When The Children Cry

Written by Roland, Dark Star, Ilúvantír, D&B, ACFan, Boi From Aus, Jeff P, W.L., The Story Lover, edited by Boxerdude and with help from several other authors and staff

---

Logan looked over to Juan, who was standing right next to him. "I still can't believe they got married yesterday."

"You know, I almost wish I could have crashed it..." Juan said, but got interrupted when Chang stepped up next to them.

"Juan, you know exactly why they had to do it. Their timing may not have been the best, but they needed it." Chang said in his normal stoic voice.

"Oh, I know why they did it... I just wished they could have done it at a different time," Juan said with more than a bit of disgust in his voice.

"As do I, little brother; however, things do not often happen the way we would like them. If they did, we would not be here today." Chang said, and Juan and Logan almost fell over when they saw the single tear escape Chang's eye. Chang had never really showed emotion before, at least not openly. Logan was about to say something, when a loud shrieking whistle came from the front. Everyone turned to look, and saw Mikey, Pablito, and an angel the Unit had never seen before, standing there, looking out over the crowd.

The room was deathly silent, as Davey, who was as yet unknown to the Unit, walked down, and started gathering up the youngest of the people there. Logan could only imagine what was coming next, after the little "meeting" they had yesterday involving the angels.

They watched as Mikey looked out over the crowd. They were all standing around the fire house only about eight blocks from where the funeral was going to happen. There wasn't a building big enough to hold everyone, so the local fire department moved all their trucks out of their station house, and let the Clan kids use it as a place to gather and to move out from, for the march.

Once the little kids were out of the room, Mikey took a deep breath and looked out to the group one more time. Not a single sound had been uttered since they showed up, since no one really knew what was going on.

"Okay, everyone, I know that everyone here knows who I am, and most of you know who Pablito is. What most of you don't know is why we're here." He took another deep breath, knowing that this could be good, or bad, and even he didn't know which way it would go, but his gut was telling him this would work.

"The greatest strength that you all have is family; however, right now, there are two different families here, not one. Until you become one family, you will all be weaker." Some grumbling could be heard, and Mikey let it go on for a few seconds, before he started talking again. "Adam Casey, Adam Short... front and center."

Both boys walked up to where Mikey was standing, looking at each other, not knowing what was going on. When they got up to where Mikey and the surprisingly silent Pablito were standing, at Mikey's gesture they stopped and turned around to face the crowd. He walked up behind both boys, and raised their arms. Pablito then came up in front of them, and started to undo their shirts, while Mikey looked out and began talking to everyone.

"Both the Clan and the Unit still hold onto their own individuality, and that needs to change. Both of these boys represent their families, and if one was to look at them from the outside, they would see two very different boys, but they are very much the same, when you look closer."

Those that knew both boys, could tell that they were very self-conscious about their bodies: Adam Short because of his silver tinted scarred skin, and Adam Casey because of all his scars. There was only one thing that Adam Casey was shy about : that was how he looked under his clothes. He had always wished he had the same perfectly smooth and flawless skin that Logan had.

More than one gasp could be heard as Adam Casey's shirt was pulled down, and his scars became clearly visible. Adam shut his eyes, trying to block out the sounds of many people gawking at him. Logan sent him all his love, while his brothers sent him their strength, to try and help Adam make it through this.

Adam Short was equally self-conscious about both his scars and the silver tint from having been made Vifer. Knowing and feeling his sense of shame, his brother Tyler, Sean and Cory, and Jamie and Jacob sent him their strength and support, as, in his own way, did young Galen.

"That's not fair!" came two loud murmurs, one from where Cory and Sean stood and the other from near Janet.

Joel moved away from Cory and Sean, Kevin Thompson moving with him, and Adam Casey's brother Jimmy also stepped forward. As one, they started to remove their tops as well. Joel even started on the belt of his jeans, but stopped with a grin as Kevin whispered something to him. He looked over at Jimmy, and both boys grinned at each other; they both understood, and neither was going to let their brother stand alone with their visual shame.

Joel ran up to grab Adam Short's hand while Jimmy did the same for Adam Casey. All four boys now stood topless, their scars and, in Joel's case, memories of scars, plain to see by all in attendance.

"Not fair," Jimmy said softly as he smiled up at his big brother.

Joel nodded as he too smiled up at his 'big' little brother, "Yeah. If you're bein' looked at, then we're gonna be looked at too, Lil'bro!"

As Logan, and the rest of the core Unit, JJ, Sean, and Cory also started to step forward to intervene for their brothers, they were stopped short by a stern look and raised hand from Mikey.

"I'm sure many of you are wondering what we are doing here?" Mikey said, Logan was not the only one that had to bite his tongue and not respond. "This is to show all of you one thing. We were all hurt. These boys bear the scars of it, in more ways than a lot of the rest of you, but on your hearts, the scars are just as plain."

The four boys that were on "display" looked at one another, then looked out at the crowd. Mikey took a deep breath, and let the people look. "You all know the pain that the Unit has been through, as they lost the most family members, but understand... they are all our brothers. Most of us may not have known them, but they were family nonetheless."

Everyone's gaze was riveted to Mikey, as he started to walk around the boys. "Everyone knows where Adam Short's scars come from, but very few know where Adam Casey's are from, and I'm not going to be the one to tell you. However, every single scar that he carries, holds a brief glimpse into the life he led prior to forming the Unit. Every single scar he carries tells a story about how he became the commander of the group you all call the Unit. Physical scars are easy to take, just ask him. It's the scars that we all carry on our hearts and our souls that link every single one of us together."

Joel nodded solemnly at that last statement, and Jimmy was also doing so. As they looked out, they saw that almost everyone else was as well. Mikey let that sit on their minds for a few moments, then went in for the final blow.

"Tyler, Cory, and Viccy, would you three please come up here?" Everyone turned and watched as Tyler, Cory, and Viccy walked slowly up to the area that Mikey was at. When they got there, they turned and faced the rest, Tyler and Cory standing next to Adam and Joel Short, while Viccy stood next to Adam and Jimmy Casey.

"I know that many of the Unit members were upset about the wedding that went on yesterday, and I can see your point. To those that don't know everything that was going on, it did look bad. However, I would like Tyler to let everyone here know what Cory was feeling when he was at his lowest point, and then hopefully everyone can understand why the wedding had to happen when it did. Cory, is this okay with you?" He asked while turning and looking at Cory. Cory locked eyes with his older brother for a moment, then slowly nodded. Tyler took a deep breath, and then closed his eyes.

Sharp intakes of breath could be heard, and more than one person in the room started to sob. Probably the most interesting were Juan and Chang; both of them had tears flowing freely down their faces, but neither one would move to wipe them off. Even Adam was affected by this, although he did keep control of his tears. Cory's feelings of fear. Cory's guilt. Everyone felt his pain, his loss, his frustrations... it poured out; all the events from losing his memories to the hell of Saturday just gone, to watching other hurting kids and being unable to do anything... it all came pouring out of him, for everyone to feel.

After a few moments, Mikey nodded to Tyler, who shut off the flow of emotions. Then he looked to Adam Casey, who closed his eyes, and nodded himself; he knew what was coming. "Now I would ask that Viccy show to everyone what Adam has been feeling."

Viccy knew that she couldn't just show what he was feeling right now, but a few times since the battle happened. Viccy also closed her eyes and reached into Adam's heart. She gently did as Tyler had done for Cory.

Adam knew that everyone was feeling his sense of loss, and even more so his feelings of guilt and duty: guilt because he was the commanding officer, so every death that happened was a failure of his command; duty, because it was his duty to keep them safe... and he had failed.

Adam lost his fight with the tears as his soul was laid open for all to see. He knew that everyone was feeling the pain that he felt when he first got to the Wall. The fear he felt when he wondered if anyone would remember, and then the sense of relief, yet loss when he knew that his family would be taken care of. But, that still didn't change the fact that he felt they all died because of his orders. He should have done so many thing differently, but he was too wrapped up in his own problems, and for that they died.

Adam's head jerked up, his eyes wide and almost wild, and Viccy reversed the flow of emotions. All around him he felt the same thing; no one blamed him for what happened, no one other than himself. All that he felt from those that had lost family because of his mistakes, was peace and love, directed at him. More so he felt their sense of loyalty. He started to fight that, he didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve their loyalty, not after what he did. He started to shut the door on the emotions coming not only from his family, but from everyone there. He tried to close that door, but it was burst open by all his family, and all those there, as they, in almost one pure voice, sang out their love and commitment to him. They all sang of the honor they felt by what he had done, what he had made, and how he had helped them. He started to fall to his knees, but Jimmy was right there to hold him up as his tears flew freely. It wasn't his fault. They showed him that... they forced him to accept that.

He looked up at everyone, through his tear filled eyes, and every single one of his crew, his Unit... HIS FAMILY, nodded with love and respect in their eyes. They knew he wasn't at fault, and now, with their help, and the help of his newly expanded family, he believed it himself.

He slowly brought himself up to his full height, and turned to face Cory; he didn't wipe his tears, he wasn't ashamed of them. He reached out his hand to Cory, and when the other boy took it, Adam pulled him into a fierce hug. He hung onto Cory for a few moments, then stepped back, drew himself up again, and snapped the crispest salute he could manage. Softly he spoke to Cory, so only those very close could hear him. "Now and forever, Cory, you have my respect, and my loyalty... and my friendship."

They all began to shiver slightly, then Cory reached up and placed his hands on Adam's shoulders. "Will you accept brotherhood, please?" he asked softly. "I swear upon my life five simple words; I'll be there for you. Until Time ends, I'll be by your side, if you will let me." The shivering built and increased and continued unabated as the Clan and Unit members started to swear brotherhood between themselves. Logan looked on as his lover embraced the young Vulcan Patriarch in friendship. Then he too knew in his heart what he needed to do. He stepped forward and to the side, reached out his hand to Sean, and when Sean took it, Logan pulled him into an equally warm hug.

Adam smiled, as he looked out upon the group that was intermingling, and his smile increased. He turned back, and looked Cory in the eyes. "Me and mine to you and yours, from now till there is no more." With that he pulled a small blade and pulled it across his palm, adding one more scar. Both boys looked at the small pool of blood on Adam's hand. "This is the first of my new scars... the first of the scars that I will look upon with pride. Pride and brotherhood."

Cory took the knife and, without breaking eye contact with Adam, he drew it across his own palm as well. "Me and mine to you and yours, from now till there there is no more," he echoed.

Joel fell to his knees with a gasp as the shivering everyone in the room was feeling exploded into a warm wave that washed over them all.

Levi, standing down with Sean and Kyle, spoke, "...//Time. Love. Blood. Bound together, interlinked Forever. For a Brotherhood that will Never Break//..."

A new kind of tear was flowing all around the room, tears of healing and of love. Two groups came together as one, and all felt it. Pablito looked over at Mikey, who also had tears falling, "Come, Tonto, our work here is done." Mikey let out a short burst of laughter as he shook his head, looking at the younger angel standing next to him. He then turned and started to walk away. Suddenly he felt Pablito jump on his back, and say in a somewhat softer voice.... "HI-HO Mikey..... AWAY!!!!!!!"

Mikey rolled his eyes and they both vanished.

Just as the four topless boys were about to get dressed, Joel stood and moved to Adam Casey. "Thank you," he whispered into Adam's chest as he hugged him tightly, before kissing the most prominent of the scars upon his chest. "Thank you; you really made my big brother feel good then."

Adam smiled down at the small boy in front of him, grabbed the boy under his arms, and lifted him up into a big hug. "Thanks, you guys made me feel real good too."

---

After the somewhat tense morning, things had quickly gotten into gear and the preparations for the funeral were going along nicely. Adam was sure that what happened earlier was needed, and it had had quick effect on the way the groups worked together now.

He was walking towards where the pictures were, when he heard a small voice talking. Adam turned the corner, and saw a young boy he didn't recognize standing in front of one of the pictures. It was one of the pictures that was going to be carried by the boys to the funeral site.

The pictures were large and ornate, with very intricate scroll work around the picture, of every single person who had died. One hundred and fourteen pictures were arranged around the room. Various boys would be carrying one of the pictures, and right now, he was going around and seeing who was claiming which picture. That's when he found this new boy.

"It's okay, Daddy, they're taking good care of me. You were right, they love me a lot... just like you do," said the six or seven year old boy, as he wiped a few stray tears away from his eyes.

Justy walked up behind his new son, lovingly placing his free hand on the boy's shoulder. "I think he knows that, Liam; I'll bet he's watching you all the time now. I'll bet he's gonna be proud watching his little Cherub carrying his picture today." Justy then shifted the ceremonial rifle to his right shoulder as he lifted his little boy to his side. "I think you're gonna make all of us proud, angel," Justy added.

"I ain't the angel, Daddy; YOU are!" Liam giggled as he gave Justy a squeeze. "And Daddy's right next to you. He says thank you."

Adam stood back to watch the interaction between Justy and the new boy, and once again he realized just how much good the Clan was actually doing. Adam could now say that he was more than just a little proud as to what they were doing.

He was about to turn away, when he heard a high pitched voice from a ways off. "I don't care if I'm too small... I AM carryin' Barney!"

Adam couldn't help but smile as he walked over to where Lincoln was standing. "What's going on here?" Adam asked, while looking at one of the older Unit members.

"Sir..." The older boy started to say but was interrupted when Lincoln turned around and put his tiny fists on his hips. "He says I's too little to carry a picture, but I's gotta carry Barney..." The little boy really had a fire in his eyes, and Adam threw his hands up and took a few steps back.

"No problem there, little guy. If you wanna carry Dennis, then you can carry Dennis," Adam said while trying not to laugh. Lincoln just glared at him for a few seconds, then nodded and stalked off as only a three year old really could.

"Sir?" The older boy said trying not to question his decision, but still not really understanding. A half mile march would be almost too much for a little boy, but to add in the picture would make it way too much.

Adam smiled and turned to look at someone that had just stepped around the corner. "Sgt. Davis, I would like you to meet Benji Michaels. I think he has the answer to our problems."

The thirteen year old boy looked down at the younger kid standing in front of him, and waited for what kind of answers the younger boy could have. Without any warning, the older boy started to lift off the ground, until he was floating just a few feet from the ceiling. Adam and Benji could only laugh as the floating boy tried in vain to get control of himself. Benji slowly brought him back down to the floor. "See, Sergeant... I can make it so Lincoln doesn't feel any weight from the picture, and even if he starts to get too tired in the march, it won't be any problem for him to make it."

The older boy nodded rapidly, and almost ran off. As soon as he was out of earshot, both Adam and Benji both dissolved into fits of giggles. "One thing I should have told you, Benji," Adam said when he regained his voice, "Sgt. Davis is deathly afraid of heights."

"I figured that out; that's why I didn't flip him upside-down!" Benji giggled. "Why does Lincoln call Dennis 'Barney' though?"

Adam almost immediately sobered up. "Dennis commanded one of the helicopters. When we first got the crews together, we decided to have a contest to name them. Well, Lincoln came up with the name for Dennis' helicopter, and since that time, the entire crew had adopted Lincoln as an honorary crew member. They even went out and got him a little flight suit, so he could help 'work' on the helicopter. The name that Lincoln had come up with was 'Bam-Bam'; since Dennis commanded Bam Bam, Lincoln always called him Barney... Bam Bam's father."

Adam paused for a second, trying to fight back some tears. "Right before we left to go up to Montana on Saturday, the flight crew gave Lincoln a present. He never goes anywhere without it anymore. It was a little stuffed Bam Bam doll." Benji nodded; he also had a few tears running down his face.

"But here's the thing. I have the burnt remains of his doll in my office back at the base. The one he's carrying now is NOT the one that they gave him. But somehow it also has all their signatures on it..." Adam was about to go on, but he didn't think Benji needed any more explanation. They both knew what had happened there, and who had arranged for Lincoln to get a replacement doll.

---

Adam stood on top of the firehouse looking over the assembled crew. It was fifteen minutes till they were supposed to start the march, and Adam had to admit they looked good. At the front of the line was Jeremy Rose, the new commanding officer of the Tiny Terrors, holding the American flag. Right behind him were the rest of the members of his team, as well as a few other Unit members, also carrying various flags. Represented were the Clan crest, the Unit's crest, The Federation flag, as well as the state flags from South Carolina, Florida, Montana, Utah, Maine, and Iowa -- those states being the first states to officially adopt Safe Haven status.

In single file behind them were five caissons, holding caskets. Unlike in normal military funerals, the caissons were not being drawn by six horses, but by one. This was mainly due to save space, and to be easier for people to handle -- although Tommy Casey, Timmy Short, and Ricky Michaels were making sure that the horses behaved themselves.

Behind the last Caisson, and just before the line of boys carrying the pictures, stood the large Sehlat Cub, I-Cheya. He was covered in armor and on his back was a saddle without a rider.

Behind I-Cheya stood Kevin Thompson and Joel Short, who were both carrying a Ceremonial Replica S'harien Sword. They were both in Vulcan armor: Kevin's was ceremonial, while Joel's looked subtly different and suspiciously battle-ready. Around the helm that Joel wore, the circlet that he had been given the morning before was fitted, looking as if it should have always been there.

Lined up behind them were Xain and Jake Thompson, both in the same type of armor that Kevin wore. These two, however, were not carrying Replica S'harien Swords, but identical Banner-flags, each proudly bearing the Seal and Crest of the Great House of Surak of Vulcan.

Behind them, the bulk of the Funeral participants were lined up in ranks. They would all march in perfect time, with Jack Bryce and Dave Hathaway from the Unit calling cadence on either side, Dave being fully recovered from the incident yesterday. They would march four abreast, with the two on the outside carrying ceremonial rifles, and the two on the inside carrying pictures. The front line was Cory Short, carrying a rifle, on the far left, with Kent Casey next to him carrying Mark Little's picture. Next to him was little Lincoln Masters, carrying Dennis North's picture, and Adam would be standing at Lincoln's right with another rifle.

The second line was Sean Short with a rifle, then came two of the youngest family members to the Cadets who had died: five-year-old Conner, and six-year-old Brad, each carrying pictures of his older brother. Logan was on the far side from them. The third line had Justy on the far left, with his new son Liam next to him, carrying the picture of his birth father, Duncan MacKendrick. Next to them was another cadet's younger sister, with Chang flanking her on the outside. Behind them came the rest of the picture carriers, each with a rifle bearing honor guard flanking them.

Adam knew that there were many people who wanted to see the procession, but he also knew that there wasn't going to be enough room on the sides of the parade route for all of them. So, he had set it up with the mayor and the Governor to have large projection monitors spread out in the local area, which would broadcast not only the march but also the funeral.

What Adam didn't know, but would find out soon, was that everything would also be broadcast on all the major news networks across not only the country, but across the world. Adam's worry that people might forget about those that died, was about to be answered.

Adam nodded to himself as he saw that everything was in place; so he made his way down, and fell into line where he was supposed to. He could hear the crowd milling about just around the corner. The local police were doing a good job of keeping the crowd away from where they were lining up.

Adam looked over and nodded to Jack. Jack nodded back, took a deep breath, and then bellowed out in his best drill sergeant voice, "Company... Atten-TION!" Everyone in the line snapped to attention, or at least the kids in the Unit did; everyone else did their best to copy them, and remember the lessons that were given earlier.

Once they were all ready, Jack barked out another order... "Company!!!!! Forward... March!" And with that, the funeral procession started forward as one.

As one, the entire group moved out and turned the corner. Almost immediately the crowd went quiet. Adam was happy to see that almost everyone stood in respectful silence as they passed. The only sound was Jack and Dave calling out the cadence.

Things went well until they were about halfway to their destination, then something happened that would forever be etched into his mind.

As they turned one of the last corners, he saw that both sides of the roadway were filled with men and boys. The boys were all in their best scout uniform, Adam saw American, Canadian, and British Scout uniforms, and every single one of them held a small American flag in their hands.

Behind them were hundreds of people in their best military uniform. Sunshine glinted off thousands of medals on those uniforms, and Adam knew they were there to send off many of their own.

As soon as the entire group rounded the corner, and on a silent cue, every single person snapped to attention, and saluted. The children saluted using the scout's three fingered salute, while the military all stood with perfect military salutes. Simply by reflex, Adam and the Rifle Bearers also saluted. They held the salute for the entire time, even when it became very difficult to.

Then from somewhere in the back, a drum started to play. Adam was not the only one who almost missed a beat as they heard someone start to sing.

 

Fighting soldiers from the sky

Fearless men who jump and die

Men who mean just what they say

The brave men of the Green Beret

 

A single voice sang out the first lines, but when the chorus came around, every single member of the crowd, adult and child alike joined, in perfect harmony.

 

Silver wings upon their chest

These are men, America's best

One hundred men will test today

But only three win the Green Beret

 

Adam's vision was blurred as he marched on. He knew that many others were affected by the song, and he wasn't ashamed to have the tears visibly falling off his face. He knew that many others were in the same condition that he was in.

