Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Regina and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Light Shining Amongst The Darkness Chapter 6
After the disaster that happened with Ben, Jimmy, and the Skitters Colonel Weaver is taking no chances. They need to make sure the 2nd Massachusetts location remains secure. That's the main priority right now right beside the medics doing everything they can to preserve Jimmy's life. So Tom Mason is sent out with Pope and his Berserkers to do a final sweep of the area. That way they can make sure any Skitters that have the nerve to stick around in the area are eradicated promptly and swiftly.
There are so many others they have to think about.
By the time Tom Mason, Pope, and the Berserkers reached the coordinates Bench relayed to them the fire had completely died out with a number of dead Skitters scattered all over the place.
"Well, there's a pretty site," said Pope.
Bending down to check out the state of some Skitters, Anthony surmised "Oh, they got these two real good."
Hard for them not to be impressed with Ben and Jimmy's handiwork from that perspective.
That is for most of them if they didn't have kids, unlike Tom.
Sarcastically, Tector said "Blackened Skitter. Yum."
Poking it in the gut with the nozzle of his rifle to inspect, Pope laughed "That's our dragon's breath. Little bastards used our ammo."
Tector quickly claims the remade flamethrower that had the dragon's breath the teenagers unintentionally left behind after the fight with the passing Skitter group in the mixed chaos.
Pope and his Berserkers had been trying to develop some new weapons to use in combat. Crude yet effective as can be seen from the surrounding carnage. Ben and Jimmy must've swiped some before they left on patrol, or to put it better they snuck away.
Spotting an object hidden underneath leaves and grass Tom picks it up.
"What do you got there," questions Pope.
Rolling it over in his hands, quietly, Tom said "It's Jimmy's compass."
That had to have accidentally dropped during the skirmish.
Doing one final scan, Pope said "Well there's no Skitters for 100 miles."
Uh yes there is.
Telltale chirping and clicking noises alert the team to Skitters nearby approaching fast.
Instantly taking an expert charge of the situation, Tom ordered "Take up defensive positions in those trees. Go! Go! Go!"
None of them need to be told twice.
"What," said Pope.
"Now," whispered Tom, sharply, not in the mood for senseless arguing.
Annoyed about this as he conceals himself in the trees with the others, keeping his voice down as a precaution just incase, Pope whispers "What the hell is the matter with you, Mason?"
Tom then subtly points at the Skitters that now appear right where they were standing mere seconds ago. The Skitters slowly gather around their fallen comrades.
"Let's light them up," said Pope.
Shaking his head, Tom said "No, don't Hold your fire."
Slowly craning his head around towards Tom in a threatening manner, Pope said "Did you just give my guys an order?"
"They're just collecting their dead," explained Tom.
Pope's not having it.
"Tector. Lyle. Blow their heads off," said Pope.
The two Pope was speaking to ready their weapons.
"No. Don't. Don't. Don't," said Tom.
A Mech then steps into the small clearing.
"Well crap," sighs Lyle in disappointment.
None of them can attack with that Mech having arrived. They'll get creamed with such little artillery on hand.
"Just let them get what they came for," said Tom.
Not like they have any other choice.
Just as the Mech begins gathering the Skitter corpses spread around everywhere another Skitter arrives on scene.
This one Tom immediately recognizes and cannot believe his eyes when he does.
It's the same Skitter with the red and messed up eye. Tied around its chest is a blanket wrapped in a fashion that allows him to cradle something to its chest.
"Oh my god," murmured Tom.
"What? What is it," presses Pope.
"I know that Skitter. It's the same one I faced before I escaped from the enemy," said Tom, eyes wide.
"What the hell," said Anthony, seeing the same exact thing as everyone else.
What startles Anthony so badly is the hand that pokes out from the blanket and the head that soon follows.
Regina.
Regina sticks her head out peering around and at the other Skitters. In the process the doll she is currently playing with that she loves so much slips from her arms into the dirt.
Red Eye scoops to catch the doll and then returns it straight to Regina's eager hands.
Regina hugs it close. If she hugs it any tighter the doll's head might pop off.
"Is that a baby," said Crazy Lee in disbelief.
"It would seem so," said Lyle.
Red Eyes press a hand into Regina's back, resettling Regina on his chest and readjusting the blanket to shield her from the cooler temperatures.
Red Eye then calls a command to his followers and then they leave.
Tom, Pope, and the Berserkers wait a few seconds before daring to step out into the open again once it is safe.
"Well that was damn close," said Crazy Lee, jittery.
Nodding, Anthony said "Good call, Tom."
Grudgingly, Pope said "Yeah. Good call."
Tom doesn't answer them. His thoughts on something else entirely.
"I wasn't seeing things," said Tom, absentmindedly.
"Tom," said Anthony, catching that last bit.
"When I was held prisoner I saw a baby briefly outside my holding cell. When I was brought before one of their leaders they said that they don't acquire babies so I thought I was just seeing things. But now…that is the very baby I saw on the ship," said Tom.
"What are the Skitters doing with a baby," said Anthony.
"I don't know," said Tom.
None of them do.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.
