Ben knew he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He needed Jackson’s support when it came to obtaining any military intervention for his people.
“Okay,” Ben answered. “But if we do find something there, if Abe was telling the truth, everybody here at this facility is protected by the military. You guys fight for this place like it was your home base. Deal?”
“Deal. Now, you go and get what you need to in order for us to make a stand against this camp,” Jackson said. “And make sure you pack one for me, too.” He clapped Ben on the shoulder and then started to walk away.
“And where are you going?” Ben asked.
“Take a look around,” Jackson answered. “I’d ask for a tour, but I know you’re busy.”
Ben watched as Jackson cruised around the facility. He didn’t like the idea of the colonel walking around unsupervised, and when he saw Nancy nearby, he pulled her closer.
“I want you to keep an eye on him,” Ben said.
“He’s the colonel?” Nancy asked.
“Yeah,” Ben answered. “I don’t think he’s going to cause any trouble, but just make sure nobody messes with him while he’s looking around, okay?”
Nancy nodded. She had come a long way since the EMP was detonated. She was almost unrecognizable, and Ben knew she had gone through a lot of suffering to get to this point.
“Thank you,” Ben said. “And watch your back.”
“Will do, Mr. Riker,” Nancy said.
Nancy followed Jackson, and Ben headed toward their portable so he could speak with Liz. He needed to catch her up to speed on what was going on so she could handle the affairs here at the facility while he was gone. But as he finished telling Liz about the plan, she didn’t react the way he thought she would.
“I don’t want you to go,” Liz said.
“It’s not like I am excited to go myself,” Ben replied. “That’s the deal Jackson wanted to make.”
“Then make a new deal,” Liz replied. “How much more do we have to give this guy before we lose everything.”
Ben knew she was stressed. Ever since Sarah had been taken by Mark, she had been on edge. But that was the reason why Ben knew he needed to go. “We don’t have the manpower to withstand a full assault from the enemy.”
“But you don’t know if they’ll even find us,” Liz said. “You’re basing all of this on a hunch.”
“Mark knows where we are,” Ben said. “It’s only a matter of time before he tells his people about us.”
“How can you be sure Mark will tell his people about us?” Liz asked. “I know the two of you have a terrible history with one another, but he had an opportunity to kill you and Sarah, but he didn’t do it. Don’t you think that means something?”
“It means he has another chance,” Ben answered. “I need to go and make this right so we don’t have trouble in the long term. Okay?”
It was clear Liz didn’t agree with his argument, but she dropped the subject and helped him pack to leave for the trip. Once they had enough rations for Ben and Jackson, along with a few emergency supplies should they get held up, Ben kissed and hugged his boys.
“Do you really have to leave again?” Tommy asked.
Tommy was the youngest, and he puffed out his lower lip to signal that he really didn’t want Ben to go. But his older brother Connor put his arm around his brother’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Tommy,” Connor said. “Dad’s going because he has to keep us safe. Right, Dad?”
Both boys looked up at him, and Ben felt his heart melt. “That’s right. And I need you two to help keep your mom and sister safe while I’m gone. Can you do that for me?”
Connor nodded, but Tommy kept his head down.
Ben crouched and tilted his youngest boy’s chin up so he could look Tommy in the eye. “I know it’s hard, son,” Ben said. “But I need you to be brave for me, all right?”
“I don’t want to be brave,” Tommy answered. “I just want you to stay here.”
As hard as all of this had been for Ben and the rest of the adults, it was even more difficult for the children. Their lives had been completely turned upside down. Liz walked up behind both boys and placed her hands on top of their heads. Tommy wrapped his arms around his mother and held on tight. Ben stood and kissed Liz before turning around and joining Jackson by the horses.
“That’s a fine-looking family you have,” Jackson said.
“Thanks,” Ben said.
“I understand your trepidation,” Jackson said. “I really do. But you have to understand that I don’t have a lot of resources at my disposal. If this turns out to be nothing—and for the record, I hope that’s not the case—I would have wasted precious time that my men could have been using to prepare to evacuate the facility we were charged with guarding. I know you think that’s not a big deal, but it’s my duty. And I take that duty seriously.”
Ben hadn’t considered the risk Jackson was taking in trusting him. Despite everything that had happened, Jackson was still fused to the chain of command.
“Mr. Riker?”
Ben turned around, surprised to find Gray Percy standing behind him. “Gray, what are you doing out here?”
“I was hoping to catch you before you left,” Gray said. The scars on his neck were still visible from where Ben had stitched him up after he’d been shot. “I haven’t had an opportunity to thank you for what you did.”
“I’m glad I was there to help,” Ben said.
Gray stood there awkwardly for a moment, and Ben couldn’t help but see his mother in him. They shared the same wiry frame, though Gray inherited his father’s height. “If there’s anything I can do to help out around here, I just want you to know that I’m ready. I feel a lot better, and I’ve