 

Trained to live off nature's land

Trained in combat, hand-to-hand

Men who fight by night and day

Courage peak from the Green Berets

 

Adam knew what he was about to do wasn't exactly in character for a commanding officer in a funeral procession, but he simply couldn't help himself. When the next chorus started, he held his head high, and joined in.

Within two words, he heard almost every other person in the group singing along with him. Their rich voices all mingled together created a harmony that Adam had never heard or felt before. What surprised him the most was Jack and Dave seamlessly changing the cadence they were calling out to what was being sung by all.

 

Silver wings upon their chest

These are men, America's best

One hundred men will test today

But only three win the Green Beret

 

Adam stumbled over the next lines, knowing what they meant to everyone, but most importantly to two of his Unit: Amur Khan and Claire. He could easily hear Khan's voice raise in volume, and the pain in his voice was evident for all to hear. Adam gently reached up and touched the green beret that was on his head, and was worn by both the core Unit members, and the G-Cats.

 

Back at home a young wife waits

Her Green Beret has met his fate

He has died for those oppressed

Leaving her his last request

Put silver wings on my son's chest

Make him one of America's best

He'll be a man they'll test one day

Have him win the Green Beret.

"The Ballad of the Green Berets", written by Robin Moore and by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, U.S.A., who performed it, (c) 1966

 

It was only because of Adam's increased hearing that he was able to hear what Claire said as the song faded out. "I will, my Love.... I will."

When there was no more music playing, all the salutes were dropped as one. Some people were confused, thinking that Adam and everyone else were actually saluting the people in the crowd, but Adam and the Unit knew they were not saluting those in the crowd; they were simply joining the crowd in saluting their fallen family.

Adam's eyes finally cleared when they were almost to the bridge. Even though he had set most of this up, he still had to fight back the tears again, as he saw the Marines and the British Coldstream Guard lining the bridge.

They were spread out with one Marine, then one British soldier, then another Marine. They had about five foot in between each of them. As Adam stepped onto the bridge, they all went to attention, drew their swords, and held them out, making a bridge over all of the parade.

When about half of them got onto the bridge, Adam was surprised when he noticed a thick fog start to rise off the water below them. When the entire group got onto the bridge, Adam started to notice some weird things.

In between each of the military officers on the bridge, ghostly figures started to appear. Each of them also held a sword out high. Adam could see these "people" were from all different points in time, due to the styles of their military uniforms.

Adam almost stumbled when he noticed someone slowly appear next to him, marching in perfect time with everyone else. Adam kept his face forward, but looked out of the corner of his eyes, and saw Dennis North marching next to him, a ceremonial rifle on his shoulder.

He looked over to his left, and what he saw made the tears fall even faster. Marching there next to Cory was the small form of Mark Little, also with a rifle. Adam just knew that if he looked behind him, he would be able to see all one hundred and fourteen that had died, marching silently next to their picture.

He had a difficult time not letting the sobs escape, but he was managing to hold them, until he heard Dennis' voice. It was quiet, as if being carried on the wind, "Adam, I once told you that I would follow you forever, and every one else agreed with me. We all intend to keep that promise; even if you won't be able to see us, know we will always march by your side."

Adam no longer cared about holding his tears in. As his feet touched the island, and came off the bridge, he made sure his head was held high, and his shoulders back - letting all those that cared to see watch as his tears fell. He also knew that these would not be the last tears he shed this day. He barely even noticed that everyone in attendance came to their feet as they line made their way onto the island.

He looked down at the boy walking next to him. No one other than Adam would see that his picture was now hovering just a few centimeters above his hands. However, the little three year old boy was walking just as tall as everyone else; he too had tears flowing down his face. They all marched in sync up till they got to the stage, at which point Jack called the entire line to a halt.

After a few moments, Jack called out in a loud, clear voice. "Flag Bearers... LEFT FACE!" As one, those carrying the flags at the very front of the line, turned and faced the stage. "FLAGS... FORWARD!" he called out.

From off to the side of the stage a piano started to play. No one moved for several seconds, until the voice of Aaron Carter started to sing. At that point, Jeremy Rose, carrying the American flag, moved forward, and climbed the steps. He marched up to the back of the stage, and stood in front of the center flag stand. He then moved so that he was standing next to it, his flag still flying high.

 

When the night

Seems to say

All hope is lost

Gone away

But I know

I'm not alone

By the light

She stands

There she waves

Faithful friend

Shimmering stars

Westward wind

Show the way

Carry me

To the place

She stands

 

One by one, the rest of the flags made their way up to the stage. Aaron's clear crisp voice captivating everyone while the flags were placed. Other than Aaron's singing, and the piano that was being played, not another sound could be heard.

 

Just when you think it might be over

Just when you think the fight is gone

Someone will risk his life to raise her

There she stands

There she flies

Clear blue skies

Reminds us with red

Of those that died

Washed in white

By the brave

In their strength

She stands

 

No one in attendance, or those watching from a public area, or at home, was unmoved by the sight of the kids taking such care and reverence in the placing of the flags they held... not to mention the stirring song that was being sung. Aaron was doing his best to put as much emotion into the song as he could, and by the tears falling from many people watching, he was doing a good job.

Slowly, the rest of the flags came up, and were placed one by one in the holders. The last two, held by Xain and Jake, were each placed at either end of the stage. Those two then moved to behind the podium, while the others stood at attention next to their flag, all except Jeremy, who still held the American flag flying high.

 

When evil calls itself a martyr

When all your hopes come crashing down

Someone will pull her from the rubble

There she stands

 

Once all the flags were in place, the five caskets that were sitting on the back of the caissons were carefully pulled off and placed on their stands by the Unit members who had walked up after Jack had called a halt. Once they were all placed, arranged along the back of the stage. The pall bearers stepped back into a line, and saluted the five caskets. They did not drop the salutes, but held them until the song was over, and the American flag was in its place.

 

We've seen her flying torn and tattered

We've seen her stand the test of time

And through it all the fools have fallen

There she stands

By the dawn's

Early light

And through the fight

She stands

"There She Stands", written and performed by Michael W. Smith, (c) 2002 World Music, Inc.

 

As Aaron's beautiful voice slowly sang out the last lines of the song, Joel and Kevin, whose swords have been held up in front of their faces for the entire march, lifted them high for all to see the sun reflecting off the shining metal, and as one, the swords were plunged into the holders that were built into the podium so that the sword blades crossed with the hilts sticking out of the top of the podium. Once the swords were placed, Joel and Kevin went to stand next to Jake and Xain behind the podium. There the four boys stood waiting for the pictures to be placed.

As silence descended on the island, Jeremy stepped in front of the Flag stand, and with a loud crack, the butt of his flag pole was set into the flag holder. He stepped back, and as one, the Unit members who had not been saluting already, saluted to the flag of their country. The flag that meant so much to all of them, the flag that symbolized exactly what those that died, had died for...freedom.

Once the five caskets were placed, and after all the flags were placed, Adam and Lincoln started forward, followed by Cory and Kent. They moved up to one of the recently placed caskets, and stopped just in front of it. Adam quietly counted out to three, and then Lincoln moved forward, placing the picture on the stand in front of the casket. He was supposed to just step back, next to Adam, but Lincoln couldn't leave his mentor just like that.

"I love you, Barney," he said quietly, then bent down and gave the picture a kiss. He then stepped back, next to Adam, and more than one person started to cry as the little boy stood as straight as he could, and made the best salute he could, Adam of course mirroring the little boy. On Adam's soft order, they made an about face, and started to march to their seats. Lincoln only made it a few feet before he couldn't hold it any longer, and bolted to where Janet was standing next to Joe in his wheel chair. She quickly bent down and pulled the boy into her arms. Loud sobs were heard by everyone around, as the little boy clung to Janet for what little comfort she could give.

Over the next fifteen minutes, everyone stood in silence as one by one the pictures were placed, the ones who would be speaking during the funeral went up to stand in front of their chairs on the stage, while the others who weren't speaking went into the audience and stood in front of their seats. Once everyone was in front of their seats, Joel and Xain stepped in front of the podium.

Xain spoke softly, yet his words were carried to every ear by the microphone, "'Never again shall Vulcan go to war with Vulcan' - such was the cry of logic at the end of the Age of Awakening. Much was lost in the final wars; much did we suffer at our own hands. Logic dictated that we take a new path."

Smoothly, Joel picked where Xain had left off and continued, "That path is peace, and that path is morality. However, logic tells us that the two are not always the same. Sometimes you must fight to uphold what is right, and sometimes you must sacrifice much to preserve the lives of many more. 'The Needs of the Many outweigh the Needs of the Few, or the One.'"

"Vulcan has never gone to war with Vulcan since that day," Xain continued. "Since the War of the Raptor, and due to the Battle of the Shattered Blade, we have been at peace with ourselves; but we have still fought to protect and preserve the lives of others. We shall not stand aside and let the immoral have their way; those who do not value life and would abuse and slay the weak, they themselves forfeit their own lives. We shall stand, and our Blood shall be strong against them."

"Those who have paid the price in defense of right; their names shall be kept in honor, and their lives remembered," Joel's eyes shone as he finished the ceremony. "Those who are left behind shall be comforted, and those who remain of our enemies shall tremble: for Vulcan is free, our Allies are free, and all our Peoples are as One."

Both boys bowed, yet as they both rose back up, Joel's eyes glazed over slightly. Xain reached for him in concern, yet stopped as Joel started to speak once more. His voice was sonorous, and in a idiom rarely heard outside of the Temples of Kolinahr:

"Vah fa', vah'i, heh vah dungau kwon-sum nam-tor; ish-Os'fa Plak zi ish-wuh'rak na'vlitau vlitauon. Etwal, Ish-Kalek-Maat t'Surak, dungau zahal-tor svi'veh ash-tor. Etwal, Ish-Ork'ik'aum t'Surak, dungau kwon-sum vokau heh dungau kwon-sum noshau. Etwelai Plak dungau fam vravshau, il etwelai karik'es lafotau svi'ish fosh-torai t'etwelai Panu-T'Khasi heh ish-panui t'etwelai puk'ai'lai. Ish-Zehl t'Surak dungau hafau ha'in'sna abi'Surakam S'harien nam-tor ki'nat'qlets: Na'ish ki'zhuk-fas-tor t'Sa'ren, huh svi'Surakam Ahm, etwal dungau noshau. Na'nash-Shal tor ni ugau-karik'es k'ish Plak t'ish Kalek-Maat t'Surak."

Sarek and Amanda, standing behind them, stiffened in shock, and Cory and Sean moved from where they were standing to head for their brother. Xain was dumbstruck as Joel stopped speaking, and together with Cory caught Joel as he wilted. Picking him up in his arms, Cory quickly took him from the stage and placed him gently down on Teri's lap, as Kevin rushed to Teri's side.

---

***Sammy's Perspective***

I watched in disbelief at what happened to Joel and my first thought was to go to his side, but seeing the crowd and how much this was getting to them, I realized I had a job to do and had better get to doing it.

Joel was in the best hands possible, and I sent a silent message to Jace to let me know how the little guy was doing as soon as he could, as I moved up to the podium and looked at all the people seated there in the audience.

Then I looked at the camera for a moment, thinking about all the people watching this, and took a deep breath before saying, "Thank you all for coming today as we pay our final respects to those whose lives were lost."

Damn, this was going to be tough, and I had to stop for a second to keep it together, reaching in and taking out the notes I had made, and looking at them for a bit before setting them down on the podium and saying, "Please…be seated."

Everyone was looking at me, and this was turning out to be harder than I thought it would be to do, but after swallowing a bit and taking a deep breath I just focused on Joel, who seemed to be coming back, just as Jace sent *He's okay* to me.

Just looking at Joel made it about talking to him and those seated around him, and I found that a lot easier than thinking of gazillions watching me do this.

I picked up my notes and looked at the first one for a minute before putting them back down.

I looked up and said, "Sorry I had all these notes and stuff but you know what, I just don't do notes. You can't…feel a piece of paper."

I looked at Joel and went on. "Yesterday Adam came and asked me if I'd do this Master of Ceremonies thing, and at first I was gonna say no because I just didn't think I'd be able to get through it. Heck, I still might not, but I'm gonna try, cause it's something I can do for those who died coming to save my family. It's a way to say thank you."

After taking another breath I heard, *Ya might wanna tell them who you are* in my mind, and shot Jace a glare as I felt my cheeks turning red for everyone to see.

"I guess first of all I should tell you who I am. Some of ya already know me, but for anyone who doesn't, I'm Sammy, Sammy Reynolds. Anyway I asked my dad what a Master of Ceremonies is, since I had no clue, and he said it was just getting up here and introducing everyone who was going to be speaking. He also said I should try to say something in between about the people who died. Well, my family says I talk too much anyway, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem."

This got some chuckles, which kind of helped right now and was what I was hoping for, so I let them die down a bit, but most of all it was the smiles on most of my new family's faces that meant the most to me, smiles that had been missing so much lately.

"The thing is that I really had no idea what to say until now. The notes had details, ya know, so and so was fourteen and named whatever, but like I said, they don't tell ya nothing, and there's no feeling there in them. So what I'm gonna do is tell you a little bit about the kids I have come to love and call family. I'm going to tell you some things about the time I got to spend with them, and maybe when you're done you'll know them, and maybe just a little, you'll love them too. At least I hope so, 'cause even though I didn't get to spend a lot of time with the Unit, they became family to me and I love them, so I'm gonna tell you some about them, but especially about the members of my new family that aren't here today."

I stopped for a minute, thinking of just what I was going to say as I looked up at the sky, then smiled as I got it, and looking out over the crowd began:

"When we first got to the Unit base, it was kind of funny 'cause we didn't know anything about them, and Adam had them all out on inspection for us to see. My dad walked up in front of one girl and said how cute she looked, and he thought the guns were fakes that the kids were carrying. This girl just looked at dad and asked him to inspect her weapon, which he did. I thought he was gonna piss himself when he found it was a real MP 5 and fully loaded too. She never said anything and was standing at attention like you're supposed to, no emotion showing on her face at all. She was a great soldier, but the first few days I was there, all I saw was her doing military stuff, and she seemed kinda stiff and unfriendly, ya know. It wasn't like the others who would joke around and stuff even while they were doing soldier stuff. She was all soldier and didn't do none of that," I said to the audience, stopping to take a breath.

"Then a few days after we got there, I was down in the rec room when she led in a group of smaller kids. I almost didn't recognize her, since for the first time she wasn't in uniform and actually had a smile on her face. I wasn't sure which shocked me more. There she was laughing, playing and taking care of the little kids. It was her hugging them and always giving them love, though, that I'll remember most. It was like a different person, and I guess she caught me staring or something, because she came over to where I was and just looked at me before saying, 'Something on your mind?' I was kind of embarrassed to be caught, you know, staring and all, but I told her she seemed different. She just started laughing and said, 'When it's time to be a soldier, then it's time to be a soldier. When it's not, it's not,' and with that she walked off back to the little ones, still laughing."

After taking a sip of water, I went on. "Saturday Bethany was being a soldier, and in the best traditions of that profession, she gave her life fighting and never hesitated to do what she'd been trained to do. I'm proud to have known her, even if for such a short time, and it's her laughter that I still hear when I think of her, her laughter and the most beautiful smile I've ever seen."

I glanced at my notes, and then said, "Ya know, I guess most people think that most politicians are full of themselves, and maybe they're right. But I just met the guy I'm supposed to introduce now earlier today, and I got the sense from talkin' with him that he's one of the good guys, the people who are in it because they care about others, and want to help. So, speaking for the governors of all the Safe Haven states, I would like to introduce the Governor of Iowa, Mr. Ted Jacobs." As the governor stepped forward, I stepped back and sat down.

** END SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE**

---

Governor Ted Jacobs of Iowa stepped forward in response to Sammy's introduction. His gaze scanned the crowd - members of the Clan, the Unit, Vulcans sitting solemnly, dignitaries from various cities, states, and nations sitting alongside people from Charleston and people who had driven through the night to be there. He drew a breath and began. "Good afternoon. My name is Ted Jacobs, and I have the honor to serve the people of Iowa as their Governor. Behind me are the Governors of Utah, South Carolina, Montana, and Florida, the Lieutenant Governors of California and Maine, and representatives from five other states."

"We're all politicians - as such, we like nothing better than to get the publicity of appearing at a solemn time like this, and saying the proper things. I could tell you how proud Iowa is that we were the home state where Clan Short started, that we are serious about our motto 'Kids First.' My friend the Governor of Florida would say the same about being the state where Clan Short's headquarters is. The Governor of Utah" (as he named each, he nodded towards them) "would say how proud they are to be the state where the Clan's Special Forces Unit found refuge. And so on."

"But we're all human beings too, just like the rest of you. Like you, we watched the events of Saturday with horror, as evil men injured and killed young children and youths, and the adults who came to their defense. My friend the Governor of South Carolina was the first to act, to name his state a Safe Haven state, and place it under Vulcan law for the protection of its children. I followed his lead immediately, and eight other governors joined us over the weekend. Ten states now place the safety of their children paramount in the order of things."

"So the first thing I have to say is to ask the other 40 governors, and the people of their states, 'Why haven't you?' Of all the things we seek to preserve and protect, why is not making sure that we have a safe and happy next generation to pass our heritage on to, the most important thing you can do?"

"My fellow governors and their representatives and I got together last night to decide who would speak of what. And when we'd talked, we decided that this was no time for political speeches or solemn platitudes. They chose me to speak for all of us, and everyone had a hand in shaping what I have to say today. So I speak, not just for Iowa, but for all the states with the gumption to stand up and be counted, to care about their children enough to take radical action to protect them."

"And the second thing I have to say is that we are resolved that nothing like Saturday will ever happen again. No group hiding behind the guarantee of freedom of religion will ever again be permitted to injure and kill defenseless children. Not in our ten states, and if we have anything to say about it, not anywhere in the world, or in the Galaxy. We are public servants; we carry out the will of our peoples. And I call on all Americans, all Earthmen, all members of the Federation, to back us in this resolve - to support us in keeping that promise to our children."

"But the third thing I have to say, I say with a heavy heart, and not just mine, but all of us. We failed them. Because they were attacked, we failed them. It should never have happened even once. I mentioned a few minutes ago how proud Iowa is of having birthed Clan Short. But in a very real way, we should be ashamed. Not ashamed of Clan Short; never that. But we should be ashamed that Clan Short was necessary. I spoke with Judge Joe Lewis, our state's Superior Judge for Family Affairs. Joe was there when it all began - Cory Short and Kyle Richardson were cases under his jurisdiction as Polk County Family Court Judge; he ratified the adoptions of most of the early members of the Clan. And what Joe told me, of the horror stories he'd encountered that these kids had gone through, makes me feel guilty. We should have acted to prevent the neglect and abuse those kids went through. We should have taken action to protect them long before Clan Short became needed. We adults failed our children, and they were forced to protect themselves. That is what I'm ashamed of, and my brothers in the state houses of the other Safe Haven states feel exactly the same. To all you young people who found a way to survive, I can only say, on behalf of all of us, how sorry we are that you went through what you did, and that you had to rescue and protect each other, because we who should have been doing it had other things on our plate, and left you defenseless."

He turned and looked directly at Sarek. "To you, Mr. Ambassador, and to your Family, your House, and your Planet, we extend our deepest thanks. For when men and women of Earth fell short of protecting our children, you of Vulcan stepped up and gave them a way to protect themselves. On behalf of all the people of Earth, I say to you, and through you to all of Vulcan, thank you for saving our kids."

He turned back to the crowd. "But today is not just a day to speak of what evil was done, what we failed to do, and what we are resolved to do. Last Saturday, over a hundred young people gave their lives in defense of their brothers and sisters. Over a dozen adults died trying to help them. Today is above all the day to remember them, remember the love and courage they felt, remember the dedication that brought them to risk and give their lives that others might live. Let us all resolve here today that they did not give their lives in vain!"

"Thank you." With that, the governor turned and took his seat.

---

Sammy got back to the podium, being a little bit more comfortable now than he had been at the start. He figured this would be a good time to introduce a different member of his family. "It's really cool that I got to meet so many new kids, and have them make me feel like I was part of their family, and I am... part of the family. But there are other parts to my family that I'm sure the next speaker will touch on. So for now, I'll just say that this next guy is my uncle, General Tom Larkin."

---

Tom got up and walked to the podium. He patted his young "nephew" on the shoulder as he walked by, and then stood behind the podium looking out over the crowd. He had spoken at many different gatherings, from the Naval Officer's Academy, to a full session of Congress, to the full Assembly of the League of Nations, but this one... this one was different. He took a deep breath as he looked out over the faces of those in the crowd. 'So young,' he thought to himself, 'too young.' Then took a deep breath and began.

"For those of you who do not know me, my name is General Thomas Eugene Larkin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for the United States Military. In other words, if it's in the military, or happened because of the Military, there is only one person above me, and that would be the Commander in Chief... but I will get into that later."

