"Hey kiddo."

Shiva gently stood from the bench in weaponry as Lilja was escorted in. She rarely had the gawk of a lost fawn, but Lilja was entering bounds of the lab she never seen before. In fact, she was squandered to the militant base sector. A place only her keepers would see. Far stranger was seeing Shiva in the forbidden limits with her.

"You alright?" Shiva asked shortly after, watching Lilja's wide eyes pace from corner to corner. Dwindling to see all of the guns and armour. The guards stood by the doors, doing their best to pretend they weren't listening.

"I don't know…" Lilja replied dryly.

Shiva kept an optimistic tone and said, "Well, we finally get to leave. Wish it could be under better circumstances… but…"

Then Riley entered, an urgency to his debut. He was already saying as he came through the doors, "Alright. I'll show you two how to get your armour on. We decided weapons might not be the greatest plan, but I don't really think the two of you are gonna need that, anyway."

Shiva was prompt in her reply, "We don't need armour, either. Aren't we just the recon guys? Sniff out what's what and let the heroes do what they do?"

"There's no point in armour for anyone against them." Lilja finally muttered, her slight voice startling the two. It was an ominous truth, but it stayed with both of them.

Shiva said nonchalantly, "There you go. One little zap and armour is as useful as your nipples."

"Out there I can assure you it'll be our utmost importance to keep you two alive, so I'm gonna stress it. We don't know what to predict out there. But, hey, we can't control you two, so you want to go into a war without armour, that's on you. At least grab some coats or something. It's November."

Shiva shrugged and glanced to Lilja, who gave a subtle and lifeless nod. "Fine. I'm sure we'll find something."

"Once your suited up, we'll get the brief from the General, then we'll be off to D.C."

"We get a one on one with Bush, too?" Shiva amused.

Riley tried not to smile, "I'm afraid not."

"The aliens probably heard him speak and zapped the White House into rubble."

The patriotism in the room was slightly bruised to hear it. But wisely stayed quiet. Lilja was oblivious on where she'd even begin to understand the discussion. Riley shook his head and said to one of the guards. "Bring them up to the lobby when they're done."

"Yes, sir."

Shiva called as Riley turned the knob. "See you out there, Lieutenant."

As the door closed, Shiva tossed Lilja a jacket that fell through her arms. "Look alive. Just stay with me and you'll be okay, Lil." Shiva assured, sneaking quick glances to Lilja as she put her jacket on. "Whatever happens, you'll have me there."

"You can't protect me out there," said Lilja sullenly, "No one can."

Shiva zipped up her camo clad and raised a brow. "You think hiding here is the best option?"

"No. They'll come here, too."

The MPs at the door glanced to each other worryingly to hear it. Lilja continued, "I guess we will… die faster out there. The worst is the waiting."

"You don't think the strat will work?"

"I don't know."

"What do you know?"

Lilja glanced to the MPs at the doors and didn't say anything before returning it to Shiva. Then a sudden headache gripped at Shiva's forehead – spreading to her temples, then to her ears. Lilja's voice followed swiftly after, but not from Lilja's mouth.

"There's no point."

The strained and blue veins in Lilja's forehead spread and faded in the time she said it.

Shiva sighed, "If there's no point, stay out of my head. I'm sure these guys feel the same way." She gestured to the MPs. "Look, I'm scared, too. But… if I get to choose where I can die. I'll choose under a blue sky than a white cell. That's if I die. I won't prepare for the worst. Instead, I'm gonna tell you I'm going to do everything I can to protect you. Can you at least do the same for me? It'll mean a lot more coming from you."

Lilja sat on the bench, "Why?"

"Because you're the only one I know who can protect me out there."

Lilja's eyes wilted, and the room stayed quiet with just the suspense of her answer left. Shiva's vulnerability was a true rarity. So rare it even shook Lilja.

"I won't let anything happen to you," said Lilja unblinking, but her eyes still soft, "I promise."

"That's my girl," smiled Shiva. The relief of seeing a part of Lilja that had fight was far more impacting than knowing her life was protected by telekinetic ability. For that was Shiva's goal, all along.

One of the MPs said at the doors, "Let's get a move on, you two."

"Gonna be awkward trailing with Riley and Webb, though." Shiva mentioned as she approached the doors.

Lilja sat up, "You and Riley?"

"Yeah. Whatever that is."

The MPs opened the doors for the two and Lilja replied, "He still likes you, by the way."

Lilja and Shiva joining the soldiers before the elevators was an alarming sight. Two women out of place without armour, one of them a child. Yet they were their salvation. Their last weapon.

