliens were able to send that attack then they most likely know where we are."

"I agree with Anthony, it's not safe here anymore." Di added in.

"You're both right. The sooner we're away from here the better, especially after that attack." Captain Weaver announced.

"But we can't just leave without Anna!" Ben hopped into the conversation from behind his father, surprising the Captain.

"Now look son, I know how close you've gotten to her and you don't want her going through the same unfortunate things you did but you need to understand the situation that we're in. Our location's been compromised and this whole thing that we've created is at an even higher risk than usual."

"Captain, I hate to say that I agree with spikey over there. But the girl has been a vital addition to our team. And plus, we don't want to have to deal with her and Karen, because I'm sure they're going to use her for the same thing. The situations are very similar" Pope joined sides with Ben, though he didn't want to. But what he was saying was completely factual.

"If I didn't know any better Pope, I would say you have a little soft spot in that rotted heart of yours for Anna."

That shut him up fast. Weaver took the silent treatment from the infamous leader of the Berserkers as an indication to continue to address the problem.

"Since it seems that there's a division between us over what to do, I'm going to leave the decision to you, Tom."

The whole room looked at Tom expectantly. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and looked at his feet, hoping to avoid the pleading stare his son was giving him. He didn't want anyone else to decide, he wanted this to be the best decision to keep everyone alive no matter who it made unhappy or happy. He sighed as he made his final decision and looked up at Ben apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Ben, but we need to do what's best for the whole of the 2nd Mass. You saw that attack, they could do it again and take all of the kids here, including you. I'm not letting that happen for the sake of one person, no matter how fond we all are of her. We'll have to wait until we're settled into our next location to go out and find her." Tom attempted to place his hand on his shoulder, but Ben quickly moved away, a look of disbelief plastered on his face.

"By the time we settle somewhere else, she'll already have a harness strapped onto her back!" Ben argued.

"Then we'll rescue her and safely remove it! We've done it to many kids, including you!"

"Yeah, and look how I've turned out!"

Silence fell upon everyone watching the painfully tense scene in the tent. Tom felt as if he punched right in the gut, and Ben was on the verge of frustrated tears, but neither of them tore their stares off of each other. They were at a complete stand-still. Tom knew his decision was best for the safety of the 2nd Mass., but he hated putting Ben through more than heaps of things he's already had to deal with.

As if on cue to interrupt the tense moment, Hal ran into the tent with alarming news.

"Captain Weaver, I think the aliens sent us a message."

· · · · · · · ·

Weaver and the rest of the fighters pushed through the civilians, who were all gathered around in a circle as if they were surrounding two people fighting. But nobody was chanting or cheering. Everyone just stood and observed, some in silence, others whispering to each other. But everybody felt the same things- fear and confusion.

Finally, the group made it through, and in front of them was something they thought they'd only see in Sci-Fi movies. It was a screen, but that's it. It had no structure or body to it, and it was floating, as if on a string. Weaver hesitantly began to make his way too it, but before he could even touch it, an image flashed onto the screen, causing him to back up again next to Tom. A video began to play that brought back horrible memories of rescuing Matt and Jeanie and her friends from the harnessing facility and Ben especially was reminded of those horrible moments from first-hand experience.

Because on the screen was a skitter in a harnessing facility with one person strapped to a table.

And that person was Anna.

The whole 2nd Mass. became very uncomfortable as they watched someone they've all grown very friendly with in her last moments of being a normal teenage girl like she should be. Her fate's been sealed and no matter how much they wish this wasn't the case, there wasn't a thing they could do. Nobody would be able to save her in time the way they did for Matt and Jeanie.

Karen came into view, followed by her master, the Overlord.

"You have one remaining chance to tell us what the 2nd Mass. is planning and their techniques as to how they've avoided defeat." The Overlord spoke to her through Karen.

"And why would I do that?" She spat back.

"In exchange for your life. A normal life back with the 2nd Mass. With your friends. With Austin Clark and Ben Mason. Where you've never felt more at home."

"Just talking about the 2nd Mass. reminds me that I'll never give them up! I'd rather die!" Anna growled back at Karen, who's face turned dropped in an instant.

"You're making a mistake, Anna Lepetri. You're going to wish you were dead."

And with those last threatening words, Karen left with the Overlord, leaving Anna alone with the skitter to receive her fate. The sound of a siren went off, signaling memories in Ben's mind. Images of his harnessing came back to him.

The way the harness swam down to your body.

The way it's slime felt as it slowly climbed up your back, stopping at your neck.

The feeling in your stomach, telling you that this is it.

He watched it all happen to Anna on the screen as if it were him all over again. But he saw how Anna never looked afraid, not once. Her courage was one of the many things Ben had admired since he met her- from the courage of talking about his spikes to him when they first met, to the way she would risk her life for anyone on every mission. She didn't deserve this. He could think of so many people who deserved this over her. Ben knew Karen was right. Being harnessed is so much worse than being dead.

Everyone held their breaths as they watched the front and back of the slug-like harness snap and connect into her. She transformed in front of them in an instant. She was no longer the brave, easy-going teenager. She was a slave now, an unwilling member of their army.

Tom bowed his head down in defeat, while Weaver shut his eyes tight, wishing he didn't have to see that. Pope even took his handgun and threw it back into camp in anger before stomping away. Slowly the crowd followed his lead and people tried to return to their everyday lives, but they couldn't get the images out of their heads. Even Tom and Weaver retreated back to Headquarters to discuss the plans.

All that remained was Ben who had his eyes glued to the screen, and Hal who had his eyes glued to Ben. Hal came up behind him and gently placed a hang on his slumped shoulder and sighed, for he was upset as well. But he had to try and be strong for his heartbroken brother.

"Ben, I'm sorry about Anna, I-"

But before Hal could even finish, Ben turned on his heels and ran into the forest, alone.