"Sixteen years ago, I met a man that became part of the Team I led. He was a cocky kid, undisciplined, and seemed to have a chip on his shoulder, but he was good, real good. I took him under my wing, because I saw that he could be a real good man someday. Not just an adult, but a MAN. He quickly rose in the ranks, and after only a few years, he was my second in command. Now understand, this was a special forces team, the best of the best, and when it was my time to become a desk jockey, he took over command. Not once did I ever regret handing the reins over to him."

He took a moment, and took a drink of water before going on. "We were a family, all of us. My kids grew up with every member of my team being their uncles, and when my men had kids, I was the proud uncle. Very rarely would someone find a closer friend then in our unit. In case you are wondering who that man was, his name is Mike Reynolds. He is like a younger brother, and best friend all rolled into one. When I heard it was his house that was attacked, well, I felt my heart seize up in my chest, and all the while I was waiting for word, I was praying to God that he was okay, and that his children were safe. Once I had gotten word that he and his family were okay, I started to investigate, not only as Chairman, but also as a friend. That's the first I had every heard of the group called The Unit."

"I could get into many different things here, about how I found out who they were, and what had happened to them, but I think the best thing I can say is what happened the first time I met them. You see, I went to Orlando, which is where I had found out that my friends and family had been taken. When I got there, things were not as I expected them to be. I was confronted by a very angry young man, who blamed me for what had happened to his family. Not what happened in Montana, but for other things. Once I was able to convince him that I was not responsible for everything, I started to look into this group of kids that had saved my family."

Tom took another short break, trying to make sure what he said was what he wanted to. "Through all the information I was able to gather, and talking to all the kids within the group, I found something that amazed me. Not only were they some of the most highly trained and dedicated soldiers I have even had the honor of meeting, but they were also as close as Mike and the rest of our team were. They were a true family; that was obvious almost right away."

"You know, I have seen and talked to many people who others consider heroes, and they all have one thing in common, they don't think they were heroes. I have admired many people in my time, but I think I can honestly say that I admire what Adam Casey and the rest of his Unit made, and even more proud that they selflessly gave their own lives to help people they barely even knew. THAT is the mark of a real hero."

I know many people would probably laugh to think that I am about to use this phrase for a group of people that were trained Army, but I can't think of anything else that really fits this group. The Marines use this phrase, but I am sure that they would not mind it being extended to a group of kids that personify what it really means....Semper Fidelis... Always Faithful."

Tom stepped back from the podium, and turned to Adam; he drew himself up to his full height, and snapped a crisp salute to the younger man. "Not only do I salute that leader of such a highly trained group, but also those that fell fighting for my family's lives. Thank you."

Adam stood, returned the salute, and then Tom matched off the stage. Adam didn't trust himself to speak at that point.

Sammy returned to the podium, drew a breath, and looking out saw Amur Khan.. The young tiger boy was rigidly at attention, and only his face muscles betrayed the emotions within. Sammy began to speak:

---

***Sammy's POV***

"Kuan Ti was one of the Cat Kids, as everyone calls them. He was a big guy, and kinda scary, I guess, to most people. The first time I saw him, though, all the little ones had run up and were petting him like you'd see 'em do to a kitty cat, and he was just standing there purring. They knew and they weren't scared at all. This big huge guy in battle armor and guns everywhere, and all these kids were standing around, running their hands all over him. It was quite a sight. I got to know some of them over the time we were there, and Vishnu told me how much Kuan Ti protected the little kids. I guess maybe I had trouble believing that at first because he seemed so, I don't know, uptight I guess would be a good word for it. Anyway, there was one time I was walking with Jeremy, and we had just came into the hanger, when I saw Andy, who is about five years old, sneaking up behind Kuan Ti. Kuan Ti was talking with Will over against the wall and didn't notice the small boy coming up on him from behind. I grabbed Jer and pointed at them just as Andy got to Kuan Ti and did what I guess you'd expect a little kid to do. He reached out and grabbed that tail, giving it a nice good yank, giggling all the while. Well, I couldn't help but bust out laughing at that, but Kuan Ti let out this huge ferocious roar, and like lightning swung around, grabbing the little kid into the air. I thought he was going to kill the kid, and my laughter ended just as fast as it had come, as I started running toward them to try and save the kid. Jeremy grabbed me though and said, "Wait!" I was scared to death for him, because he looked so mad, but it was then I noticed Andy still giggling, and that Kuan Ti had pulled the boy to him and was tickling him for all he was worth, as Andy squirmed and wiggled, wailing in laughter not pain. Suddenly a couple more little kids came out of nowhere and attacked Kuan Ti, and I watched in disbelief as he went down roaring, hissing and baring his teeth at them like he was going to kill them all, yet every single one of those kids was laughing like crazy as he rolled around on the floor with all of them on top of him and tickled them."

I stopped for a moment, looking out and seeing the smiles on faces in the crowd, before continuing. "In the end, one tired out kitty and four tired out little kids draped on top of him were all lying jumbled together on the floor, all very happy. Jer just looked at me and smiling said, 'Kuan would never hurt one of the cubs,' and we went on doing our thing, even though the sight stuck with me and I still found it hard to believe. This big guy rolling around on the ground with these little kids playing with them, and all of them loving it so much. You see Saturday Will's chopper went down and they called for help. The Tiny Terrors, which is a team made of little ones, came to their rescue, and Kuan came too. There was a firefight, and just when they thought it was all over and the bad guys dead, something happened. One of them threw a grenade into the downed helicopter, and it would have killed all the little kids there. Kuan Ti, who had always protected the little ones, no matter what, did what he always did, he protected them. As the grenade fell in the middle of the Tiny Terrors, Kuan Ti threw them aside and jumped on top of the grenade. No one else was hurt in that helicopter, but this time Kuan Ti wouldn't survive making sure the cubs were okay."

Once again I looked out at everyone before ending. "I'll always remember what he did that day, but I think I'll always remember him for the day in the hanger and him rolling on the floor covered with cubs, smiles on all their faces, smiles and as strange as it may sound, peace and contentment."

I looked down at his list, to see who was next. 'This should be fun' I thought to myself. "You know, I've gotten the chance to meet a lot of really cool and interesting people over the last few days, but I gotta say that this next lady takes the cake. And I do mean LADY. I always figured someone of her standing would be kinda distant from us kids, and not really make us feel all that comfortable, but from the first time I met her, and was told I was to call her nothing but Grandma Lizzy, I just couldn't imagine her any other way. To me she's more then just the Queen of a country, but she's the Queen of our family. Now it is my greatest honor to introduce to you... hold on, I need to get it right..." he said as he looked down at his notes...."Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India and the Colonies, and Protector of the British Commonwealth Alliance." He was about to sweep his hand back to where she was sitting when he added softly, "And best of all, our Grandmother. She has loved us all equally, just as her own grandkids, and she don't care if we love boys or girls or nothing. I think Grandma Lizzy is her best title. Unfortunately, there are sixty one kids who never knew her as Grandma." I then stepped back, tears flowing down my face, to where myGrandmother was seated.

 

** END SAMMY PERSPECTIVE **

 

Standing slowly, Queen Elizabeth nodded her head at Sammy as he stood away from the podium for her. Before he could move too far, however, her hand reached out and took his. She smiled at him, and at his tears, before wiping them off his cheeks and keeping those precious drops on her finger. She came to the podium and looked out over the vast crowd gathered.

Holding up her fingers, she allowed those tears to fall. She spoke softly, "God numbers each one. He keeps them. He shall repay with Justice against those who cause such to issue from those innocent children hurt."

She glanced around in the deathly silence, then, "I have seen much in my long years; joy and sadness, horror and wonder. Never, not once, have I seen such blatant evil committed against children whose only desire was to help others like them. Children who had been through the worst mankind could do to them, yet longed to set others like themselves free."

She paused. "And they were attacked?"

Another pause before she looked about again. "Which of you stood up before Clan Short appeared? Which of you stood for the rights of children before the Special Forces Unit came to our attention? Did they prick your conscience? I hope so."

She now focused her eyes on the television cameras taping and relaying the Funeral around the world. "I would like to quote something to you, something that fits with all I have seen coming from these children in abundance. From the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 37 to 40: Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'"

"This is quite clear. Love. That and only that is how we should measure ourselves, for all the 'law and the prophets' hang from it. Why, then, did anyone claiming to be a servant of God attack and kill children who only wanted to love?"

"Next, from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verses 34 to 35: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

"Again, this is clear. If you follow God, follow Jesus, then you should love. Not hate. To those who were behind the atrocity of Saturday; how can you claim to serve and love the God you have never seen when you hate your fellow man whom you can and have seen? Did Jesus tell you to? No? Then why?"

She pulled her eyes from the cameras and looked into the eyes of those before her. After scanning the crowds she faced the cameras again. "The F.C.C. are cowards and hypocrites. They are not of the Church of God, nor Christian in any way, shape of form. I have seen a greater Christian attitude in my time from atheists! Even our brothers, the Vulcans, show the 'heart of God' and, dare I say it, the 'heart of Christ' in a far more true fashion than these so called 'believers' do. 'True religion is this, that you care for the widow and the orphan' said Jesus, and he was and is and will ever be right. You should love, not hate. Care, not destroy. Do not dare to claim holy orders when you commit such acts. I am now against you, F.C.C.. My Empire stands against you. We are at War."

She looked now upon those children from Clan Short who stood before her. "Children," she said, now completely blocking everyone and everything else, "what I have said when quoting Jesus and about love is true, and you have shown this. Over and over again, you have loved. Never, ever stop. You are needed in this world."

She moved from the podium and walked down to stand in front of the stage by the five flag covered coffins. In a voice that was still heard everywhere, she quoted one last time, "Jesus said, 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' You five, you represent all those who showed that highest measure of love on Saturday. I thank you. You are honored and will be remembered always in the hearts of those whom you paid that price for."

She turned and saw Kuan Ti's mate, Claire, crying softly. She caught the teenager's attention and beckoned her over. Claire came slowly to stand before her. "Your beloved will never leave you as long as you remember him, child. He showed us all the type of love the Clan has; love strong enough to pay any price. You will see him again, child. Until that day, remember him; for he is not in your past. He is in your future. Waiting. May God bless you, Claire." She pulled the girl's face closer and kissed her cheek lightly, before gently drying her sad eyes. The Queen suddenly felt more than just one presence, and gently laid her hand on Claire's stomach. "And may God bless the fruit of your love," she whispered, this time for her alone.

After taking the grieving girl back to her seat, the Monarch of the British Empire went back up to the stage, nodded once at Sammy, and sat down. Then, and only then, did she allow the tears in her eyes to spill forth.

***Sammy's POV***

I watched as Grandma Lizzy spoke to Claire for a moment, then looked up at me and nodded before walking back to her seat. I saw the tears finally come out that I could feel she'd been holding in, and all I wanted to do was to go over and hug her but I didn't. I had things I had to do and they came first, but I was very happy to see Matty get up and run up to where she was sitting, crawling into her lap and wrapping his arms around her, and I heard him softly say "Don't cwy, gwandma" as I turned back to the crowd and looked out at everyone.

"The next person I get to introduce today is someone who, like the Queen, ain't afraid of getting up and saying what he wants, and trying to do the right thing, even when there are some who don't want him to. He also had the balls to say he was wrong and try to make it right, which most of these politicians can't do to save their asses for nothing. When we won in court and thought it was over, there was a bunch of people who were demanding that he do something else to take us away from Dad, and he stood up and said no. That took guts and made a lot of people mad at him, but he didn't care. He did what he thought was right, and did it even though it might cost him the election coming up. That is a man in the way I think a man should be, and the way I've been taught a man is, and no matter what others say, he stood up when so many don't. So it's real cool that I get to introduce this guy. Ladies and Gentlemen, a proven friend to me and my family as well as the Clan and Vulcan, The President of the United States of America, George W. Bush."

** END SAMMY PERSPECTIVE **

President Bush approached the podium, but he looked uncomfortably at his notes within the White House binder given to him for the pre-prepared speech. He saw words like honor, integrity, bravery, and courage. Yet, what he felt was that those buzz words meant nothing in the context of those who had fallen. They were a politician's buzz words; not words of the common American, whom he was supposedly representing here at the funeral.

President Bush took a look at the young Master of Ceremonies and thought of his own youth. He observed the members of the Unit and saw the hardened outlook of conflict. He saw the young faces of Clan Short and saw the generations to come. This speech should not be a buzzword-lathered attempt to garner him a second term, but a reflection of what he had seen and the world had seen.

He closed the binder and began to speak in his usual Texan accent, "Y'all know I usually speak with these notes and things most politician have grown accustomed to, but today, I want to speak to you, not as your President or a world leader, just a common man observing something tragic," he changed his tone to his natural Northeastern accent, "I did not know anything before the attacks. I did not know much about Clan Short, except for a few diplomatic discussions from my cabinet. I did not know anything about 'Project Genesis' or any other associated projects that have been developed until recently. On the day of the attack, I was at Crawford. A Secret Service agent reported that there was a major issue occurring in Montana; I asked for more information, and he came back with a wide array of reports. I left my home immediately and returned to the White House through point to point emergency transport. My staff was ordered to report immediately from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of Health. I like most Americans at the time asked, why did this happen? Everyone had their own report and observations, from the recent hearing instigating a violent reaction to a secret alien force manipulating the events for some grand design.

"As my staff argued, I saw a young white house page with a frown on his face. I asked for silence from my entire cabinet for a moment and asked this boy the same question, and his response surprised me. 'It was your fault Mr. President,' the boy said to me. He was right. I should have paid more attention to the development of fundamentalist ideology. I should have raised more awareness for weapon proliferation with more mandatory registration and background checks on weapons. I should have listened to the warning bells in my head after seeing how far these members of the FCC would go. The fault for this attack rests on me as well. I asked for the boy's name, which he gave as David Jones Jr., and thanked him for helping me see my flaws. Afterward, I contacted Clan Short and offered any assistance I could. Today, I again stand here to offer any assistance I can, not just as the President of the United States, but as a fellow human being. We, as a nation, as a species, as a world, cannot let things get out of hand like this again. For however long my presidency remains, whether it be four months or four years; I give you my solemn vow to protect and serve as your commander and chief. Never Again! Never Again! Never Again will another child be harmed like this."

President Bush returned to his seat.

As Sammy looked at the crowd, he saw the five boys who had carried the pictures of the five whose caskets were in the place of honor, including little three-year-old Lincoln. He realized whose story he needed to tell next, drew a deep breath, and began:

***Sammy's POV***

"I'd been talking with Ronnie and Billy when an alert went off in the base. We all headed out towards the command center when we met Donnie running towards us, and he told us that a certain little munchkin had escaped his room and was missing."

"Me?" a little voice cried out, and I said "Yep" as the boy came bounding up on the stage, and I took him in my arms while he shyly looked out at the crowd.

"Folks, this is Lincoln, and he's gonna help me out here," I said to everyone as Lincoln buried his head in my shoulder.

"It's all right," I whispered into his ear and he peeked back at the crowd before settling down in my arms.

I smiled as I continued, "Anyway, it seemed like the whole base was out and looking for the lost kid."

"I wasna lost," Lincoln said loudly, raising his head to look at me.

"Well, you knew that but no one else did," I told him smiling as he said "Otay."

As the chuckles died down I started again.

"So we began looking when someone suggested using Fluffy to find him. So that's what we did. We found Tommy and asked if Fluffy would help find Lincoln."

"Kitty," Lincoln cried in my arms as I said "Yes Kitty," then was shocked as the 'Kitty' in question came on stage and gave Lincoln a nice big lick, which sent him into giggles and the crowd into shock, at least some of them, before settling down by my feet looking out at the crowd and licking her lips.

*Quit that* I sent and got a response of amusement back from her.

It was obvious she found it funny to see so many squirming at her.

"May I continue now?" I asked and Fluffy turned her head up to look at me and very clearly nodded her head yes as people laughed.

"Gee, thanks," I muttered, forgetting that the microphone would pick it up just as if I spoke normally.

Through my red face I started again even as Fluffy sent *You are welcome*, causing me to cough for a minute before I could keep going.

Jace, I noticed, along with a few others, found it funny for some reason.

"Tommy took Fluffy to Lincoln's room, where his mom was waiting and very worried, and once there she sniffed his bed a few times and took off, with all of us running after her. It soon became obvious she was heading to the hanger deck. Fluffy ran in and stopped about half way across, as Dennis and his crew came out from the briefing room and had begun to walk towards us.

"Barney," Lincoln said softly now as I whispered back, "Yes, little guy, Barney," and he buried his head again in my shoulder as I rubbed his back gently up and down.

"Dennis asked what was going on, and Logan told him that Lincoln was missing, and that Fluffy had led them straight here. Dennis began shaking his head before Logan had even finished, and quickly told everyone that since the last time, they had made it a point to lock the doors on the chopper, and when they heard that Lincoln was missing, that was the first place they checked. A couple of other people also spoke up and told everyone that they had checked as well and the doors had been locked. It seems that Lincoln here kinda liked sneaking onboard Bam Bam," I said with a grin.

"Uh uh," Lincoln quickly added

"Well, Logan asked one of them to check again, and they all walked over there and checked all the doors, and found they were locked still. At that point Fluffy walked over and sat down in front of the copter, and Tommy informed everyone that Fluffy was saying Lincoln was inside. I knew Dennis didn't believe her, but he unlocked the side door and went inside, coming back and saying there wasn't anyone in there. This time Fluffy just jumped up into the bird, and let out a roar a minute later. Dennis climbed back in, and we were all just standing there looking at the copter, not knowing what was going on," I was saying when Lincoln added "I was hiding."

"Yes you were," I said, smiling at the proud boy in my arms.

"So Dennis comes back out a minute or two later with this surprised look on his face and munchkin here in his arms. Now Lincoln's mom ran up and grabbed him from his arms, and to say she wasn't a happy camper wouldn't begin to describe it."

"She was mad at me," the little voice said loudly to a few chuckles.

"Well, that describes it too," I said, then went on. "Anyway, Dennis told us he had crawled in through the service hatch underneath the bottom of the helicopter and was hiding in the equipment locker behind the pilot's seat."

"I had to go wit Barney and theys forgot to lock that," Lincoln told everyone.

"Yes, even though mommy wasn't thrilled with that idea. He was trying to go with Dennis and his crew. We watched as Dennis walked over and took Lincoln back from his mom, who still didn't look real happy, and set him down on the ground. I watched as Dennis told him "Ten-hut," and Lincoln stood at attention for him. Then Dennis, all serious and meaning every word, told Lincoln he…"

"I gots to stay and take care of mommy and the others," Lincoln interrupted, grinning happily.

"Yeah, that's what he said. He said Lincoln needed to stay, since they had to fly a mission, and that all the crew of Bam Bam were counting on him to take care of things at the base for them. Then he asked Lincoln if he would be a good soldier and go where he was most needed. Lincoln said yes, and well, that was the end of that. Lincoln's mom took him back and everyone pretty much walked away back to whatever they had been doing before all the excitement happened. I had started to leave when one of the kids told Dennis how great thinking that was for him to come up with such BS ya know. Keith turned on him and yelled it wasn't, and they had meant every word of it. Dennis walked up to the boy and said that Lincoln was a member of his crew, and he didn't appreciate anyone saying things like that. That he'd meant what he said, and knew his crew member could handle it, or he wouldn't have given him the job. The kid who had spoken almost wet his pants cause they were so mad," I told them, stopping for a moment before continuing.

"Lincoln was the one who picked the name Bam Bam, and as you might have guessed by now, since Barney is Bam Bam's dad, that's what he called Dennis." I stopped again, planting a little kiss on Lincoln's head, who was looking at me with wide tear-filled eyes.

"That night I saw how much Dennis and those boys loved their little brother, and how much this angel loved them. Oh, I should mention a certain hatch was made sure to be locked after that too. Saturday they died out there, doing what they'd been trained to do and then some, but that night when they didn't have to do anything, they stood up, and that's what I'll remember about them. Their love and how much one little boy meant to four others not much older than he is."

"I love Barney and dem," Lincoln said, looking at me, and all I could do was say, "I know you do, munchkin, and they loved you too, lots," as I hugged him to me.

I watched as he started to walk off to the end of the stage, where the stairs were. He stopped at the top, and looked out over the crowd. I then watched as the little guy drew himself up, and snapped the best salute the little guy could manage. That's when I heard it. "You take care of them, soldier," a voice said quietly, and I looked up, and saw floating behind all the people there, and over the water, was a helicopter, and four boys, all returning the salute.

I felt myself almost lose it, when Lincoln quietly said, "I will, Barney.... I Pwomise." He then walked off back to where his mother, Lynn, was seated. I doubt anyone in the audience could have seen it, but I know, by the quiet sobs behind me, that those on the stage did.

I saw Lincoln and his mother had been quickly gathered up by the kids from Camp Little Eagle, the newly minted Clan Recovery and Support division - known within the Clan as the Teddy Bear Brigade. Even from up here, I could sense the love and caring that those boys gave to anyone that needed it. Right now it was Lincoln and his mother. Boy, those guys were great.