Webb walked through the crowd and faced them before the elevator gate. "Alright, attention." Salutes spread through the rabble, with only Lilja and Shiva not complying. "As many of you know, we are facing a threat that is global. It's something we do not understand, and it's something that far outweighs our own mech. All we know so far is that those machines were buried on Earth long before humanity had the wits to notice. Which means they've been here before, and considering their technology, they probably have us all figured out. Those lightning storms are a method of transporting them from their ship to those machines without alarming us. At least not until they bury out of the ground in those machines, and by that time, they don't need to worry much, do they? These things are titans of destruction. They can destroy an entire mechanized unit in a moment. As we are speaking now, we are one of the few guard units still keeping communication. The army is stretched thin through the States and is breaking fast, so it's desperate times. Desperate times call for desperate measures. With that said, we're bringing Lilja Orlov and Shiva Amani with us on a reconnaissance mission."

Jugheads slowly turned their gaunt glares to the two women. The General continued, "The mission is scouring the East Coast's major cities and refugee populaces for tripods. Destroying as many as we can and salvaging as much human life as possible before moving on west. For those of you that saw the display of Orlov and Amani in the observation decks, they will be our bread and butter through the mission."

Lilja looked up to Shiva, who simply smiled down to her – a silent reassurance.

"Amani and Orlov will advance first and assess. Orlov has the ability to see what these things are thinking. She lets us know their plan; we plan against it. Amani will conduct a distraction to either divert them away from our advance, or herd them to a point where our mechanized units can do their stuff. Before that happens, the most crucial execution is Orlov. As soon as she gives the green light a tripod's shield is disabled, we will fire without mercy until our target is down. Any weapon against these things has proven nothing more than a deterrent. This is our chance to change that. To turn the tide and finally drive the counterattack these things never thought coming. To avenge our fallen and preserve liberty for as long as we keep breathing. Even if our work is small. Even if it doesn't play out the way we want it. We will still throw as much as we can muster until our last man. Because it is our duty to our country and Her people. Because it's the only thing that we can do. Now… any questions?"

The crowd stayed quiet. A few guardsmen's 'no, sirs' weakly falling out.

The General continued, "Lastly. Perhaps the most important above civilian and comrade life, is the lives of Orlov and Amani. These two are humanity's only chance in fighting back. If their lives are at risk, all deployments go towards their safekeeping, understand?"

Reluctant but obedient, the soldiers said in unison, "Yes, sir." Lilja didn't have to read their minds, she knew the glory-seeking soldiers did not value her and Shiva's lives over civilians or each other. Even themselves. If anything, the tripod menace was kindred to how the soldiers felt for the two. The same degree of otherworldly.

"With that said, let's move out."

Coming up from the lab was like coming into another only disguised as a lab. It was a government facility – a front – harbouring nothing but a bleak and empty lobby. No power or personnel. Certainly, it could have been bustling with life and some kind of purpose a while ago. Given the global climate, it was reasonable the place was abandoned. General Webb exercised extreme caution with his soldiers. Praying the mechanized unit would still be out on the airfield waiting for their entrance. That they wouldn't open the doors to a 100-foot tripod coming up over the hill.

As they approached the doors, Riley fell back with Lilja and Shiva, his hand on his weapon but not drawing it from the holster. Shiva asked Lilja, "You can sense them, right?"

Lilja didn't answer, not because she didn't have one or because she didn't want to. She didn't hear a thing other than static. The rustle of every soldier and boots hitting linoleum floor became white noise. Thoughts of panic flooded together into chaos, and for once, she decided not to indulge her curiosity, and she stayed focused on her own mind. Years had come and went since she last stepped foot from the lab. Years so far back she could barely recall them. She too felt like the invader. Coming into a world unknown and foreboding. And it wasn't even the world it should be. It was being attacked and morphed into something none of them recognized.

Outside the sheet of glass windows was an open sky above hilling grove. The sky was an orange haze, getting its colour from the sun behind pillows of smoke. Stalking from the nearest city to their base. Washington D.C. They advanced through the lobby towards the airfield hangar – barging through as if war was just outside. All that was immediately heard when the General pried the doors open was the chopping of rotors from a helicopter. The whooshing wind thrusted through the doors behind them, hitting Lilja and Shiva next. The first breath of fresh air wasn't at all what Lilja was expecting. She didn't think it would smell so burnt. The ash from D.C could have been mistaken for November snow. For Lilja, this was simply her impression of the world, for the soldiers and Shiva, it was a reminder they were in a war.

Riley ordered, "You two will be in my humvee." They followed him into the open airfield, and helicopters, tanks and other mechanized vehicles started their formation already out into public roads. The humvee they had wasn't suited in weaponry, it was simply a moat of transportation for Lilja and Shiva. The only weapon was fastened on Riley's holster. General Webb joined his men on one of the apaches.

