Season Three: Episode Ten (Brazil)

She slung her gun over her shoulder. She gave it a brief tug to make sure it was secure before falling in step beside Weaver. Anthony was on his left and the Berserkers were behind them. The colonel stopped, gaze drifting towards the girl. He practically ordered her to go with Tom. His mission was a lot safer than theirs. "What do you think you're doing, soldier?" he questioned, though it was more of a demand. Sometimes it was hard to see Ericka as a child. She was far too strong and brave for a sixteen-year-old girl. Ericka gave Dan a small smirk. "What does it look like? Colonel, you can't go on a possible suicide mission without your number two." She said, causing him to smile. Weaver gave her a grin and nodded. They headed for the train and not another word was exchanged.

…

She could feel the train speeding on the rails, getting further and further away from where the others were. This plan was their only option. If this plan failed, the human race would be doomed. It would only take three months for the grid to wipe out everyone. She tried to focus on something less depressing as Pope went on about Chicago style pizza. Her eyes focused on the passing scenery and she wondered how this would end. Would they be captured? Tortured? Don't think like that, she hastily criticized herself. The Masons, Maggie, Jeanne, and Hanna were the only ones to say goodbye to her before she left with Colonel Weaver and the Berserkers. Kathleen didn't even see her before she left Charleston. She was still upset about the death of her mother. She hadn't spoken since the incident. No matter what Ericka said, it seemed to have fallen upon deaf ears; because Kathleen refused to listen. Ericka thought about Ben and how he begged her to come back to him safely. That was a promise she didn't intend on breaking. The other promise, oddly, was for Jeanne. Ericka's stormy blue eyes studied Colonel Weaver, who was eyeing Lourdes. Lourdes was caked in a layer of sweat. Her body jerked ever so slightly with a tiny tremor. She promised to keep her dad safe. Dan was the only family Jeanne had left. A blinding light snapped her from her thoughts. "Gentlemen! It's been an honor and a pleasure serving with you, so let's give them hell!" he shouted over the noise. Pope opened the door, tilting out and aiming the Volm weapon.

Ericka grabbed the rocket launcher and handed it to Dan as he opened the other door. He fired the aliens, instantly taking out one of the ships.

"We're going to die!" Pope screamed over the noise. As Colonel Weaver went to reload, Ericka appeared in his place. She fired the machine gun in her arms. The gun made her look immanently smaller. "Bet you we won't!" she shouted back. Ericka was persistent, which could occasionally be a bad thing. "Tell you what, kid; if we live, I'll carry you all the way to camp on my back!" he replied, blasting another shot from the Volm gun. Smiling, she nodded (though he wasn't paying any attention to her). "Deal!" Ericka shouted back.

…

To say that Ben was worried would be wrong; he wasn't worried, he was afraid. Ben was afraid that something would happen to his girlfriend; that she wouldn't make it back. The thought of her dying made him start to panic. So, when the crowds outside cheered and curiosity got the best of Tom and Ben Mason, they headed to see what was happening. Walking outside of the tent with his father, he spotted Colonel Weaver's crew. His brown eyes scanned the small group, searching for Ericka. It wasn't until he saw her hop off of Pope's before his panic faded. Her smile was the widest he's ever seen it. Before Ben knew what was happening, she jumped into his arms. He didn't mention the dry blood on the side of her temple where she was hardly cut. Ben was just glad that she was alive. She was elated that they had won this battle. It was a start to winning the war.

He picked her up a few inches off the ground, swinging her around.

The rest of the night they stood up, celebrating. Ericka forced him to dance with her, though he wasn't any good. She even belted out a few lyrics to the man strumming the guitar. When the celebration ended at in the wee hours of the morning, they headed to a tent for some privacy.

…

Everyone was rushing to gather up their things. None of them wanted to be relocated to Brazil. This was their fight, their war on their planet! They weren't going to roll over and let the Volm take over. The Resistance came too far to just give up. Ericka shivered as a breeze brushed past her. Goosebumps arose on her cream-colored skin. She continued to help pack what little food they brought with them. The people seemed to stop as Cochise approached with the Volm behind him. The fighters moved towards him, standing about ten feet apart. He tried to explain how it would be peaceful and safe in Brazil. They didn't want safe, they wanted to fight. Pope suggested they fight their way through. She knew that they couldn't, but the offer was tempting.