I then turned back to the microphone and wiped briefly at my eyes. I knew who was next to speak, and I knew that, as a Vulcan, he had a certain unique perspective on life. I pulled up all that Jace and Viccy had taught me over the past few days and sunk everything I was feeling as deep into my mind as I could.

*I'll help you, Cariad.*

I glanced down to where Jace was in the crowd. I could see him easily, 'cos his eyes were glimmering dimly. I sent back to him 'Thanks, big bro.'

I straightened my shoulders and looked out at the crowds.

"The next person I am to introduce to you has seen far more in his one hundred and forty years than we can even dream about. Clan Short of Vulcan would not exist without the boys that first swore brotherhood with each other, yet they would have never become a Vulcan Clan without the vision of this extraordinary man.

"He was one of the first non-humans to come to our world eighty years ago and stood as our Ambassador to the interstellar nations. He is one of the leaders of his home planet, and..."

I felt my emotions build slightly, and decided to let them out into my voice a little.

"… and one of the best Grandfathers any kid could wish for. I have the greatest honor to introduce the Patriarch of the House of Surak and High Councilor of the Vulcan High Council; my Grandfather...Ambassador Sarek.

** END SAMMY PERSPECTIVE **

Sarek came to stand behind the podium. He was, as ever, emotionless and still as he surveyed those before him. His eyes fell on the small armored form of Joel, who was still seated on Teri's lap with Kevin close at his side. A small look of wondering curiosity was in Sarek's eyes for a moment before he faced fully the assemblage.

"The child, Joel Short, spoke along with Xain Thompson before the speeches began. What he said would be unknown to any of you, for it is rarely said outside of the Halls of Great House Surak and the High Council of Vulcan. By tradition, only those who are Patriarchs within House Surak say what Joel Short said. How he came by those words is yet to be known, but since he has now said them before you, I shall now give the translation:

"'As before, as now, and as shall always be, the Oldest Blood has been the first to pay the price. We, the House of Surak, shall follow in his footsteps. We, the Lineage of Surak, shall always remember and shall always stand. Our Blood shall not fail, nor shall our strength falter in the protecting of our World and the Worlds of our allies. The Line of Surak shall remain unbroken until Surak's Sword is reborn: For the Reforging of Sa'ren, and in Surak's Name, we shall stand. To this I do so swear by the Blood of the House of Surak.'"

He watched and waited as the murmurs from the furthest edge of the crowd stilled after hearing his words, before continuing, "Every last one of those hurt or killed on Saturday were of the House of Surak. I can say this as, by logic, if you would stand and risk your life to save one from another Family or House, you are swearing an Oath Unbreakable. By blood was forged a Joining between Clan Short and those who rushed to Clan Short's aid. Before the Patriarch of Clan Short could say one word, the Unit, Charleston Cadet Corps and all those others became Clan Short in the instant they answered the Call.

"Hence, the Oldest Blood paid the price; the Blood of Surak was shed once again for that which was right. The Honored Fallen did not fail nor falter in protecting those who were oppressed. They risked everything, and paid everything, for others. No sacrifice higher can ever be paid. I am proud to call them my Family.

"What occurred Saturday was an act that has not been witnessed by any of my race for more than one thousand seven hundred years. We value life, freedom and choice. We value our children. It was for that reason that we made the Safe Haven Act what it was when it was introduced to the Federation High Council. It is for that reason that I commissioned Clan Short, and now Clan Evans. You adult Terrans have failed in the protection of your offspring, and so instead I have given your offspring the power, the right and the weapons with which to do your job for you."

His eyes glinted fiercely as he looked into the television cameras, "Stand against them, and you shall stand against Vulcan. So says the Vulcan High Council, High Command, The Federation High Council and the League of Nations."

Without another word, Sarek turned and went back to his seat.

***Sammy's POV***

Holy crap! Grandpa is pissed, I thought as I walked over to the podium, looking back once at the livid Vulcan who was taking his seat next to Grandma, who gently took his hand. Even with his control I could feel how angry he was, and I felt bad for him, knowing how much Vulcans don't like to show that stuff, but then again it made me feel good too, knowing and feeling how much he cared. If only more would be like him.

"The next person today is someone who I only met a little while ago, but my brothers have been spending some time up with him, and they say he's really nice, as is the rest of his family. While those people were attacking us in Montana on Saturday, they were also attacking some other kids and adults too in Maine. They were left to fight them off by themselves because the Clan was tied up with saving us, and didn't have anyone else to send to help. In spite of that they stood up and fought back, and the people who wanted to hurt them didn't win there either. Today they are one of the newest divisions of Clan Short, and Jonas is the new head of that division. It was two of his family who helped Brian when he was hurt and alone after being brought to the hospital, and I gotta say thanks to Jed and CJ for that, 'cause Brian is real special to me," I said, looking over at Brian. He was so cute when he turned red, I thought, before looking back out at the audience.

"Anyway the Terrors have told me how cool they are, and what a wonderful cook Harry's mom is, so y'all need to get up there and eat real soon," I said to giggles from a bunch of the kids

"Seriously though, from what they told me, I think they're a great addition to the Clan, and I look forward to getting to know them a lot better. So here is Jonas McConnaghay, head of the North Eastern Division of Clan Short of Vulcan, and one of my new brothers"

** END SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE **

Jonas stood and stepped slowly forward, his stage fright momentarily trying to overpower him. He drew a deep breath and drew on his inner resolution to do this right.

"My name is Jonas McConnaghay," he began, "son of Maureen McConnaghay, and grandson of Sarek, Patriarch of the Family of Sarek in the House of Surak of Vulcan, and a member of Clan Short in that Family and House."

"Today is the service of remembrance for one hundred fourteen kids and adults who gave the last full measure of devotion in the defense of their fellow man. Nearly all of them were killed outside Missoula, Montana. And I would say nothing today to detract from that commemoration."

"But I want you all to realize that this was not one isolated incident, that the talking heads on television can term 'tragic' and 'regrettable' and then go on to the next item of news. Last Saturday, the day they died, there were attacks on people elsewhere in America. An overweight boy was pummeled in Fresno, a teen was driven to suicide in Baton Rouge. A pregnant girl was ostracized by her church in Oklahoma. And in my home town, the local parish of the Fundamentalist Church of Christ tried to kill me, my mother, my stepfather-to-be, my life partner, and our local D.A. and the three abused boys he had adopted, who were at our home."

"We survived that fight and defeated them, and then were arrested by our Sheriff for having defended ourselves, because my life partner had gotten the Sheriff's nephew arrested at our school for a bullying assault."

"This sort of thing goes on at schools all across America. The sort of abuse the D.A.'s new sons went through happens in homes all across America. There were sixty-one boys and girls in the Clan Short Special Forces Unit who died Saturday. It's my understanding that nearly every one of them was the victim of the same kind of bullying and abuse. Some were runaways, some rescued from group homes, some were the victims of a secret military experiment. The Cadets, the adults who died, all committed themselves to protect and defend their fellow man, and were called on to give their lives to do so, all too soon."

"My mother is a reporter, her boss an editor. I know all too well what makes news. And of all the things I've done in my life, good or bad, the only time I've ever been in a news story was when I made a touchdown in J.V. football last year. We have a friend named Rachel. She's a brilliant girl, a straight A student, hoping to go into medical research. And she is the one who saved me from the biggest mistake of my life -- that's the kind of kind, caring person she is. But nobody anywhere has ever seen her name in print, heard about her on TV or radio, seen a blog that mentioned her. She didn't do anything 'newsworthy', you see."

"You all know these names..." And Jonas named off a pro football quarterback, a home run hitter, a basketball center. "What they have in common, besides all being in pro sports, is that each of them draws more in salary and benefits each year than the total annual budget for the school district where I go to school, or than the annual budget for the entire child protection bureau in Portland. I looked the numbers up on the Internet; you can find them there too."

"Think about that: we're saying that one sports star is more valuable to us than a whole school system, or than making sure children are taken care of in a whole good-sized city. A kid today has two ways to become famous: be a sports star, or commit a crime. Otherwise the world gives every evidence of not caring whether he existed."

"So my challenge to you people who are listening is this: Make a change.. You adults, tell your legislators to put your money where your heart is. If you really want children taught right and protected, it's in your hands. Your Congressmen, your state legislators are your representatives. They'll pass laws and fund what's important to you. Tell them what that really is."

"You news media people, give recognition to people who are doing right. Especially kids. An Eagle Scout's community service project makes a great feature story. If the kids in your town raise a quarter million dollars to help people in Africa, make that a story. My stepfather has a friend who's been working for our state to help children for twenty years. I checked Google: in that twenty years, there was one story focused on her work. She's not corrupt, she's not controversial, so she's not news. And maybe she should be."

"And you kids, thinking you can't make a change? My life partner was a shy kid when he was younger -- except for me and Rachel, he didn't have any close friends. You can make a difference: befriend a shy kid. If you see someone getting bullied, step up to his defense. Sure it'll be him and you against a group of bigger stronger bullies for a moment -- but your friends will step up to join you. Kids you don't know that believe in doing the right thing will step up and join you. And together you'll back down the bullies. But what it takes to get that started is one kid with the courage to stand up and be counted. Be that kid."

"And if we all do that -- if even some of us do that -- then we'll never have another day like last Saturday, when kids get killed for defending other kids. Sure, what people have planned for putting up a concrete and stone memorial to them is great. But build the real memorial to them in your hearts. Resolve that what happened Saturday will never happen again, and Make a Change."

"Thank you."

Sammy stepped back to the podium. Again he looked at the crowd, and saw an older preteen boy calming down a younger boy. He smiled, remembering, and began to speak:

** SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE **

"I guess the next one I want to tell ya about is one that sticks in my mind 'cause he taught me something before we left Utah that really showed me something. When we first arrived in Utah, Adam told Ray-Ray to take us down and show us our room, but because there were so many of us, Ray-Ray called over to a kid to come and help. The very first thing I noticed was, after the kid said hi to dad and us, he just knelt down and said hello to my littlest brothers Lexei and Peter. I was looking at this kid about nine, just talking to them, and got to thinking, how many of us older kids sort of just blow off the little ones a lot of times 'cause we're doing big kid stuff? Well, he didn't, and that's the first thing I remember; the second was each of them took a hand and went with him as he led us all to our rooms. Now, Ray-Ray and him showed us around, but this kid, he spent extra time with Alexei and Peter, showing them stuff that we probably wouldn't have thought of doing and…well it was kind a nice. Over that week I saw this kid around, ya know how it is, well, we ran into him now and again, and I saw him sitting and reading to the little guys, or maybe just hugging them. Sometimes he was helping them with something, or even changing a baby's diaper, but just generally being there for them. It was funny the next day, 'cause he was showing us around and took us to where the school was done at, and then we walked to where this older boy was trying to do math stuff with some real little kids. Well, it was kind of obvious that they weren't getting the idea of subtraction, and the older kid was about to lose it, 'cause to him it was so simple. Now, here is this nine year old who walks up and whispers something to the sixteen or seventeen year old, who loudly says 'Be my guest' and sits down at the desk in front. I'm sure you can guess the older kid had an attitude of 'yeah right, lets see you do it then,' but I just watched, trying to figure out what was going to happen, as the little dude walked over to one of the kids and, kneeling down, asked what was the problem. After listening, he held up his hand with four fingers on it and asked how many. All the kids said four, and he started making a bunch of silly growling and eating noises as he 'ate' one of his fingers. Then he asked how many and they said three, so he did it again, laughing the whole time, and after 'eating' another finger asked how many. The kids, giggling and having a good time now, yelled 'TWO,' so he asked, if you have four fingers and the finger monster eats two of them, taking those away, then how many do you have left? Of course the kids all said two, and so he asked if you have eight and the finger monster takes away three, then how many do you have left?, and all the kids came up with five. But as the older boy stared in complete shock, the funniest part was, the little guy he'd been working with asked, 'but what does this have to do with minuses, you said take aways and those are easy.'" I stopped for a minute to let the chuckles die down and take a sip of water.

"Anyway, it was real cool watching how he was with the little kids. It's kinda hard to explain, but he always managed to include them in with whatever was going on, but without making it seem like he was doing it on purpose, ya know. It was just kinda like it was supposed to be that way, if that makes any sense. It was the last thing I remember, though, that really kinda sticks with me. He invited the Terrors to go with him and a couple of his friends into town and I sorta tagged along. Well we went and had some fun, you know, just messing around and stuff, nothing special, and they had taken off into a store that I wasn't really interested in, so I just sort of sat outside waiting for them to come out. A bit later he came out and said the others were still looking at stuff, and we got to talking a little, when he suddenly stopped and said to stay here before taking off. I looked to where he was going and saw some older kids messing with a little one. They had him pushed up against the side of the building, and you could tell the poor kid was scared to death. Well, as a few of ya might know, I don't take kindly to that kinda stuff and got up anyway, figuring a little ass kicking was about to come on some bullies, if ya know what I mean." I smiled as more laughter came from some and then went on.

"Well, before I could get too close, he was up there asking what was going on. Now I didn't want to see him hurt none 'cause, well, he was a little kid too, so I hurried up a bit. Now it surprised me what happened next before I could even get over there. They hadn't seen me yet and one of the older ones turns and asks, real mean like, 'What's it to you?' while another says to butt out. I thought for sure they were gonna kick his butt, but he just looks at them with a big smile on his face and says, 'Come on, guys, I'm his big brother, and ya know how it is, I gotta look after my little bro.' Believe it or not, they backed down and said they were just playing with him and left. I guess he knew I was there, 'cause he turned and smiled at me before kneeling down and talking to the little kid, telling him everything was okay now. It was what happened next, though that, well, it's something I'll never forget. This little kid looks up at him and says 'Why'd ya help me and tell em you're my big brother, you don't even know me?' I watched as he just looked at the kid and then asked if he could tell him a secret. When the kid nodded his head yes, he told him, "Everyone needs a big brother sometimes, and you sure looked like this was one of them." The little kid just smiled real big and wrapped his arms around him. It was the little guy saying he wished he could have him for a big brother for real that really got to me though. He took the little boy with us and bought him an ice cream, and that kid loved every minute of the time he got to spend with him until his mom showed up, but he left with a smile on his face, looking back until he was outta sight of us." I stopped again before going on, taking a deep breath, looking out over the crowd a moment, trying hard not to cry.

"After watching him and seeing that, I guess you could say that Mark was the perfect big brother to the little ones, always looking out for 'em and protecting them. That's what I think of when I think of Mark, and that's who I think of when I see my own little brothers. It's what I think of when I think how to act with them and how to treat them. It's who I hope I'm half as good as for them. On Saturday he and a bunch of kids were coming up to our place to have a bit of fun, sorta like a vacation. A bunch of the little ones and him were on one of the helicopters when a missile was shot at it, The missile hit the Hind and…well, Mark was on that chopper, and all his little brothers lost their perfect big one. But ya know what? I'm gonna bet ya that the perfect big brother is up there, doing what he's always done for a whole new bunch of kids whose time it is to need one, and that heaven is a lot happier because of it." I managed to get out but I couldn't hold the tears back any longer this time.

I had to stop and try to get myself under control so I could go on. I just couldn't help but wonder again 'Why?' Why did those like Mark have to die, he was just a little guy, why did so many have to? 'Take good care of em Mark' I thought as I finally felt I could go on and looked down at my notes to see who the next speaker was going to be. I couldn't help but get a little smile on my face as I saw who it was.

"I've only know him for a couple of days but in that time I've come to love him a lot and think of him like another dad almost. He's one of only a few people I've ever met who make the short list of people who are just born to be a dad. I mean any man can screw a woman and make a baby but it takes a really special guy to be a father and there don't seem to be a whole lot of those around even if they're really needed. I know some of you probably wonder why I'm saying that or what in the heck I'm even talking about so let me tell ya'll a story about a father, about this man who is what one means in every sense of the word, about Joe Casey, Adam and the Unit's dad" 

I stopped and looked around for a moment before smiling gently and continuing.

"Joe Casey is a lot of things, but a couple of em are a Special Forces Soldier like my dad and a trainer too. He's done a lot of the training of Adam, as well as all the kids who have come to be part of Adam's family. Now one of the things Joe loves to do, for some weird ass reason I can't explain, is to jump outta a perfectly good airplane for no reason whatsoever. If that ain't like totally crazy then I don't know what is, but what's even worse is he likes to train other people to do it too. That he actually finds them is even more weird, and don't worry, Dad, ain't gonna happen in this or any other lifetime," I said as people laughed some at that, but even more when Dad muttered, "Well, that's at least one thing he won't do."

I turned and stuck out my tongue at him before turning back to the crowd. "Just wait till Sean teaches me to fly a shuttle," I replied to more laughter as Dad groaned.

"Seriously though, Joe does this stuff and trains the other kids to do it too. A while back on one of these training jumps, Adam's parachute got tangled up and he couldn't release it. What happened next was kinda not good, if ya know what I mean. Adam went into a free fall, and what's called a red eye spin, which means you're spinning so hard the blood vessels in your eyes break and you start bleeding from them. Now the short version of what that meant was that Adam was about to die, no ifs ands or buts about it, he was about to smash into the ground a little bit faster than he should. Now Joe had a choice to make, and that was to watch his son die or risk his life in trying to save him. No guarantee even that if he did that, he'd be able to save Adam. Ya'see, though, Joe never hesitated, he just released his chute and dove for Adam for all he was worth. By the time he got there, Adam was almost passed out, and if it wasn't for Adam being who he was, he would've been passed out. That meant he couldn't do much to help Joe, and it took seconds they didn't have for Joe to get Adam right side up, settled down, and the chute released, then pull the reserve chute. There was just one problem in all this, though." Stopping to look out, I could see everyone in the Unit knew what I was going to say, while most everyone else looked confused, but all were listening in shock and disbelief at the story.

"See, the problem was that as they fell, they kinda got closer and closer to the ground. Now Joe had to do all that to Adam, but he still had to get himself far enough away to be able to pull his own reserve chute and not get it all tangled up with Adam's, but by that time he just didn't have enough time. Those few seconds it took to do all that to Adam and then what he needed to do were a few too many, and Joe realized right away that there was no way to do it all and still make it. Most people seeing that would have just shoved Adam away and did what they had to in order to live, which meant leaving Adam to a certain death and pulling their own chute. Well, I wanna tell you that Joe didn't, ya see, Joe couldn't do that. It was his son, his boy who was in trouble, and that's what a real father does. He never even thought about it, just did what he had to do to save his son. He knew it would probably cost him his life, because there was no way to survive what would come, yet he went ahead and did it. When he got far enough away, he pulled his chute but by then…by then it was far too late. He was at 1200 feet and there…there just wasn't enough time. He hit the ground going over forty miles an hour and what was left wasn't pretty. The injuries to him were so many that it'd take half the day to list em all, but they were bad, real bad." I stopped to take a breath, needing to calm down a bit. I hadn't even been there, but having been told the story, it still hit me to think how close it'd been.

"The thing I'll always remember from what I was told about that day was this man, broken and bleeding, in so much pain and not even being able to breathe, fought long enough to ask one thing, just one. He…he asked if Adam was okay. That's all that mattered to him, and once he knew Adam was all right, he finally let go." I had to stop at that for a moment, and I didn't even try to stop the tears running down my face.

"I guess I should tell ya of another slight problem that came up then. Ya'see, Chang, he don't talk much, but then he doesn't really need to, 'cause everyone knows ya don't argue with him. He kinda had a problem with Joe just up and dying like that as soon as he found out Adam was okay, and basically said, 'Nah, not happening.' He fought and wouldn't let Joe go, and finally he got Joe back enough so that Joe could fight on his own. It wasn't easy, but he and Mama J did it, poor Joe didn't stand a chance. It wasn't easy, and Joe had to have a bunch of surgeries, and he's probably had more blood put into him than he had to start with and then some, but even though he was in a coma for a long time, he made it, and he's back with us today. There was a cost, though, he'll never walk again." I paused for a moment at the gasps that came from some before going on. "I know this story has to be hurting Adam, and I'm sorry, but I think it's real important that everyone know what kind of father you have, and what kind of father kids out there oughta have too. Joe never once complained, I've been told, and I asked him one time if he had to do it all over again, knowing what would happen, if he would, and ya know what he said? He said so simply and without even thinking about it. 'He's my son,' and that is all the answer there ever could be for him or for a father. That is what it means to be a real dad, and that's what it means to every single person in the Unit who is Proud to call him dad, and I can say I'm proud to know him and think of him like another father too, so everyone, I'd like to introduce Adam's father and the father of every single one of the kids in the Unit, Captain Joe Casey or as he's better known, Daddy Joe…."