Shiva remarked aloud as Renick steered the three off the airfield with the rest of the convoy, "Doesn't seem fair. We stay grounded like this, we're the first to get hit."

"Think of it this way," said Riley, "Those apaches are the sword. You two are the shield. Gotta stun and disarm your opponent before you can swing that sword. If you try to shield with your sword, you risk it flying from your grasp. That's why we need you two on the ground. If one of those things beams the Apache with you two on it, then it's game over indefinitely."

Shiva chuckled to herself, "Yeah, okay, Aragorn."

"What's a sword?" Lilja asked tepidly.

"You'll have far more cloak on ground than in the sky, trust me." Riley assured, but Shiva still wasn't convinced. She kept her worry to herself, certain to not rise it in Lilja. She stared up to the skies moving fast against the speeding vehicle. The trees flying behind her and the sound of so many militant crafts whirring was jarring. The first warning of something bad soon to come.

Hours of their travel past, and the convoy was an unrelenting force against terrain. The power and energy fed the soldiers. As long as their convoy moved, they'd stay alert to the skies. Adrenaline coursing like they were already in the heat of battle. Yet it was just the flight of fear knowing what they were driving towards. Fighting against their own doubts of the mission. As were Shiva and Lilja. Until now, their abilities were reserved for people. For their own mayhem. Now it was to be used against a foe neither could comprehend. And the guarantee it would be as effective as it was against their own kind wasn't certain. The more time passed, the more apparent their efforts were a likeness to a gamble.

When night arrived, they came into a clearing from the pines. Open agriculture, accenting the horizon of the red sunset. Lilja's thoughts kept driving to the tripods themselves. As if her thoughts were being invaded, as well. Then a rip in her gut of something terrible. Close and encroaching fast. The feeling only grew stronger until she was forced to indulge it. When she did, her panic drove her stiff as a board.

Riley had been staring into the backlights of the humvee in front of them for hours, lost in his own contemplation. He finally remembered he had others in the vehicle beside him. Even though they were strictly seen as weaponry to his comrades, he couldn't separate they were people, too. One of them being a child.

"How you holding up back there, Orlov? Need a colouring book? A juice box?"

Shiva snarled at his comment, "God, you're a dick, Ken."

"How? I'm checking on her. Lilja, how you doin'?"

She wasn't answering. Shiva turned her head back, "Lil, you okay?"

Then she muttered against the throttle and roar of the convoy, "We need to turn around."

"What?" Shiva's alarm brought Riley's eyes to the rear view mirror. He could tell by Lilja's pallor gawk into his backseat that something was up.

"North, coming south. Towards us. Over the hill." Lilja shot her bloodshot eyes to Riley and Shiva. "It's getting closer."

"What is? A tripod?!" Shiva exclaimed, and Riley's head whipped around.

He demanded, "Is there a tripod near?"

"Yes!" Lilja yelled, "We need to turn around!"

Riley didn't waste time in getting on the station, "All units of Scouts 84, we may have a problem. Orlov's stating there's a tripod coming up North hill ahead."

The hill was at least 5 miles away, but that time was steadily getting shorter as both convoy and tripod made their steady commute to meet.

Riley clicked off the radio and hissed, "Shit! We do not have the advantage out here. We're in the open."

"Turn around!" Lilja snapped heatedly.

"We can't just turn around!" He got on the radio again, "General Webb, your orders, sir."

Before the General could radio back, Shiva snatched Riley's forearm, "I can maybe do something but there's no guarantee it will work."

"We kinda need a guarantee here!"

The General screeched through the radio, "Get ready for combat, tripod is coming in hot from the North."

Riley gritted his teeth and raged, "No, no, no! We can't fight it out here, we'll be decimated, General!"

"Get the convoy to stop and the choppers to either fly away or fall back. You want to avoid combat, trust me on this. Everyone needs to stay still, everyone." Shiva snatched the radio out of Riley's clasp, "Webb, if you don't want your men to die, you'll listen to me. Order everyone to stop the convoy and turn off their vehicles and not move an inch, do you understand? If anyone doesn't do what I say, we're all going to die."

"Amani, what are you…"

Lilja exclaimed, "It's getting closer!"

"Webb! Now!"

There were a few moments wasted in panic-riddled silence. Then Webb's authority roared through the radios of their humvee and every unit attached to the convoy.

"This is General Webb, all vehicles of Scout 84 formation must stop their vehicles and turn them off at once. No moving, no speaking. Orders are life or death. Stop the convoy, now!"