After Colonel Weaver and Cochise argued, they were ordered to lay down their weapons. It wasn't something she agreed with, but obeyed nonetheless. She followed the others to the table. Ericka set her rifle down on the table beside the other various guns. Her eyes spotted a pistol. Quickly, she snatched it and tucked the gun into the back of her jeans. Ericka nonchalantly pulled her shirt over the protruding gun as she walked away. None of them would notice a missing pistol. She thought that she was sly, but she hadn't accounted for the one person who saw her.

Maggie pushed past the crowd, following the brunette. Jogging a few short steps, she grabbed her arm. "What do you think you're doing?"

Her voice was cold as ice or as thick as acid. The humans didn't need another enemy, especially the Volm. Maggie didn't want Ericka to do something stupid. "Packing up for Brazil." Ericka replied, just as vicious. She yanked back her arm.

…

As Ben put his arm around her waist, his fingers brushed against the gun slightly sticking out of her jeans. Her eyes widened, knowing that he felt it. The Volm went too far. They were still holding Tom as prisoner, forcing them into a concentration camp. "Why do you_" she cut him off with a kiss. "Just trust me." Ericka whispered when her lips parted from his. She wasn't quite sure what her plan was but when Cochise led them to Tom and the guns, then told them they could go, she was glad that she didn't have a plan.

Ericka chided herself on how stupid she was. What if she had done something to jeopardize their alliance with the Volm?

…

The six of them slowly crept across the grass, near the woods. Their guns were positioned, ready at any moment to fire if something attacked. The moon cast a luminous glow on the six of them as they crept along. They stopped when Karen emerged from the trees with a white flag. Ericka glared daggers at her. She wanted the blonde dead after all the pain, aggravation, and evil she caused. There were two Skitters and a Mega-Mech. She didn't care who shot Karen, she only wished her dead. As her discussion with Tom continued, Ericka kept her focus on the Skitters strategically positioned on either side of their leader. Knowing she had to be ready for anything, she waited. All they had to do was move the slightest inch.

"To prove my good faith, I brought a gift; one I think you'll appreciate, Tom." Karen finally announced.

He gave an ironic chuckle. "That's funny; I have a gift for you." He said, pulling the trigger. He shot her in her stomach. Tom wasn't proud of himself. He wasn't happy about letting hate into his heart after he found out about Anne. Though this victory against the Eshpeni, and shooting Karen was something he could be happy about. As soon as she fell, the Skitters and Mech attacked. Three more aliens came out from hiding to help their comrades. All of it happened so fast. Just as the fight begun, it ended. The grass was littered with five dead Skitters, a demolished Mega-Mech, and a blonde girl's unmoving body. Ericka found herself grinng upon Karen's lifeless body. Ben came up from behind her. So much had happened in the past year, not only with the war, but with them. Now, they were finally at this state of peacefulness. As she watched Karen (perhaps waiting for her to move), Ben grabbed Ericka's hand. Both of them could relish in the fact that Karen was finally dead.

…

Trying to understand how Lexi appeared to be that old made Ericka's head ache. So, she stopped thinking about how Lexi shouldn't look six and how long it would be to Charleston. Or what was next for the resistance, what was next for them. She walked up to Ben, hugging him from behind. He turned around, facing her. Her hair was up in a ponytail with a few strands of hair falling out. Ben tucked a one of the thin brown strands behind her ear. She blushed when he did it, making him grin even more than he already was. They defeated one of their greatest threats. It wasn't the end of the war, but it was the beginning of something new.

Just as they were about to kiss, a familiar voice called someone's name. "Lexi!"

It was Tom. The couple watched carefully. Lexi's hand was inside Lourdes' cage near the infected girl's mouth. Something tiny and black poured out onto the younger girl's hand. Tom and Colonel Weaver stood over Lexi, watching her in wonder, shock, and fear. She crushed whatever was in her hand like a bug. As Ericka squinted her eyes to see, she noticed Lourdes return back to normal. She wasn't sweating or shaking. Tears of joy escaped her eyes as muttered prayers in some sort of Spanish escaped her lips. Ericka was stunned, confused, and upset. Lexi would have it rough back in Charleston. A lot of people still didn't accept the deharnessed kids. Ben also seemed shocked. His sister would be treated terribly because of several facts (she's half alien, she looks six, etc.), but she just cured Lourdes. That by itself was strange.

Only one thought came to Ericka's mind; things just got way more complicated.

AN: Sorry this took WAY too long. I'm not sure that I like this chapter, but oh well. Please review! And I'm trying to figure out how to set up a poll to vote on the next story I do.

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