**END SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE**

Joe slowly made his way up the stage, with Emily pushing his wheel chair. He nodded at Sammy as the young boy positioned the microphone down to where Joe was placed next to the podium. Emily reached down and set the brakes on the chair, even though he could have done it himself, then gave him a kiss on the cheek. He hadn't really known what he was going to say, but that kiss brought it all together in his head. He looked out at all those looking back at him, and then to the camera. 'Jesus Joe, you're a Special Forces soldier, this shouldn't be that hard,' he thought to himself... but it was.

"First off, I would like to thank all of you for coming, and for watching at home. Not many of you actually knew these kids, yet you have shown up to pay your respects when they died. My family and I will forever be grateful for that. My name is General Joseph Alexander Casey the Third; for the last year, I have had the honor of being one of the instructors to a lot of these children, but it was the position as a father figure for many of our children, that I will treasure for the rest of my life. That is what I would like to talk about today."

Joe had to remind himself of the deal that Adam had made with Tom. If it got out how many of the kids within the Unit were either captured or manipulated by the US Government into becoming what they were, it would cause a huge shit storm around the world, so as far as the public would ever know, except for Adam, the G-Cats, and the core of the Unit, all the rest were simply children whom Adam pulled off the streets. While Joe didn't really like it, that's the way Adam wanted it to be done, so he'd go along with it. "I am sure many of you are wondering just who the kids you see here today really are. Well, I'll tell you. Almost every single one of the kids that died, and those that are still here, lived on the streets. They were the undesirables that many people had to chase out of the stores or malls, or other areas that see a high number of homeless. What made them homeless was anything from their families being homeless, to escaping abuse, to running away for whatever reason. The reason they left isn't really important today; what is important is that they did. So many of these kids were starving for attention, or for someone to just hold them and tell them that everything was going to be okay. They needed adults to look up to, that they could feel comfortable around, and not have to worry about if that adult was going to try and hurt them in some way. Basically, what they were looking for was love. And I was, and am HONORED to give it to so many that deserve nothing less."

He paused for a moment wiping away the tears that were falling. He had everyone's attention, and he wasn't going to waste it. "One of the children I met, stole my heart just a bit more than the rest. I first met her on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her young life... her sweet sixteen. But instead of meeting a happy young woman, looking forward to the rest of her life, I met a scared little girl who would tense up and try to run away at the very sight of a man... well, I should say an adult male, because the people that made her that way were anything but men. See, from her earliest memories, she was made to 'service' her father and his friends. It's not my place to go into detail as to what happened, but to say her life was full of torment and pain would be an understatement. She finally escaped that life when two men, Jackson Bryce and David Hathaway, found her on the side of the road, left for dead. See, one of the 'men' had made her pregnant. Instead of doing what real men would have done, and taken care of the child, they took the coward's way out, and forcefully aborted the child, and then left her for dead. Unfortunately for those men, she was a lot stronger than they could ever have imagined."

He paused again, needing to let his tears have a moment to flow, and saw that many others were either fighting back the tears, or wiping them away. He caught Emily's eye, sitting there next to Donnie with their three new boys sitting with them, and even though she was crying heavily, there was the look of strength in her eyes that he had come to admire over the last year. She simply nodded to him, and Joe continued. "For the next three months, she wasn't even able to get out of bed. Jack and Dave tried to take care of her, but every time they came into the room she was in, she would start to cry even harder, and try to get away. Finally, they had to have one of the other young girls help her out as much as she was able. Once she was finally able to move around on her own, she stayed away from any of the boys that were there, and no one could get close to her. Many times, they would hear her crying at night, but no one could get close to her. That's the way we found her, when we got there."

"Adam gave them all a choice: they could hide in the mine that found them all, and keep doing what little they were, or he would help them help themselves. He would train them to try and make sure that what they went through, would never have to happen to other kids. Of course, we knew that we couldn't stop every kid from being hurt but Janet and I went along with it, because we had nothing better to offer them."

It was almost a week later, when I first met Emily. Janet and I were sitting in our room talking about everything that was going on, when a knock came on the door. When the door opened, I saw a slight girl, who I thought couldn't have been more then thirteen or fourteen. I watched her tense when she saw me, but then she did something that impressed the hell out of me, and still does to this day. She looked down, took a deep breath, then squared her shoulders, drew herself up, and walked into the room. I could see fear in her eyes, but it was pushed aside with steely determination."

Joe looked up, remembering that day well. "When Janet asked what we could do for her, she simply looked into my eyes and said one thing. 'I don't want to be scared anymore.' Janet and I both knew a little of what had happened to her, but we didn't expect this. I slowly rose from the chair I was sitting in, and walked over to her. I could tell she was fighting the urge to run, but she stayed strong. I gently wrapped my arms around her, and she stood there, stiff as a board for a few seconds, then she nearly collapsed into my arms. For the next few hours we heard her entire story. To this day, I can honestly say that I could not have survived what she went through."

"I have heard many of the stories from the kids that call themselves the Unit, and while hers might be the worst, they are all bad. They have all dealt with more in their short lives than many of us will ever have to face. But every single one of them, have turned that pain into something more than we ever thought. They have all dedicated their lives to making sure that others don't go through what they did. And, I am thankful every day that I am allowed to be a part of it."

"Last Friday night, the day before we left for Montana, a young man came up to me, and asked to speak with me in private. When we got to my room, we sat down, and I could tell he was very nervous. I had a feeling I knew why he was there, but I wanted to let him do what he needed to. After a few minutes of him trying to gather his courage, he finally looked me right dead in the eyes, and asked me a question, that I have not answered yet. I would like to answer it now. Yes Donnie, you have my blessing to marry my little girl. I would be honored to call you son."

With that, Joe released the brakes on his chair, and wheeled himself off the stage.

**Sammy's Prespective **

I quickly stopped Joe as he was wheeling himself off the stage, and gave him a quick hug and kiss on his cheek, smiling at him before walking back to the podium and taking a look at who the next speaker was going to be. Ah, it was gonna be Doc Danny, cool.

"On Saturday, Cory, Adam and so many others came to Montana to save me and my family. You all know that already, and that's why we're here today. But, what y'all don't know is that once they got us outta there, is when the saving really started. 'Cause without this next person, all the work Cory and the others did wouldn't have meant nothing. Ya'see, when we got rescued from Montana, a lot of us were hurt, some really, really bad. Dad, Samantha, Yuri, Ronnie, and Brian were all really bad off, as in dying, and others of us were hurt too. They wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for him and the other docs there. I can't say these words enough to him, and that is 'Thank You'. Because of you and the others, my family is alive and well today after what happened. I have Cory, Timmy, Austin, and Adam with his family to thank for coming and getting us out of hell. But, I have you to thank for making sure we're all alive and here to remember those who didn't make it out. So it's my great honor to introduce Doc Danny or to the rest of ya, Doctor Daniel Page, Director of the Clan Short AI Division, and even more so because without him and his boyfriend Marc," I had to pause while Danny shot me a glare, and more then one person snickered, "a lot of my family would be down there instead of up here. Y'all, another one I'm really proud to call brother, Danny…" I said, motioning towards him, and as he walked up, taking him in my arms to give him a BIG hug. "Thanks, Bro," I whispered as I let him go and he walked up to the podium.

** END SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE **

Wiping a tear from his eye, Danny made his way toward the podium; his face clearly reflecting the pain he shared with his brothers. Noah followed on his heels, fresh tears still glimmering on his cheeks.

"Thanks, Sammy." He said into the mic as he visibly tried to compose himself. "A lot of you don't know me, or if you do it's just from your History classes. About a hundred years ago, I lost my life in a car accident; swerving to avoid a small boy who had wandered out onto a busy street. I spent the following years as an android, wishing I could simply put my human life behind me and find a place in this world to fit in again. My cries for help were weak and easily drowned out by the noise that most people call everyday life. I've been tortured, harassed and turned away from by the human race as some sort of freak of nature; the same human race that was responsible for my very existence."

Danny paused to clear his throat, pulling Noah into his side for support. "This past week proved to me that there is hope for us, for the work that we've taken upon ourselves. There's hope for the many voices that cry out into the night to be heard, to be protected and to get a second chance when life deals them the worst possible hand."

Danny looked around the crowd, his eyes finally landing on Cory. "This past week I found a reason to be. Not to simply 'exist' but to be a part of the tool that gives those with a weak cry a loud enough voice to be heard. I've accepted that responsibility just as each and every one of us has. It's a fight worth fighting, it's a task worth accomplishing and it's something each and every one of us will defend with our own lives."

"We stand here in front of each and every one of you, to simply echo the thoughts and feelings we are already aware of. We join together as one to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price to pave the way for the rest of us, because they also believed that the price wasn't too high."

As Danny paused, little Hunter came up and squirreled his way under Danny's arm. "Uncle Danny's right. My old father tried to kill me 'cuz I was protecting a kid in a wheelchair from being shot by him. Now I got a chance at making sure nobody else gets hurt by people who think hurting kids is okay, just like Uncle Danny and Uncle Marc."

Noah hid his face behind Danny's shoulder, seeking comfort as fresh tears once again poured from his eyes.

Danny held both boys close as he put every emotion he was feeling into his final words. "My brothers were murdered protecting kids from harm. Each and every day to follow, will be in their name. To keep what they believe in alive."

** Sammy's Perspective **

I watched as Noah helped Danny off the stage, then looked out at the crowd. I saw Jer trying to comfort RayRay, and another memory surfaced. I knew then who I needed to talk about next.

"Well, I wanted to tell ya about another kid now. I met him last week and it was kinda funny how it happened. I was sitting there talking with Billy, Ray Ray and Jer, when this kid I'd never met comes into the room we and a bunch of others were in and says, "Hey Sammy, how's it going?" I looked at Billy and then to this kid and said "Uh okay, I guess." I mean, it's kinda weird, ya know, that someone you don't know just comes up to ya that way and says that. The only thing was, though, the kid looks at me like I'm the one crazy and says "Who're you?" Now I was getting confused and told him "Sammy." About then another boy says, "He meant me," and I looked to see this older kid laughing at what had happened, while the first one says, "Umm yeah, you're Sammy too, I take it?" Well, I told him yes, and we got to talking a bit, then they went off and I didn't think too much about it. The next day Ray Ray told me there was going to be a surprise birthday party for Sammy and said to let everyone know. Sounded cool and I kind of thought we'd go to make it bigger and nicer for the boy. He seemed nice. Anyway, we got there and sure enough when he showed up the party started. It was a lot of fun. I think the funniest thing though, was seeing his face when he realized that a bunch of the balloons in the party weren't exactly balloons. It seems Jer, Ty, and a few others had gotten into Mama J's medical stuff and borrowed some 'balloons' to blow up. Somehow I don't think it was exactly what the guys who made the things thought about when it came to blowing, ya know?" I said, which got people laughing and someone glaring at two boys in particular.

"Well, ya didn't tell me it was supposed to be a secret," I said, looking over at the now blushing Jer and Ty as more giggles came.

"It was a great party, like I said, and everyone had fun, with Sammy getting a bunch of stuff, and I could tell how much it meant to him, or thought I could. As it kinda ended and everyone went off to whatever, after all the music and food and stuff, I headed out too with Brian and was just chilling around, ya know? Anyway, Brian went off to find some of the guys, and I was going back towards Jer's room, when I went by the place where the party had been. I looked in and saw Sammy just sitting there, and I just knew something wasn't right, so I went in and asked, "Hey, you okay?" Of course he said yeah, and tried to pretend it was nothing, but I just asked him what was wrong. I'll never forget him looking up, and there were tears in his eyes, ya know, the kind that are trying to get out real bad, and you're trying to keep em in real bad, that kind, and he said "They gave me a party." It was the way he said it, though, that got me 'cause I'd said it too before. Oh, different words, but I'd said the same thing, just like my new brothers had also." I stopped for a moment looking out at everyone knowing they knew too.

"Ya see, a lot of you probably won't understand it, but the kids here I think will, at least most of them. It's not believing it's really happening, that someone wants ya, or buys you something, it's when it sets in that someone cares, really cares. It's when you realize, that you have a home now and a mom or dad. It's when you get home from school, and Dad has baked his double chocolate chip cookies, and you wonder who they're for, and he says "You, silly." You just look at him and say, "You made them for me?" not believing it, and he says "Yeah, who else?" like it's should be so plain to ya. It's when you wake up on your first Christmas and find a bunch of presents under the tree, and they have your name on them, and you just can't believe it. It's when you just sit down and cry, because you haven't had any of that at all. Or not for a long, long time," I said as I looked out at way too many nodding heads.

"That was so clear in what he said and how he said it, as I sat down next to him and softly said 'Yeah, they did.' He looked at me for a moment before looking away and almost whispering, "For me."

"'I know,' I replied and he looked back at me long and hard before just staring at one of the special balloons he had been holding.

"'It's just so hard to believe," he said, then went on, "'They took me away from my mom when I was two and I've been in group homes almost all my life until I came here a while ago. I've never had a party before, this is the first one," he said, looking back at me, only this time the tears had won the war.

"'I know," I said softly.

"'I mean they've been real nice to me and all but…" he said, but had to stop as he looked away again.

I reached out and wrapped my arms around him and hugged him.

He was so stiff at first, but then it was like it all just melted, and his arms came around me and hugged me back, and I could feel him crying into my shoulder and softly saying through the sobs, "They really care about me, they really do." over and over again.

When he calmed down some, he pulled back and looked embarrassed, but I just leaned forward and gave him a kiss on his cheek, and like Dad had done for me a million times said, "It's okay."

He smiled at me through the tears in his eyes and said, "Sorry for being such a baby."

"Nah, don't be, we all go through it, I think," I replied.

"I just can't believe it, is all, they even got me presents," he said, looking at the pile sitting on the table.

"Yep, sure did," I told him smiling, which got a smile back.

"You do know, don't you?" he asked me then, and I just nodded my head.

"I've been in them too," I added.

"Why don't they care about us there, where we need them the most?" he asked.

"I don't know. I've asked the same thing and no one has an answer," I told him.

"I was taken away from my mom when I was two, and been in the system ever since. I learned how to fight before I was four, could beat the crap outta kids two or three years older than me by the time I was six. That's not a life for a kid, ya know?" he said.

"I know," I replied.

"They didn't care, Sammy, they just didn't care, no one did. I've never had anyone give a damn about me, other than if my room was clean, and that I wasn't causing the staff problems. Never," he told me.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. I remember the inspections and of course if someone was coming from outside," I said.

"Then it was really hell, 'cause they wanted us to show how wonderful the place was. It was about the only time things were great around there, even if it was just for a few minutes until whoever it was left," he said softly.

"Yeah," I replied, remembering the frantic cleanups and bringing out of stuff to make it look a lot nicer than it was. It made me sad to know that it wasn't just in the place I was but others as well.

"I got put into the older teen section finally and hated every minute of it. Most of the ones in there should have been in jail, not a group home. As bad as I thought it was before, when I got into A level, I found that it could be worse, a lot worse," he said.

"I heard stuff when I was in, but they kept them pretty much away from us," I told him.

"Yeah, they did us too, but once I had to live with them, I lost all my old friends, and didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter," he said.

"You lost your friends?" I asked, not thinking it through.

"Well, A level can't hang with little kids, ya know? So I wasn't allowed around any of them anymore," he said.

"Shit, that sucks," I replied.

"Yeah, it did, and it got so bad that I ran away, 'cause I couldn't stand it anymore, and figured anything was better than that place, but I never thought…" he said before stopping.

"You never thought you'd find somewhere?" I asked gently.

"Yeah," he whispered.

Then, "I can't believe they did this," as he held up the condom balloon, laughing softly before saying, "I've never even needed to use one, I almost didn't know what they were."

"I'm sure you will someday," I replied, smiling.

"When will it feel real?" he asked, looking at me again, searching for the answer we all asked, that we all wanted.

"I don't know. I've been with my dad three years now and most of the time it does, now. But there's still times I wake up wondering if it's all a dream. Maybe it never is, all the way; I just don't know" I told him.

I hated not being able to tell him what he needed to hear, but I didn't know myself. Sometimes it still didn't feel real, but then I had a Dad to go and get hugs with whenever I felt like that, he didn't.

He didn't say anything for long while, just turning the balloon around and around in his hands, but finally said, "I want it so bad."

"I know, and you already have it, you just have to get to know that," I said quietly.

"Thanks, Sammy," he told me as he stood up, and this time he reached out and hugged me before saying, "I guess I'd better get to bed, I have to be up early for formation."

"I'll help ya with your stuff," I told him and helped carry the stuff out to his room.

"I spent the night with him that night on his birthday and we talked some more and cuddled a lot. He was a sweet kid, and one I'm glad I got to know, even if it was only for a very short while. On Saturday, three days after his fifteenth birthday, he was with his team when he spotted a sniper taking aim on Emily, his Captain. He didn't stop to think, he just jumped forward, knocking her to the ground, and took a bullet in his back that was meant for her. She held him as he died, and all he could worry about was if she was all right." I had to stop for a moment; I just couldn't go on.

As before, though, I got control of myself and knew I had Viccy to thank once again, but wondered just how much longer she was going to be able to keep me going.

"I guess….I guess he found his family at last and finally knew it. You should know his full name was Sergeant Sammy Campbell, and that really hit me, because while you all know me as Sammy Reynolds now, my real name, before Dad found me, was…was Sammy Campbell. Sammy…Sammy, you are family, I just wish you were here to be with us," I said before moving back to Dad's arms.

I wasn't going to tell them this part, but he knew what they were for before that night was over, even if he never did use one.

I glanced at my notes to hide my tears at that last memory, and I came up with a small forced smile. "The next speaker is a bloke who's been through a lot, just like many of us. 'E's head of the Clan's Oceanic Division, down under," I said in a poor imitation of an Aussie accent. "Ladies and gentlemen, our brother from Sydney side, Skylan Thomas."

***End of Sammy perspective***

Sky approached the podium slowly, apprehension playing on his face, as he noticed just how many people were present.

When he reached the podium, he pulled his notes from the inner pocket of his tuxedo jacket, looked them over, then seemed to come to a decision in his mind. "Jesse's publicist wrote a speech for me, as I wasn't sure that I could come up with the right words, but seeing you all here, I don't need it."

"Just over a week ago, my new mum contacted Teri about invoking the Safe Haven Act on my behalf. In doing so, she set into motion a series of events that led to my being reunited with a true blood relation. At the same time, my brothers and I gained far more family than even we could dream of, in the Clan. On Saturday, the so-called 'forces of God' attacked our family. Everyone in our family was involved, whether it was on the front lines, or in the background, supporting those affected. My own division was involved in defending not only our Compound, but a children's hospital where I myself happened to be. The ringleaders of the Australian attacks are still on the loose, but I vow, here and now, that these monsters WILL be found, and WILL be brought to justice."

After a moment to recollect his thoughts, he continued. "This tragedy, however, has revealed the hidden treasure within the Clan... its compassion. I watched in the aftermath of the attack, as my youngest brother held the hand of his boyfriend all night. I helped treat a five year old patient who suffered third-degree burns, simply because he was at the hospital when it was attacked. He is now one of the newest members of the Clan, pending his release from the hospital."

"The Commonwealth of Australia lost twenty young and promising lives on Saturday, and even though there is no punishment severe enough to compensate the world for the loss of these lives, the unity their sacrifices have inspired will be embedded in all our hearts from now until we all pass on to the next world. Thank you."

**Mike Reynolds's Perspective**

I watched as Sky took his seat, and a strange man and woman began walking up towards the podium.

I started to tense up and saw several others as well, but before any of us could do anything, we all saw Adam wave everyone off; he apparently knew who these people were and was all right with it.

As they took the podium, I watched as the man looked out at the crowd a bit nervously, but what most got my attention was the sadness and pain in his face and eyes.

He looked old, much older than he was, and that pain was the reason.

After clearing his throat for a moment, he began to speak

"My name is John, and this is my wife Mary," he said, motioning to the woman up there at the podium with him.

"I thought I'd tell you a little about us and what it means to be a parent today. I'm going to start with what it means to want to be one," he said, stopping for a moment, and I could see the confusion on peoples' faces at this.

"You see, Mary and I wanted a child for years, but we'd just about reached the conclusion, after trying for so long, that it was never going to happen. We even had begun to look into adoption. We both love children so much, but it just wasn't meant to be, it seemed like." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"We would see parents with children and kids wandering around, and just wanted one of them to be ours so badly. It was a hole in our lives that we never thought would be filled."

"Then one day Mary told me she was pregnant, and it was the happiest day of my life, of our lives. It was the dream come true; finally we were going to have a child that we'd wanted for so very long. I can't begin to describe what it felt like when she told me the news. It was the most wonderful day of my life, and it was the scariest day of my life also." He stopped, smiling at the memory, and then went on.

"I was on top of the world, then I got scared to death. Would I be a good father? Would I do right by this child? Would I raise him or her correctly? Oh, so many fears and worries, but Mary just laughed and told me I'd be fine, but I still worried. I mean, I didn't even like babies all that much; they were always crying and fussing, doing things in their diaper, spitting up and generally just unpleasant little things, yet I was soon to have one, and I was really worried about what kind of a father I would be. What if I didn't like my own kid? Silly, I know," he said laughing "But there I was wanting something for so long, and now scared to death that I was actually going to get it," he said, chuckling again.