As he blared it, the traffic began to heed. Brake lights flashed and the clap of the rotors from the apaches drifted west over coulees. One by one each tank, heavy expanded mobility tactical truck and humvee came to a stand still before turning off their idle. For many of the soldiers, they were brimming in doubt – helpless like sitting ducks. Now sitting in silence, they could hear the faint rumble of the tripod coming over the hill. The cry of its rhythmic engine gaining closer.

Lilja whispered in a choke of her voice, "Shiva…"

"Do not speak. No one speaks." She hissed back. Shiva raised her fist to her chest and bowed her head. She kept that stance as the three headlights peered over the hill, gaining the convoys first glare of their adversary. The most unnatural thought was a full and vengeful unit of the National Guard not taking action. Not flurrying into adrenaline and firing their weapons. Instead, all soldiers were obedient to their orders. Being instructed by other lieutenants and captains to not move a muscle or even whisper a word. Some didn't even breathe. Their fragile hope in Shiva's ability was their only salvation.

It's frame definitely towered over 100 feet high. High enough it could almost be mistaken for some kind of radio tower or skyscraper if seen from a far enough distance. Then as it encroached the likeness of it being anything man-made was completely implausible. It moved with such life it could barely be recalled as any kind of machine. It was a Goliath – a monster. Three legs curving with such ease like a sea creature. Harbouring a giant, triangular head like a squid. A small torso jointed to the three legs – it too would glide with the movements. Three headlights to its face swivelled and looked around as any creature would. Seeking prey.

As it gained closer, the ground shook viciously. Tossing the soldiers in their vehicles around like mice in a live trap. The whirring of its engine was louder now as it approached, suiting the emotionless visor of the tripod staring blankly ahead. It's legs moving in tandem fluidly.

The lights shined over their convoy, and it created a unity of dread. That any moment it would flash its beams and turn them to dust. Then the lights glided past, staring up into the fields, then grazing back over the military vehicles to the field on the right. As if they were invisible.

Riley slowly turned his stiff head to Shiva, who still had her head bowed and fist to her chest. Her eyes clenched shut and brows stressed. Unbelievably enough, the confirmation her abilities would work on the adversary was a slight relief. Even as the tripod started to tower over their convoy as it came only a yard away. When its legs reached ground, it created a tumultuous quake of Earth. Sending the individuals in their vehicles off their seats. As if they were in a Jurassic Park movie.

Lilja dared to do it, she feared to, but she did. She caught the faint intent of the beings inside that tripod overhead. The madness of their language was surely overwhelming. It wasn't a language that could be conformed by humans. However, their intentions were far easier to read. Thankfully, whatever drove the behemoth overhead was not aware of them. Instead, it was making its trek south to find others like it. To debrief. As if they too had their own militant strategy.

It got at least half a kilometre away before it blared its thunderous and harrowing trumpet. It was far away, but the horn was loud enough still. So loud it stalled their hearts as it cried. Like some kind of primitive battle cry from Hell. Like the song of death. After the sound left, as did the tripod, obliviously unaware it had passed a hearty brigade of humans to destroy. As the shock of what had happened slowly fleeted away, the knowing it was Shiva that had spared them throttled their convoy in various reaction. Some confused, some terrified of the sheer ability, most completely overwhelmed and amazed it had actually worked.

Shiva slowly released her stance, as she did so a rush of blood came from her left nostril. Her left eye was bloodshot, as well, and her face reddened and veinous. She let go of a pent-up breath of pain and pinched at her forehead. As she did so, Riley and Lilja sighed out air, too.

"Jesus Christ…" Riley croaked, wiping the sweat from his face. "If we didn't know if your tricks would work on them, we definitely know now. Shiva, that was…"

Then the radio for their humvee blared with Webb, "We see it moving south. All units report in."

"This is Lieutenant Kenneth Riley with Lilja Orlov and Shiva Amani, we're here, over."

"Copy that, Lieutenant. What happened?"

"It… walked past us. Didn't notice us. Or didn't seem to notice us. We stayed incognito until it advanced out of sight. Amani did something, I don't exactly know what but…"

"Whatever she did, it worked. All that matters." Then the General ordered to the entirety of the brigade, "Everyone commence formation, onwards to D.C."

Riley answered, "Yes, sir."

The humvee roared alive again, as well as the engines of all heavy mobility in their unit. It was as if it was just a small hiccup in their operation, but it left a lasting terror. To how close they came to its destructive calamity. As if they touched the shoulder of Death and walked away unscathed. In that terror birthed hope. Hope in Shiva and Lilja's abilities for their unit and for their mission – that maybe they will be the definite resolve of humanity's strife.