"Anyway, Mary got bigger, and I drove her generally insane, always touching her belly, putting my head on it and just resting it there and talking to what was inside. Every little ache and pain she had, I totally freaked out about, thinking something was wrong. Poor Mary didn't get hardly a moment's peace for those nine months. I went out and bought all the things I could think of and then some, a crib, bassinet, bath set and clothes. Lord, I think we had more clothes than some department stores do by the time the kid was actually born, and I bought stuff that would see it into school; that's how bad it got," he told the audience, but underlying the smile at remembering those times, I realized the pain was still there, even more so.

"Mary would just shake her head at it all, although she did end up putting her foot down when I started bringing home clothes for a five year old. Oh well, he had a nice wardrobe," he said, laughing a bit as Mary put in "Better than mine."

"Sorry dear, you see I just wanted everything in the world for our baby to be perfect. I wanted him or her to have everything I could possibly give it and that I didn't have growing up. The clothes and things I thought every child should have," he said.

"I know dear, I know," Mary said softly.

"Then the day finally came. Mary said those famous words that every woman says, and no, it wasn't she was going to kill me for getting her into this state," he told everyone, to laughter from the adults at least.

"No, she said 'It's time,' and of course, like any good father to be, I totally lost it," which got more laughter from the adults, but nothing but confusion on most of the kids' faces.

"While I was running around going nuts, Mary took things into her own hands, and it was only when I realized that she wasn't in the living room anymore that I started to look for her, and found out that she had called a taxi and was sitting quietly in the driveway."

"You didn't honestly think I was going to let you drive me anywhere in your condition, now did you, honey?" she asked, causing even more laughter.

"No, I suppose that was for the best," he said, which got a response of "Ya think?" from Mary.

"You do know I'm trying to tell a story here, don't you?" he asked, frowning at her, but everyone could tell he didn't mean it and wasn't really mad.

"Well, get on with it, then," she said, smiling at him.

He just shook his head before continuing, "Well, off to the hospital we went, and fourteen hours later…." He was saying when Mary interrupted with "Fourteen hours thirty seven minutes, dear."

He just looked at her before saying "Fourteen hours and thirty seven minutes later, then, the most wonderful, beautiful, fascinating, cute and precious creature in the entire universe came into our lives."

"He means a wrinkly, squalling, prune looking thing showed up, and of course being a boy was hungry too," Mary added, smiling as everyone laughed, except most of the boys of course.

"You know you're ruining the story here?" he asked looking fondly at her.

"Someone has to translate it into something they can understand. I bet they were all thinking 'I thought he was talking about a baby' with that last bit," she told him.

"I'm sure they knew what I was talking about, but anyway, the baby had arrived, and as I was saying it was the most beautiful baby in the world, at least to me," he said, looking directly at her now to see if she had anything to say, but she just smiled so he went on.

"The moment I saw him, my heart melted, and I knew there was nothing I could love more than him in the whole of creation. That I would do anything for this child, protect him from everything, and most of all love him to death. In that instant he became the entire reason for my existence, my whole world and my whole heart. He was everything to me, and I knew that every second of the rest of my life would be devoted to making sure he knew how much I loved him," he said, looking out, and I could see the tears in his eyes as he thought back to that moment.

I knew it well, for it was what I had experienced with my Sammy; he was my whole world in an instant, as if he'd been born to me, and I could see it on other adults' faces around the audience who were parents, that they too understood what he was saying.

"We took him home, and he was the absolute best baby in the world. Everything I was worried about, I soon found I needn't have because his stuff didn't stink to me…." He was saying as Mary laughed and said, "At least to one of us, My God, I still don't know how something that small can make something that smells that bad."

As everyone laughed at that, John took on a long suffering look before saying, "Well, it didn't to me, and all the other things like him spitting up, well, none of it bothered me. It seemed like he never cried unless he needed something, and I always seemed to know what he wanted, whether it was a diaper change or just to be held. Those days were so wonderful. Every minute I spent with him was a joy and wonder to experience. He was the most wonderful baby in the world, and I was so proud that he was mine. Mary thought sometimes I would have made the better mommy, the way I was with him. He was definitely daddy's boy, and I was all his," he said, smiling as he stopped to take a sip from the water glass on the podium.

I could still see confusion on a lot of faces at who they were and where this was going. It didn't seem to have anything to do with the funeral, yet somehow I felt that it did and we'd find out eventually, but some were starting to fidget a bit.

"The next few years were some of the best of my life, watching him grow. Seeing him take his first steps and how proud he was of that. Watching as he learned everything around him and his pure joy in discovering that world. The simplest things he learned made him so happy, and it was such a joy to watch him discover everything. Learning what things were called, or to eat by himself, running into the room screaming "I went pee pee, I went pee pee, daddy," like it was the biggest thing in the world, which it was to him, or when he learned his ABCs. He made us a part of everything in his life, and through him we discovered life again in the wonder of a child. I can't begin to tell you how much we learned from one little boy, but as much as he was learning about the world around him, he was teaching us as well," John said, smiling out at the little ones in the audience for a moment.

"He didn't like to wear clothes, and couldn't for the life of him understand why we thought it was so important, but Mary had a fit when he'd run outside to play buck naked for some reason, but he'd laugh and think it was so funny, giggling like crazy as he'd fall to the ground laughing, while Mary screamed for him to get something on. Or, the very logical answer he'd give when we'd tell him it was time to go to bed. In a dead serious grown up voice, he'd say'But I'm not sleepy, daddy.' Everything was simple to him and a joy. He loved every minute he was awake and would live in the second as only a child can. It taught us a lot about living, just by watching him do it, and he didn't even realize it." He paused again before going on.

"When he was about four, we saw another side to him, a side that filled my heart with even more pride and love if that were possible. We were at a playground near our house, and he was off with some other kids as we watched from a nearby seat. There was an older child there, maybe five or six, who was picking on another little boy, and our son went up and knocked this kid on his butt after telling him to leave the boy alone and he wouldn't. The older boy was so astonished at what happened, he just sat there stunned for a few moments before bawling like a baby from the shock of it. We of course went over and told our boy that he shouldn't have done that, but he just looked up at us and said, 'He was being mean and wouldn't stop.' Simple logic from a four year old. He told him and the kid wouldn't listen, so he made him. He just couldn't understand the idea we were trying to get across. I guess we could have learned something from that. It was all so simple to him, and now years later I think he had the right idea at four that we as adults haven't figured out yet." As he said that, there were more than a few nods in the audience from the kids.

"You see, he naturally cared and protected younger kids. He just cared about them instantly without even thinking about it. I'd never seen a young child just connect with another younger child like that. It goes against everything they say about the development of children and their empathy. The books actually say they don't have the capability to do what my son did. The books as usual are wrong. I was amazed to watch him interact with other kids, especially little ones. Do you know how absolutely amazing it is to see a four year old of his own accord stop and comfort a two or three year old child? To see a four year old stop and go over to a child younger than him, and bring him one of his toys, or pull him into the game he was playing? To watch, as he innately would, change a game to make sure it worked for the younger child, whether that was being less rambunctious or simplifying the rules, such as they were? I am still in awe of it to this day," he said, smiling out at everyone.

"That day we also got a brother for our son, even if we didn't know it yet. You see, the younger child he went to protect was about six months younger than he was, and Carlos, we were to find out, didn't live all that far from us as it turned out. A couple of days later, our boy was outside playing when every parents worst nightmare took place; he disappeared right from under our eyes. One minute he was in our front yard and the next he was gone. We went nuts running outside and calling his name, looking in bushes and everything. I was just about to call the police when I happened to look down the street, and here he was coming towards us, holding this little boys' hand and pulling him along. Well, to say I wasn't the most happy camper in the world by this time would be like asking if boys like food all that much." This got a few more laughs from people as he paused.

"When I was done yelling at him, instead of having my baby in tears and saying he was sorry like I expected for scaring me half to death, my son was looking up at me with the most indignant look on his face, and when I finally finished, he simply stated, 'Carlos needs someone to play with,' and walked past me into the house. My mouth dropped open and I just stood there for I don't know how long, until he came back to the door and asked if they could have something to eat," he said as Mary added, "And this surprised you?" which brought more laughter.

I still didn't understand why none of the boys were laughing though; I mean, it's not like everyone doesn't know of their voracious appetites or anything.

"Well, him acting that way surprised me, yes dear. He wasn't usually like that," he said before continuing. "Anyway, from that moment on, Carlos became part of our house more than his own. I won't kid you that he had a good home life because he didn't, but for him and our son, they became inseparable, almost as if they were brothers in actuality. They were into everything together, they slept together, took baths together, wrestled together, talked, played and just generally were almost like one, they were so close. Our son would bring him over, and say he was hungry or give him his clothes because he didn't have any nice ones. Sometimes they dragged laundry over because it wasn't done, and Carlos and his family had nothing clean to wear, and our boy would just look at us if we questioned it and say, 'We have to help them.' As time went by, Carlos's brothers and sisters were brought over too, because they were hungry or dirty. He'd make sure we fed them, or gave them a bath, had clean clothes or sometimes something to wear at all. They were never a bother or trouble like little kids would usually be to an older one; it was just the right thing to do, and he went and did it. He was like a big brother to all of them." He stopped and I could see him trying to get himself under control a bit.

"Our son was the most important thing in our world, and he brought these wonderful beautiful little children into our lives that became like our own. We couldn't have more children, so Carlos and his family became our kids too, and our boy was so happy about that. We took joy in Carlos when he did good and spanked his bottom when he needed it, just like we did with our own. We gave him hugs and kisses equally with our boy. They were everything to us, just as much as if they were ours," he told us, stopping for a minute to drink again from the water before him, although I think it was to collect himself a bit.

"I'm a professional man, educated, a doctor. I always raised my children openly about nudity, sex and the like. I never had any problems with him running around naked, and Carlos usually joined him as well as the little ones. I answered the questions when they came up in an open and honest manner, and when he discovered what else his penis could be used for, I didn't have a problem with it. We were quite liberal, we thought, about those things. Of course, when he was four and liked doing it in the supermarket, that presented a bit of a problem even we couldn't tolerate, but all in all, things were quite free in our home." He said as giggles and some laughter came from the audience at those last words.

"A little over a year ago I was home alone, and Mary had just went out to the store to buy some groceries. Carlos was over as usual; he basically lived with us most of the time by then, along with his siblings. They weren't there that day but actually home for some reason, I can't even recall right now. I was sitting in the front room and they were off playing in the back. I had heard the giggling and such going on while I read the paper, but it was the silence that got my attention. Now you know if you have children, that things aren't quiet unless they're asleep, and I knew they couldn't be asleep, so it sent out warning signals to my brain. Something was up, and don't get me wrong, as much angels as they were, my boys could get into mischief with the best of them and frequently did. So, naturally I got up to see what was going on," he stopped again and this time I saw Mary reach up and grasp onto his arm, squeezing it gently.

"I'm sorry; this is rather difficult for me, I'm afraid; you see, I got up and went down the hall to their room, and when I got there, well, the sight that greeted me was a perfectly normal one. Two eight year old boys naked on the bed touching their penises, exploring their bodies as most young boys do, and clearly enjoying what they were discovering. Carlos, when he saw me, was a bit apprehensive, but my boy didn't even blink. He wasn't afraid or worried about my reaction at all. I can make excuses all day for why what happened next, did happen, but it doesn't excuse it. It doesn't make it right, and it doesn't…it doesn't absolve me of the guilt for what I did that day, or the consequences of those actions. Here I was, a nice liberal minded educated man who had never had a problem with sex in my life, yet when I saw my two boys doing that, I…I lost it. I went berserk and…and…that was the day I killed what was my entire reason for living…my son."

He stopped then; he couldn't go on, but the gasps and angry murmurs from the crowd at hearing that were not happy ones.

They must have gotten through to him, though, because he raised his tear streaked face up and held up his hand, saying, "Please…please! This is important, please let me finish."

"Hatred has many insidious inroads into our lives; oftentimes we don't even recognize the seeds which were planted long ago, yet they are there waiting to be fed and burst forth like some malevolent plant into our lives when we least expect them. That day was the day for me, and it ended with taking my son's life. Oh, not right then, but that day I fired the bullet that eventually killed him nonetheless. You see when I saw what they were doing, when I saw my boy smile up at me when he realized I was there, not expecting a bad reaction from me, when I saw…when I saw him enjoying what was going on, that he didn't even stop what he was doing upon seeing me, something came over me. That seed planted deep in my childhood grew instantly and burst forth that day, and I stormed into the room, screaming at them. I pulled my son away from Carlos and almost threw him back on the bed, as I yelled at Carlos to get out of my house and to never come back. I yelled at someone who was like my son to get out, and that I was sorry I'd ever allowed him near my family." He stopped as he broke down crying again, and it was Mary who wrapped her arms around him that finally helped him regain control, the crowd absolutely silent and watching.

When he could speak again, he once again apologized, then went on.

"It was my son who I said the most cruel thing to, though. My life, my heart, my reason for living, I told my son I was ashamed of him and wished that he'd never been born. I told him to stay out of my sight because I didn't want to see him anymore. I left him there looking up at me with eyes filled with pain and not understanding, and oh God help me, the hurt on his face. The hurt and incomprehension on his face that moment as I turned away from him is something I will never forget or forgive myself for. That day I destroyed not only my son but Carlos and his family's life and ours. I went back out to the couch and just cried until I guess I fell asleep, not believing what I had just done." He stopped again, trying to keep on. I think everyone there could see how much this was taking out of him to continue, but continue he did.

"It wasn't too much later that Mary came home and woke me up with a question which stopped my heart: 'Where are the boys?' I began crying again and told her what happened. That was when she said no one was in our son's room. I got up and ran in there to find it empty, but with a note on his dresser. It…it, oh God…" he stopped again, and I could see more than a few tears on faces in the crowd, and I knew mine was included in that list.

Finally though, after a tight hug from Mary, he said softly but still picked up by the mic "I'll be all right; I have to get through this, love."

She just nodded as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, and stood staring at it for a few minutes before looking up and reading what I knew was on it, without ever looking down at it again. "The note said, 'I'm sorry, daddy. I'm sorry you don't love me no more, but I still love you. I always will but I'll go away now since you don't want me no more. I love you, daddy," and that was all he wrote, but it was more than enough. I remember turning to Mary and asking, "Oh God, what have I done?" before I ran out of the house screaming his name. The first place I went was Carlos's house, but he wouldn't talk to me. He was afraid of me. The look of terror he gave me as he begged me to leave him alone and not hurt him broke my heart, and I left without any answers about my son. We searched the neighborhood but we couldn't find him. Finally we called the police and they came out. There was a big search, but they didn't have any better luck than we did, except they did get to talk to Carlos, who told them that all he knew was he'd come by and said goodbye to them. That day was the end of our life, the end of our dreams and hopes, the end of everything, eight years to the day after our precious son was born."

There were gasps at that as he stopped to collect himself once again.

"We searched and hired private investigators, begged the police to keep looking, which they did, but we never found out what happened to our boy that day. I can tell you that I lost far more than him though; because of my actions I lost Carlos and his brothers and sisters as well. I've put them fully into the hell that is their home, but Carlos is scared to death of me now and won't have anything to do with me because of what I did that day, and I can't say that I blame him either. I've lost everything that meant anything to me, and it's all my fault, and the hatred that was within me. The last words my son heard from me were that I didn't want him, and it's something I'll live with for the rest of my life. We finally did find out some things about our son though," he said stopping and looking around a moment.

"He ran away that day because he thought no one wanted him and went out on the street on his eighth birthday where someone found him and took him," he told everyone, which brought gasps to most everyone who could understand what that meant.

"That someone took him and brought them into their home. I thank God, who must have been doing my job and watching out for my son when I sure as hell didn't, that the person who found him and took him wasn't someone bad or evil. That person brought him into their home and gave him the love I should have been giving him. He gave him that love without conditions, without asking if he should or not, he gave him a place to call his own again and a family once more as I should have been doing. He gave him a reason to go on, and a purpose that even as young as he was, he took to and loved. Helping other kids and getting them out of bad situations, then giving them what he'd been given. You see, Adam gave him a life again and he loved it. For that I can never thank you enough, Adam, for being there when I wasn't, for saving my son that day, for giving him back that which I took from him," he said, looking now at Adam for a moment before going on.

"I've been talking these last few days to people who knew him and he never changed. He kept on looking out after the little ones, he kept on loving them and taking care of them. He kept on being the son I was, and am, so proud of. On Saturday the bullet I fired over a year ago finally struck my boy; he was up in a helicopter with a bunch of his little ones when a missile was fired at it. He never thought about it, he just did what he always did, and that was to try to protect the little ones. He…he…" As he stopped, his shoulders began to shake, and the sobs coming from him filled the silence of the glade before he went on.

"On Saturday that bullet finally took his life, but his last act on this earth was to do what he'd always done, try and protect the little ones, to take care of them. As the missile came at them, our son threw himself on top of two little ones to try and save their lives. I'm told they made it but he didn't. I know if he had to die, it he would want it to have been like that, like he'd lived his whole life, protecting the little ones. I'm so proud of him, I always have been and…and…I…I only wish…I…could tell him that." As he stopped his head dropped for a moment before he looked up again and said loudly and clearly

"My son was only nine years old…and his name…his name was Mark…Little."

With that, a broken man slowly turned and walked off the stage, his wife trying to comfort that which was inconsolable, to total silence except for the crying echoing across the glade and an almost silent echo reverberating of

'His name…was Mark Little.'

**END MIKE'S PERSPECTIVE**

---

Simon slipped in next to the camera operator just as John Little was being helped off the stage. He had asked Adam for this honor, and he was going to do his best. With a nod from the technician, Simon started to speak. "Test test.... test one... two... three." He said into his head set. 

"You're loud and clear. You'll be going live in ten seconds. Mr. Garret will be the first voice you hear, Ms. Tanner will be the second. Do you mind if they refer to you as Simon, or would you prefer Corporal Hayes?"

"Simon is fine. Please be advised, I have full authorization to discontinue this at any time without warning, so tell your people to play nice, and I will too." Simon knew how some people were trying to spin everything that happened, and he would be damned if he let them do that to him... especially today. 

"Understood, you're live in three... two...." He heard, and then the voice of an older lady came through his headphones. 

"Well, that was not what I was expecting. But to hear those two people speak about their son... well you could just hear the anguish in their voices. I fell so sorry for those two."

Simon watched on the small monitor as the man turned slightly to look at the woman who was wiping tears from her eyes. Simon also noticed the moisture in the man's eyes as well. "Yes, you're right, I am sure that will be haunting those two for the rest of their lives. But, I am told that we have a special guest who has come on to help explain what is going to happen next. Corporal Hayes, are you there?"

"Yes sir, I am, and please call me Simon." He answered, as he saw that there was now a split screen on the monitor where he could see himself sitting there. He was glad that Alvin had gone over his uniform with a fine toothed comb before the march. Simon was never very good at remembering what went where, and how it was all supposed to fit. Few people actually took the time to see Simon and his brother as three individual people. Hell, most people couldn't tell them apart; of course neither Logan nor Adam had any trouble right from the very beginning.

"Thank you, Simon," the woman said quietly, "from what I understand, you're here to help explain what is going on with the flag folding. Most people have seen a military funeral, or a State Funeral, so they understand what a flag folding is, but how is this one going to be different?"

"Well," Simon started out, just as Jeremy was taking the stage. "On the stage now is Lieutenant Jeremy Rose, acting as the Sergeant at Arms for the ceremony. He'll be the one calling the commands. The biggest difference between this funeral and a normal military funeral is the fact there are so many being honored at once." Simon paused to take a breath, and the woman spoke quickly.

"I'm sorry, Simon, how rude of us, I'm Mary, and this is Kevin. Now, a question if there is time?" Simon nodded, and she quickly continued. "I understand that there were one hundred and fourteen who died, and I see all the caskets arrayed in front of us, but I notice that there are only five out front, and each is draped with a different flag; could you please explain why those five, and what each of the flags mean?"

"Of course, That is what I am here to do. What I will try and do is give you a little bit of background about who is folding each of the flags, and why they are the ones folding the flags for each of the five. Right now, Lt. Rose is calling forward those that will be folding the flags. As you can see, there is a five person unit per casket, four will be folding the flag, while the final person will be the one to present the flag to the family member, or the representative for the family. However, what will be happening first is once the folders have the flag lifted, they will hold it there in Honor as the Eulogy is said. Then they will actually fold the flag. As you can see, Lt. Rose is now calling on the Pastor." Simon fell silent as Pastor Mills walked up onto the stage.

---

Paul Mills was smiling ear-to-ear as his adoptive father stepped forward to the podium. Next to him, as always, sat Pauly Short, and next to him Wacko, the large immature black panther he had been given by Tommy Maxwell and Wacko's mother Fluffy. Paul's father, the pastor who had befriended and comforted Sean when he lost both his brothers - Mikey to the grave and Cory to the Home - and who had helped give him the strength to go on, had been chosen to give the eulogy today. The normally quiet, easygoing Sean had shocked Adam when he insisted on this one choice. "They're your family, Adam," Sean had said, "and it's only right you be in charge. But I won't see some pompous preacher get up there and mouth the correct words. I know for a fact that Pastor Mills is someone who knows what it's like to lose family and will say what needs to be said. You can arrange everything else to do them honor, and Cory and I will back you to the hilt. But on this one thing, I insist on my choice. What your Unit members need - what we all need - is healing - healing for our hearts and spirits. And that's what Pastor Mills is good at." Faced with that, Adam had acquiesced, and told the Pope, the Presbyterian Moderator, and a dozen other religious leaders that their services were not needed.

"Please be seated, my children," Pastor Mills began. Several members of the Unit scowled at the term, and Pastor Mills picked up on that. "The phrase 'my children' is something we clergymen are accustomed to use when preaching at events like I am doing today, and I can see many of you who are angry at how this man whom you've never seen before can presume to use it of you. And I know that young people dislike immensely being referred to as children. But, I have a special reason for doing it - how I came to be connected to Clan Short, and to all of you."

"Last year, a young man came to worship at the church I was serving. He had just lost a brother to death in a car accident, and his other brother had gone through a mental breakdown as a result - and he was very close to them both. I counseled him, listened to his story, and I told him that God had a Plan, a Plan for our lives, and that he would see great good come out of his loss, if he would only hang onto his faith, his hope, and never give up. I had no idea how great good would result."

"At that time I was a childless widower, resigned to the idea that my family was my church family, my parishioners, and fighting retirement to cling to that family. Well, that young man was Sean Short, his brothers were Mikey and Cory - or perhaps I should say 'St. Mikey of Urbandale'. And Sean listened, he held onto that hope, his love was what brought Cory back, and together their love reached out to every single one of you young people listening. But why you are 'my children' in a different sense than the usual, is that St. Mikey led me to take in and adopt a wonderful boy who was homeless, my son Paul - and Paul has become a member of Clan Short, a brother to every single one of you."

"Mr. Ambassador," Pastor Mills went on, addressing Sarek, "I understand that you regard every one of these young people as your grandchild, in the Vulcan way, and that injury done to them is injury done to your family, your house, your planet, and to you personally. I claim this for myself as well: I now have a wonderful son, and all you young people who listen are his brothers and sisters, and so in a very real sense my children, with a family claim on me."

"Far from being alien, people, that Vulcan attitude towards family is at the heart of what we believe. Jesus told the parable that at the last judgment, all people would be gathered together into the sheep and the goats, and He will tell the goats, 'You saw me hungry, and did not feed me, naked, and did not clothe me, homeless, and did not take me in, in prison, and did not visit me.' And they will ask Him, 'When did we see you hungry, or naked, or homeless, or in prison, and did not minister to You?' And He will answer, 'Inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of the least of these my brothers, you did not do it unto Me.'"

"We who are deemed adults by this society need to think long and hard about that parable. Look on these children. You saw them hungry" - his gaze flicked to Kevin Thompson - "and naked" - and to Jimmy Casey and Adam Short - "and homeless" - he glanced at Emily Larson and Jake Thompson - "and in prison" - Jeremy Rose, this time - " and you did nothing. They were forced to fend for themselves, and eventually, led by Adam Casey and Logan Hayes, by Sean and Cory Short, aided by Teri Short and Jack Bryce and Sarek of Vulcan, they came together and helped each other. And, we were busy arguing about stem cells and oil costs and mortgage refinancings, God have mercy on us, while our children suffered."

"To the Fundamentalist Church of Christ, and to all who would support them, I say to you: You turned your face away from Jesus Christ Almighty when you turned your back on these children, and we have His word recorded in the Gospels as witness of it - and you had the gall to claim to be doing it in allegiance to Him! And to top it off, you sent in a party of vigilantes - no, let's call them by the right word - you sent in terrorists to kill a family that had won over you in a court battle. May God have mercy on you for that evil deed!"

"But what happened there is the reason we are gathered here today. When they attacked the Reynolds family, these young people came to their rescue. When young Sammy Reynolds, who has been our Emcee today, called Clan Short for help, they came, even though they'd never met. When little Ronnie Tompkins called for the Unit, they came to help their brothers. When South Carolina's Cadets were called in, they came. And they gave their lives so that others might live. One hundred fourteen boys, girls, men, and women died outside Missoula, Montana, and other places last Saturday. They laid down their lives to help their brothers and sisters. 'Greater love has no man than this,' Jesus said, 'that he gives up his life for his friends.' Our children, our youths, gave their lives for others, just as Jesus said."

Pastor Mills paused. "No, I take that back. No children died in that battle on Saturday. Men and women gave their lives. Most of them had not reached the age that our laws call the threshold for adulthood. Some were too young to beget or bear children. But the measure of a man is this: when the chips are down and it is time to stand for what you believe in, a man, a woman, stands up and risks, and perhaps gives, all, in defense of truth and love and their fellow man. By that measure, all those who died were men and women, no matter what our human laws may say."

"We are gathered here today to pay tribute to that gift of love and courage, to remember those who have passed on to their reward. And once again, I use the easy terms of our faith - but with a different meaning. It was St. Mikey himself who told me to reach out to the homeless young man who is now my son. I heard from Paul, just as we began this memorial service, that he had appeared to all of you who were in the march. We have caskets containing five bodies here before us; we have pictures depicting the other one hundred nine people whose bodies were killed on Saturday."

"But they are not dead - they have gone on to their reward. We know this, both from our faith and from the appearances among us of some who have gone on, like St. Mikey and his associates. All we can do is grieve for our loss of them, remember them in our hearts, give thanks that God has taken them to Himself - and strive to be worthy of them, of what they did for us. It remains for us, the living, to make sure they did not die in vain. We have been told how to do that, in the Gospels, in the words of Surak of Vulcan to whose House you all belong, in the fundamental laws of this and every land. Let us now resolve to do as we have been told."

"Will you all join me in prayer?" He paused, and everyone present knelt or bowed their heads. "Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts and bowed heads to recall before you your servants..." As he paused, his son Paul rose, flanked by Pauly Short and Wacko the black panther kitten, and read off the list of 114 names, pausing after each. "We commend their bodies to the earth and sea, and their souls and spirits to your love and mercy. We ask you to equip us with the strength, love, and courage they showed, and to make us worthy of the priceless gift they gave for us. Amen."

---

Simon knew he was being watched on camera, and really didn't care as the tears fell from his eyes. Again, he saw the two reporters he was talking to had tears as well. Simon got himself under control as Jeremy came back to the podium, and started the set of commands that he would repeat four other times. Most of the people watching probably could not hear or understand the commands that were being given, which is why Simon was here. "Lt. Rose is starting with the first casket, and will be doing this same thing for each one. We figured it would honor those who died more if they were done one at a time instead of all at once. At the first Casket, the one that holds Kuan Ti, and is draped in the banner bearing the Clan Short Crest, are his brothers. The youngest four of the Genesis Cat Assault team, Vishnu, Kartik, Hermes and Mercury. Before you ask, everything about them is classified, so I will not be able to answer any questions about who they are. What I can tell you, is that Kuan Ti threw himself on a grenade to save almost ten others. As you can see, they are handing the Flag off to the Commander of the G-Cats, Amur Khan, who was also the twin brother to Kuan Ti. Now that he has the flag, he will be presenting it to the only surviving member of Strike Team Gulf, and Kuan Ti's mate, Claire Casey." They stopped and watched as Khan took the flag from Vishnu, and marched over to where Claire was sitting. Thankfully, no one could hear the exchange between them except for those close by. Simon heard it only because of his link to his brothers. "Claire, when I first met you, I had my reservations about you being with my brother. I was not sure how it would work between one like us, and someone like you. A great man once said, that it takes a man to admit when he is wrong. Claire, I was wrong, and I am more than honored to call you sister."

While Amur Khan was handing the flag to Clare, Jeremy had started issuing the orders for the next casket. Simon almost missed where he was supposed to speak because of the tears in his eyes over what Khan had said to Clare. But he caught himself in time. 

"The next casket, which has the Vulcan flag draped over it, belongs to Duncan MacKendrick. Mr. MacKendrick was an Advanced Tactics instructor at the South Caroline State Police Academy, and answered the call placed on Saturday as he led his cadets in defense of the Reynolds family in Montana." Simon took a break as he watched the four figures in Vulcan armor start to fold the flag. It was almost weird to see a Vulcan flag folding in the traditional American military style, but he had been assured that Ambassador Sarek did not mind. Adam asked him personally to make sure it was okay. 

After a moment, he took a deep breath and began the explanations. "The four boys who are folding the flag are Xain, Jake, and Kevin Thompson, along with Joel Short. Xain and Joel being Vulcan, along with their life partners. They will be handing the Flag over to Justy Dodds, who will present it. I am sure some may be wondering why the Vulcan Flag is being used for this man. The simple reason is because Mr. MacKendrick's son, Liam, who the flag is being presented to, has been adopted by Justy Dodds. Justy was the first one of us to be able to officially call Sarek "Grandfather," having been directly adopted by him as grandson. That means that Liam is a citizen of Vulcan, not just because he is a member of the Clan, but because of his adopted father. Liam specifically asked that the Vulcan Flag be draped over his father, a way to bring his "first father" and his "second father" together. Also, unknown to Liam, Sarek also requested the Honor of having the flag of Vulcan over the Casket of his newest Great Grandson's father's casket. You see, Mr. MacKendrick died while saving the life of Jamie Dodds, another of the adopted grandsons of Ambassador Sarek. 

Everyone watched as the Flag was handed to Justy, who turned smartly on his heel, and marched over to where Liam was sitting. The little guy was trying to be strong, but everyone could see the tears that unashamedly fell from the young boy's eyes. Again, Simon over heard what was being said between the two. 

"Liam - Child of Vulcan, receive this in memory of He Who Is Your Father, Duncan - Son of Earth. May he live long in your heart and mind, and may his light guide your steps forever. Live Long and Prosper," Justy said formally as he handed the flag to Liam. 

Liam took the flag in his small shaking hands, as he looked up into Justy's eyes, and whispered, "Thanks, Angel-Daddy. Daddy says thank you."

Justy straightened up, snapped the salute that he had been working on all morning. After a second, he let his hand fall back to his side, turned around, and marched back to where the others were waiting. 

Simon felt the tears well up in his eyes over the exchange, and almost missed the question that the woman news anchor asked him. Had he not actually asked her to ask this question, he would have had to ask her to repeat it. "Simon... I don't want to sound as if Mr. MacKendrick's sacrifice wasn't enough to be honored as such, but I have to ask. Why is he one of the five chosen to be honored up front? He wasn't a child, nor a member of Clan Short. I am just wondering why he is up front, when someone else could have been in his place."

Even though Simon had asked her to ask this question, he still got a bit upset about it. Although, looking into her eyes, he could see that she didn't not believe what she said. "I would like to quote something that Grandfather Sarek said in his remarks.

  

'Every last one of those hurt or killed on Saturday were of the House of Surak. I can say this as, by logic, if you would stand and risk your life to save one from another Family or House, you are swearing an Oath Unbreakable. By blood was forged a Joining between Clan Short and those who rushed to Clan Short's aid. Before the Patriarch of Clan Short could say one word, the Unit, Charleston Cadet Corps and all those others became Clan Short in the instant they answered the Call.'

 

"In other words, every person who came to the aid of Clan Short on Saturday, anyone who put their lives on the line to help us, became a member of this family the second they did that. Duncan MacKendrick was, and IS a member of Clan Short. His family is our family. It's as simple as that." Simon watched her nod, and smile.

"I guess we can all say... that is 'logical'." She said, and then Simon turned his attention to the next Casket that was being honored, and sighed. This one is going to be difficult.

"The middle casket, draped in the American Flag, belongs to Mark Little. After Sammy Reynolds' remarks, and those made by Mark's parents, I don't really think I need to explain who that young man was. But, I will say that I will always be honored to be able to call him brother and friend. What I would like to say is that the four boys that are folding the flag would not be told no. When they "requested" they be the ones to fold the flag for Mark, at first, many people were unsure. You see, those four boys do not have much in the way of military training, nor do they have any training in formal ceremonies. However, they would not take no for an answer. The base Commander, Jackson Bryce, spent the last two days, almost night and day, drilling them so they would be ready, and they never once even thought of giving up, no matter how hard it was. And yes, they are as small as they look. Andy Jenkins, Paul Wills, and Kent Casey are all only five years old, while Ray Price is all of seven. Those four, along with Tommy Maxwell who is eight, were Mark's "little brothers." Mark may have only been a year older than Tommy, but Mark had held every single one of those boys when they had nightmares, or when something was bothering them. They all slept in the same room because the three youngest ones constantly had nightmares when they first got to us, and Mark took it upon himself to help them without even thinking about it. That was just how he was."

Simon had to stop there as his voice was breaking, but it was good timing, as Sammy stepped up to the podium, just as the flag was handed to Tommy. Tommy did not move, but held his head high, and looked right at Sammy as he started to read a poem that many of them had memorized.

 

We Remember Them...

"At the rising of the sun and its going down,

we remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,

we remember them.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,

we remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,

we remember them.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,

we remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends,

we remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live;

for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,

we remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,

we remember them.

When we have joy we crave to share,

we remember them.

When we have decisions that are difficult to make,

we remember them.

When we have achievements that are based on theirs,

we remember them.

As long as we live, they, too, will live;

for they are now a part of us, as we remember them"

"We Remember Them" is from the Hebrew Union Prayer Book.

 

Simon wiped tears away and he saw the two news anchors do the same, as the woman quietly said, "I don't think any more needs to be said." They all watched as Tommy marched over to stand in front of Mark's parents. Simon didn't need to 'listen in' to what was being said, as Tommy spoke loudly enough for the microphones to over hear what he said. 

"On behalf of Clan Short of Vulcan, The members of the Unit, and most importantly Mark's brothers, I would like you to have this flag in memory of the sacrifice your son gave to all of us." Tommy tried to go on, but his tears were blurring his vision, and his voice caught in his throat every time he tried to say anything else; finally he just pushed the flag forward, and presented it to Mary Little. She was quietly sobbing as she took the flag from Tommy, who straightened up, and tried to snap the crispest salute he could, but his own sobs were wracking his body, and Mary stood quickly and pulled the boy into her arms. She sat back down, and pulled the sobbing little one into her lap. Slowly the other four walked over, and John stood up. For a few seconds, no one moved, until John opened his arms wide, and the four young boys flew into them. All watched in respectful silence for a few moments, till Jeremy called out the next group to honor their chosen fallen.

Simon took those moments to dry his own tears enough so he could see what was going on. "The next Casket, bearing the United Federation of Planets Flag, holds Eddie Fraser. Eddie was only sixteen, yet he was the head of security for the Clan's Artificial Intelligence division. Those who are folding the UFP flag are Noah Barnes, Caleb Barnes, Jesse Blankenship, and Dixon Wiggins. Noah and Caleb are members of the AI Division, and Jesse and Dixon were rescued by Eddie during his first official act as Head of Security of the AI Division. I am sure you remember Danny Page, the Director of the AI Division. He is the one who will be presenting the flag to Mr. Alexander Fraser... Eddie's father." They watched in silence as Danny marched the folded flag, and after a few brief words with Alexander, which Simon felt it best not to listen in on, Danny saluted, and with tears in his eyes, turned and marched back to stand with the rest of his fellows, while the next and last group were called forward. 

"There is so much I want to say about Dennis North, but there really would not be enough time, so I will stick to what needs to be said. He is the one in the final casket, bearing the Unit Crest Flag. I think now would actually be a good time to explain about our crest. It took a long time to decide what to do with it, how to make it. Adam had opened it up to everyone for suggestions, and people worked on it for days. However, when all the designs were submitted, it was a unanimous decision on which one to choose. The design was done by those who crewed the helicopter called Bam Bam. Which, by the way, Dennis North was the captain of."

Simon took a moment to watch as the flag was being folded, then continued. "The Crest is a Skull sitting on top of crossed golden Arrows. The golden arrows represent the Special Forces, which is what we have all been trained to be. Stretched out above the skull are the words, "Mourn the loss of Childhood," and underneath is one of our creeds... "Give 'em hell kid." Both of the news anchors wanted to at least smile at that, but seeing the look of seriousness in Simon's eyes, they didn't. "It is so much more than just a catchy phrase, it is our way of life. Everyone had given up on us, kicked us out, didn't want us, or what ever. NO MORE... no more will they ever do that to us again." 

Simon took a deep breath to calm down some. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. Back to the folding. Three of the four folding this flag, are the ones we affectionately call the Unholy Trinity... Kevin, Randy, and Danny Carlson. And before you ask, it was a name given to them by their father, and very much a term of endearment. The fourth is Alvin Hayes, and yes, he is one of my triplet brothers."

Simon choked up a bit as he watched Alvin hand the flag over to Helena. "The person who is presenting the flag is Helena Casey, Pilot of the helicopter known as the Mule. I think you will figure out later why she is the one to present Dennis' flag." Simon was going to "listen in" to hear what Helena said, but he figured he had something that everyone needed to here. 

"The person who is receiving the flag is the woman who has made it possible for all of us to have a mother. Her name is Janet Hayes. She was a widow at a very young age, who has done everything she could to raise her only son in the best way she could. When they got involved with the Unit, she again showed that she is a mother first, and everything else second. Two days ago, she made something official, that we had all known for a very long time. Two days ago, she officially became the mother of over one hundred and fifty children, including most of the children from the Unit that died. She's said two things in the past two days that have really stuck with me. First, was when she was asked what the last names were of those that died. Her response was simple. 'Most of them lived without families. But I'll be damned if I let them die without one. Their last names will be Casey-Hayes.' She is the strongest woman I have ever met, and I am so damned happy to be able to call her mom."

He paused for a second to let the words sink in. He almost laughed when he saw the reaction of the news anchors when he mentioned how many kids she has. "The second thing is something I think will tear at my soul for the rest of my life. Adam came to her and asked if she would be willing to receive the Unit's flag in memory of all those we lost. She looked at him, took a deep breath, and said something I will never forget. 'It broke my heart when they gave me the flag that draped Logan's father's casket, but I survived, I really don't know if I will survive being handed this flag, not one honoring sixty one of my children.' I saw her head drop, and tears start to flow, but when she looked back up, those tear filled eyes had a fire in them, and she continued, 'but I know that each day I start to lose it, each day I start to fall, I'll only have to look at that flag and know... deep in my heart, why we do what we do... and I'll push on. I won't let them down.' That to me sums up what everyone has been feeling." Simon wiped his eyes and sat there watching as Helena and Janet hugged hard, the flag between them, tears running from everyone's eyes, and more than just a few sobs were easily heard. Simon couldn't stop his sobs from coming either, so he simply took off the headset, got up and walked away from the camera, his duty done. 

** MIKE REYNOLDS'S PERSPECTIVE **

I looked down at him as Helena and Janet finally broke apart, and Helena went back to her seat. "Are you sure, baby?"

He didn't answer me for a moment or two, but finally leaned into me as I hugged him tightly, and then pulled himself up, looking at me and said, "Yeah, dad, this is something I have to do."

I just nodded but my heart went out to him, as I knew how hard this had been and was going to be for him.

As the last speaker walked off, Sammy walked slowly forward, stopping at the podium and looking out for a bit before taking a deep breath.

"Well, it's my turn now. Dad was going to come up here and say something, but I asked if I could instead, and he said yes," he said before pausing and looking out at everyone again.

"I've told ya all about some of those who didn't come back Saturday, but I also want to tell you some about those who did. Ya see, we didn't know Adam or any of his family two weeks ago. Matter of fact, we were kinda busy then with some idiots who wanted to take us away from our dad. It was on the way home, that we first got a message that would take us to meet these guys and two weeks later call them family. Y'all heard Uncle Tom talk about dad being in the Special Forces and how they were real tight and all. Well, one of the things they had was a way to get help from their team members if they ever needed it. On the way home, Dad got a call on the plane that said one of that family was in deep sh…stuff and needed help," he stopped, as there were a few chuckles at his slip, and smiled shyly before continuing.

"With that call my dad came. That's what they did for each other, they would always be there for one another. That's what being in their team meant. So we went over to Utah and landed, not knowing what was going on or nothing. To say Dad was really worried, well, let's just say he was fitting to bust by the time we got there. When we landed, dad made us stay on the plane while he got off. All we could see was a crowd of kids and a couple of adults standing there waiting for us, and we didn't know any of them. The other thing that was weird was they were all dressed up like soldiers. Ya know, I'd seen kids do the camo thing before, but Jeez (© Neal), this was a bit much, ya know."

He stopped as more chuckles could be heard, then went on.

"Well, out comes this kid with hair down to his butt in a ponytail in this military uniform, and he stands at attention and salutes dad as he gets to the bottom of the ramp. I could tell Dad was about ready to spit nails and wasn't really in the mood for any of this crap, but he was playing along 'til he could find out what was going on. Then the stuff hit the fan when Uncle Andy's son Jeremy comes running out from behind the group of people. Ya see, it looked like they'd been holding him hidden behind everyone, and when he came out screaming and all, we all thought that was who had called us, especially dad. It got worse when this woman suddenly reached out and grabbed him, pulling him back to her, and wouldn't let him go. Dad went for his gun, Adam got his out first, and was pointing it at Dad. Everyone of the Unit had guns out and pointing at Dad now, but what no one knew was, me and my brothers had gotten some of our own. We kinda weren't in the mood for anyone messing with our dad no more. While Adam was making all nice with Dad, telling him he didn't wanna hurt him, I had my gun out and aimed at the one person who seemed to be important to everyone there, this woman holding Jeremy. It was then I kinda told them that they might wanna put their guns down, 'cause I sure didn't have a problem hurting them, and I'd be glad to start with the lady, who it turned out was Adam and the Unit's mom."

He stopped at the gasps that went around from more than a few of those in attendance, then smiling continued:

"I'm glad I didn't shoot ya now, Aunt Janet; you make awesome cookies," he said, which got a few laughs and a lot of smiles from those gathered, especially the Unit kids who knew all about those fantastic cookies.

"Well, SamSam, I'm kinda glad of that myself," she said from the front row, earning a few more laughs.

"Well, it turned out all to be a big misunderstanding, and Jeremy wasn't being 'held' or nothing, but he had got Adam to send the message because someone did need help. That's a long story I won't go into, but the reason I told you all this was because even though I was about to kill his mom, Adam still took us into his home, his home and his family. He didn't ask if he should just leave us sitting on that tarmac and to hell with us; he didn't ask if he should have us near his family; nah, he just said 'come on', even though dad still wasn't very happy at the time. Adam and Logan took us to their home, and before the week was over, I found more family than I thought I'd ever have in my life, including four more for dad's collection." He stopped as several laughed.

I couldn't help but add, "I do NOT have a collection!"

Sammy giggled and said, "Gee, dad, how many are ya up to now, like twenty or something," which got snickers, while I just held my head in my hands.

I heard SamSam begin again. "They didn't ask; they just did, and made us part of their family, even with all the stuff that had been happening to us. They didn't care that it might cause them problems. They didn't ask if they should do it or not; they just did. Ya see, that's what they're all about, stepping up and doing what they gotta do. The guys there have been through stuff that I couldn't even think up, much less want to, but they still care. You see, they came to that base and found a few kids, and made it a home for them. They taught those kids to feel good again, and they taught them what it means to have a family again, a family they can trust, one they can love, and most of all, they taught them to let themselves be loved again, and that they wouldn't be hurt this time. They taught those kids to help others, and by that to help themselves, because they got respect again, for others and most importantly for themselves. Ya see, they could have been monsters with everything that happened to them, but they aren't. They CHOSE instead to help others and make something special that every single one of them could stand up and be proud of, The Unit. Yeah, they rescue kids in trouble who need help, but it's about so much more than that; it's about all the stuff I just said, it's about love, and that's what me, my dad and my brothers saw when we got to their home. Ya see, every one of them in the Unit comes from shit, sorry but that about sums it up. Everything y'all hear in the news about kids being hurt, well, I bet ya could find a kid in the Unit who has been there and done that. Every one of them was hurt, left alone, not cared about or something bad, yet every one of 'em came to the home Adam and his family made, and found what they lost and thought they'd never have again, a family. From Ray Ray, who is alla seven, if that, who is so proud of the things he does to make everyone's lives there better, from helping cook the food to seeing the rooms are all nice, but when he came there he was scared of everything because of what had happened to him. The other day dad told me he showed up, gun in hand, ready to protect his little brother from being hurt anymore from some bad people. He wouldn't have been able to do that a year ago. Or maybe Jeremy, who has been family for a while, but lost and alone fighting some bad people who were hurting him and his new family until Adam found him and then gave them a place to call home again. I watched as Jeremy took a bullet last week to keep it from killing Adam; he did it because that's what he had to do. Because that's what Adam and the Unit taught him, to stand up and be there when you're needed. He didn't think about it, he didn't wonder if he should step in, he just did it, and Adam is here with us today because of it. But the thing is that Jeremy was hurt real bad after his dad was killed and some wondered if he'd ever get over the things that had happened to him. Ty probably worried the most of all of them, but the Unit brought him through it and gave him hope again, gave him a life again." He stopped for a minute, taking a sip of water as he looked out at everyone, then, setting the water down, continued:

"Then there is Billy and Ronnie, two of my new brothers that I never knew I had before. Billy had been shot and left paralyzed saving Ronnie's life from their step dad. I'm sure a lot of you heard the 911 tape that got played all over, but you just didn't know the names before now. Their grandparents didn't want a useless cripple around anymore, and while they made life hell for Billy at home, they weren't planning on being stuck with him for long. They were going to put him in an institution where he'd rot so they wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Well, Ronnie wasn't gonna put up with that, and told Billy they were gonna run away together. Billy, trying to be the responsible one, said no, but Ronnie's kinda stubborn, must run in the family or something, and he told Billy he wouldn't leave him. Together they hit the streets, and well, it wasn't fun, but they made do for a bit 'til Jack and Dave ran into them and invited them back to their home. There's more to that story, but it's not mine to tell right now. Like so many others, they didn't trust them, but soon found a family again. Today Ronnie runs the entire Supply Dept. for the Unit, and does one hell of a job too, while my big brother, wheelchair or not, flies combat helicopters and does it better than anyone there except for Will. They both hold their head high, and they're proud of who and what they are now. That's what the Unit taught them; that's what having a family who gives a damn about them gave back to them."

After stopping again to have some more water, my beautiful son began to speak again. "Then there's Juan, youngest of the original Unit and hurt in ways I can't even say. He walks around trying to act all tough and bad ass with everyone, but if you look into his eyes, you see something different. You see a little boy who has been hurt so bad, yet is learning from his family, from the Unit, to trust again or maybe for the first time. You see a little boy who loves getting hugs from his daddy Joe and big brothers, you see a little boy who loves climbing up in Aunt Janet's lap and being cuddled as long as he doesn't think anyone is looking," he stopped at the chuckles that went around at that, then went on.

"What you see finally is not a little super soldier like the government wanted, but finally a little boy full of love and wanting to be loved, and most of all, you see a family there for him that loves him," he paused to have more water, but was smiling at the blushing boy in question, who was not sure whether to glare at him or smile back.

"Then, there are some others there who really show what I'm talking about. Two of the kids who came home with me this week are Vishnu and Kartik. They're what we call part of the Cat Kids, and they are my brothers now. They never thought anyone would want them or love them. They never thought anyone could because they were freaks, animals, but certainly not kids. It made me cry one night when Vish said no one would ever really love him because he was a freak. I told him that I did and so did Dad, but it was the Unit that taught him that it was possible, which let him even say that to me, to hope that maybe it could somehow happen. You see, when they came to Adam's base, they'd never been accepted or wanted by others, not really, so they weren't expecting anything from Adam's family like that, yet that is what they found. The fact that they were different didn't make any difference to Adam's group. They were kids, and they were kids that needed a home and family. Adam could do that, like he had so many times before, and did. Adam gave them a home and brothers and sisters, a family for the first time in their lives. And for the first time in their lives, they were wanted for themselves, not for what they were but who they were, and they found that they were special just because they were, like every other kid out there." Sammy stopped again, looking at the two in question, who smiled up at him.

I was so proud of my boy right then and everything he was saying.

"Those are just a few of the kids in the Unit, then there is Jack and Dave who started it all, and who took Adam and his brothers in when they first came to Utah, all scared and alone, just like the kids who would come after them that they helped in the way they had been helped. There are so many more, and each has a story that should be told someday, but in the end it comes down to a family being there for them and letting them become whatever they can be, after everything they might have been through, letting them learn to love and be loved again, letting them learn to trust again. That's what the Unit is and does. It brings life back to these children and gives them hope. I watched as the kids walk up to Adam all the time and he hugs them. They love him and he loves them. They get hugs again, and they're not afraid to get 'em either. That's what it's all about."

He stopped and looked around at everyone there, his gaze coming to rest on Cory and Sean before smiling at them.

"I've heard a lot about how the Unit and the Clan are very different from each other lately, and I don't know the Clan as well as I do the Unit, but I do know some things. They may seem different, and I guess in some ways, like anything else in the world, they are, but they are a lot more the same than you all might think. You see, Cory and Sean do the same thing as Adam does. That's the short version. I've seen it too. Cory and Sean rescue kids, they give them a home, a family again, and most of all they give them love. They take kids who have been hurt, left alone, not cared about, and they give them a place to call home and a family to call their own. They let them believe in themselves again and once again trust and care, they save kids. Every one of those kids in Cory's family has a story to tell, just like those in Adam's do, and everyone of those stories isn't pretty, yet Cory takes them in and gives back to them what has been taken from them, hope"

He stopped, looking at everyone and drinking some more water, before going on again:

"Like Adam and his family, Cory and his don't ask if they should get involved; they step up and do what's right. Dad once told me that's what makes a man, doing what's right and stepping up. Cory brought me home and took me into his family without even thinking about it, making me one of his brothers, one of his family. He gave me and my family even more brothers to call family, and never once asked if he should get them involved with mine. So I think the Unit and Clan are much more the same than different, much more."

I watched as he looked down for a moment, then raised his head. "I've listened to both Cory and Adam blame themselves for what happened on Saturday, and they shouldn't. Ya see, if anyone is to blame besides the bastards who attacked us, then I guess it would be me." He stopped speaking as a few gasps went up at that, but continued, "On Saturday, after they shot Dad and Aunt Samantha, after Brian got hurt and we had all run into the house to try and hide. As we all got upstairs into the bedroom and locked the door, and tried to get the little ones hidden before they found us, I'm the one who picked up the phone. I'm the one who made the call to Orlando and Mrs. Short, and I'm the one who asked for help. That's what makes Cory and Adam's family so special, that's what makes them the same. Most of y'all out there wouldn't stand and step up to take a leak, but they did. Mrs. Short didn't ask if she should or not, she didn't say call the cops or something stupid like that. Ya know what she said? She said, 'Where are you?' She just asked what was wrong and where we were at. No question at all, and I'm standing here today because they came when I called, and those caskets are there for the same reason." He got out before having to stop, the tears running down his face.

I started to get up and go to him when I heard a silent *No! Please dad no, I have to do this*

It broke my heart but I stayed in my seat as he struggled to go on.

"They came when I called. They stepped up, no questions asked, and saved a bunch of people they didn't even know, because that's what they're all about. Cory didn't ask any questions when the call came in, he didn't wonder if he and his family should get involved, he didn't ask if this was smart to go into a battle. He just came. There were a lot of people who stepped up that day and did what they had to do, some who didn't make it back and others who did. A brother who, having a gun at his head and stuck in a wheelchair, hauled off and nailed one of the bastards in the balls, trying to give me time to get away, even though it almost cost him his life. Another brother who came out from where he was safe to drag me back inside and…and got shot doing it. He almost died too. The brother who tried to get us to go upstairs and leave him because he couldn't walk and would slow us down, or one of my newest ones who distracted a man with a shotgun who was about to shoot me, to save my life, and took a blast into his chest. My littlest brother, who isn't even four years old, but stood up and kicked the bad man who was about to hurt his brothers, even though he got hurt too. Another brother, who realizing that a little one was trapped in a downed helicopter, ran back inside moments before it was going to blow up to get that boy out, even though it almost ended up killing him. While another one flew a helicopter until it wouldn't stay in the air anymore , while bleeding to death from a bullet that came through the window screen, fighting for his family. Cory, who wounded and bleeding like a stuck pig, wouldn't give up and wouldn't get treated until Adam got there to relieve him of command." He had to stop again, and this time I wasn't sure he'd be able to keep going, but somehow he did

"You see, Cory did come. It was his sons who saved us that day. Little Timmy and Austin showed up just as the man was pulling the trigger, and that's why I'm here. If Cory had stopped to ask a single question about why he should be doing this, I'd be dead, and probably the others too, but he didn't. He came, and his six year old son had to kill someone so I and my family could live. Six years old, and he'd already learned from his pop to step up, and he did. One of his brothers took a grenade blast that was meant for Cory and almost died from it. Again, because they came when someone they didn't even know asked for help."

As he stopped again, I could see more than a few tears on people's faces, mine included, but he wasn't done.

"Adam came that day too, because when Ronnie called just before he got shot, Adam didn't hesitate, he stepped up to the plate and never looked back. He could have said no. I mean, they were coming up for a vacation, not a war. They were coming to have some fun, not lose half their family, but for one little boy and some people they'd only known for a little while but called family, they came, and they died. They didn't even think twice about whether to do it or not. This wasn't a battle group or anything; this was his whole family. All the little kids and everything, but he still came for us and sixty-one of his family died that day for us; South Carolina Police Cadets died for us that day, regular police officers died for us that day…..way too many died for us that day."

There was silence as he stopped to try and regain control of himself again, and when his head raised there was almost a fire in his eyes as they flashed.

"For those of you who can't even stand up to take a piss, take a good look, take a good look at these KIDS who do what you can't manage. LOOK at these little kids who stand up and do what's right even when it's dangerous, even when they know they might die. Take a look at my three-year-old brother," he said, pointing at Matty, "or one of my new six-year-old brothers," pointing now at Timmy, "who has more balls than most adults I've ever met. TAKE A LOOK! See them; see Adam; see Cory; see Yuri, Ronnie, Vish. See Austin, Jason, Viccy, Sean; see all of them. They don't ask, they DO! They care, they love, and they STAND UP! WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU?" he almost yelled the last words.

The fury was evident to anyone there, and you could almost feel it, it was so palpable, as he went on, but surprisingly in a much softer tone, almost pleading:

"Why can't you?"

He stopped, just looking out at everyone, but especially, I thought, the adults, before he went on again

"You all sit out there going, 'aw how horrible,' but tomorrow and the next day, what are you going to do to help? That's what I want to know. When you see a kid and look in his eyes and see the pain there, what are you going to do? Walk away like usual or stand up?"

He stopped, almost looking like he was waiting for an answer that didn't come, before going on once again.

"Jonas said something so important that I hope you don't forget it. It's not just something like this that should get you to do something. It's the little kid being called names, being pushed around by bullies, the kid with braces, or glasses being teased. It's the little girl or boy hurting who needs a hug or just someone to ask, 'hey, you okay there?' but it doesn't get done. It's the kids crying for help that no one will help. It's the money given to those who should never get it, and the ones who need it getting nothing. That's the thing you should care about. A few years back the governor of Texas stood up and said 'no more' to some bad stuff that was going on with kids, and you know what happened? Everyone saying 'yeah' or 'way to go'; nah, instead the unions and politicians were all after him for trying to help kids. Oh, we can't hurt the social workers who don't do their job, or get rid of the foster homes who don't care about the kids; oh no, we can't do that. It made me sick to see adults doing that, acting like that, and all before they buried a little boy who had been murdered, which is why the governor was standing up in the first place."

The look on his face was so filled with pain, and my heart broke, and I took everything in me to stay in my seat as he asked me to, because all I wanted was to go to my baby and hold him, to make the pain go away.

"Why? That's what I want to know, why? Why is it so hard to care? I just don't get it. I know I'm a kid, but I just don't get that," he said softly shaking his head sadly.

He looked around a bit before saying, "You all don't know what it's like now. My little brothers won't go to the bathroom without someone going with them because they're afraid the bad man will come back. None of us sleep through the night without nightmares, and none of us will sleep alone." He stopped again, looking over at his brothers, before softly saying "For me it's the pictures, I…I can't get them out of my mind. I can't stop seeing the barrel of the shotgun and his finger slowly squeezing the trigger. I can't…I can't stop seeing Brian falling or hearing the thud as the gun hit his head. The sound a bone makes when it gets broke won't go away, from Matty's arm when he got thrown against the wall. Or the look of surprise on Ronnie's face as the man shot him, or the blood...all the blood. I can't get them outta my mind. I try but I just can't. Seeing the red appear on my dad's chest and not being able to get his gun out, or Samantha screaming, Yuri covered in blood, and there was nothing I could do as I watched them dying. I just want them to stop, but they won't. I…just want them to stop"

This was getting to be too much, and I watched as he hung his head and the tears fell silently as he tried to get control again. I thought for sure it was over, but once again he looked up and out and began to speak. "Cory and Adam's family is the same way. Little Andy, he's five years old, and he wakes up screaming in the middle of the night that he's on fire still from the missile that hit his helicopter. Lincoln wakes up crying for his Barney at night, and the little ones keep asking when Mark is going to come home. Vish and KT wake up calling their brother's name who died saving the others, still feeling the pain of his death. Cory and Sean's little guys don't want him to take a leak without them there, 'cause they're so afraid he'll go away now. The other night Timmy woke up screaming cause he had to kill someone. It's something with everyone almost. Dad doesn't want to let us outta his sight, and we don't want to be away from him either. He's scared, and so are we, all the time now. I could spend all day telling you what's it like now with name after name, story after story. But, I guess what I want you to know is that, even though we got through it, it's not over for us, it's not over for any of us. We all have our pictures that won't go away now. We all are different now because of this. This gun here is real, I don't go anywhere without it. Neither do most of my brothers, and the rest want to get training so they can have one too. It's not because suddenly we want to go around looking like John Wayne or something; it's just we can't let it happen again. We can't," he said desperately.

He stopped for a moment and I watched him, hoping he could feel my love for him, for his brothers, for his pain.

"They took something from us Saturday that I don't know we'll ever get back. I can't forgive em for that. I don't want to. They took people we loved and cared about, but they took something from in here too," he said, pointing to his chest.

After a moment, he went on. "It doesn't seem like it ever will end, though, it just doesn't stop. Three years ago I ran away from people who were supposed to be caring about me, and instead were doing bad stuff to me and other kids in the foster home. They didn't love us, or want us. They just liked hurting us. Three years ago, the first of those I would call a brother died. No, that's not right, he was killed, by someone who liked to hurt kids. By someone who liked to rape em, by someone who was supposed to be taking care of us and loving us but wasn't. Adam always stood up for us and took care of us, even though he wasn't much older than we were. He…he took the stuff the guy wanted to do to us, the baddest stuff, ya know. He didn't have to but he did. I ran away cause I was afraid, because the man said he was going do it in my butt, and that scared me real bad. The man got mad and went after who was left there, and Adam just like usual stood up, and he took as much of it as he could, instead. When the man was done, he left Adam lying on the floor, and that's where he bled to death because his butt was hurt so bad, and he left the others beat real bad too"

He had to stop again, and it hurt so much to see him standing there, the tears falling yet bravely trying to go on.

"Then this man found me on the freeway where I was hitching rides, and I found out what it was like to be really loved for the first time since my grandma died. To be cared about again and get hugs. To be loved like a kid is supposed to be and not be afraid. I found my dad. He hugs me, takes care of me, cuddles me, teaches me, swats my ass when I need it, but most of all he just loves me. He doesn't mess with me or ask anything except for hugs back, 'cause they make his day when I give him one. I watched as one by one my brothers found him too, and he loves them just as much. We were so happy, yet they couldn't let us be. They tried to make him out to be bad when he's not. They tried to say he did stuff to us when he didn't, when he wouldn't. Finally we were happy and they tried to take him from us, yet when we used to tell the social workers about the people who would really hurt us, they wouldn't do anything at all. Something's wrong there, ya know? It ain't supposed to be that way. We won in court to stay with our dad, but they wouldn't let it go, and this is what happened," he said, pointing out at the caskets.

"Three years ago I was at another funeral, for Adam. My brothers and I asked something then, and no one could answer us. I wonder if any of y'all can answer now?"

He stopped and looked out at everyone, not saying anything for a long moment before taking a deep breath and asking his question, which broke my heart just like it had the first time, as tears ran down his face.

"Is it so much to ask that you take care of us?"

"Is it so much to ask that you give us hugs…and cuddles?"

"Is it so much…Is it so much to ask that you protect us?"

As the tears ran down his face, I could see it becoming harder and harder for him to get the words out.

"Is it…so…much to ask…that you…that you want us?"

His head fell as his shoulders shook, and I heard a soft "I'm…I'm sorry…I thought…I'm sorry…" and I knew he'd reached the end.

I was up in an instant and walked behind him, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him to me tightly.

I felt him stiffen for a moment, then melt into my embrace as I gently kissed the top of his head.

His voice ragged and full of pain, he managed to ask his final question: "Is it so much to ask that you love us?", then turned in my arms and began crying brokenly.

I whispered softly, "No, it isn't," as I gently rubbed his back before looking out at everyone.

"Ten years ago, hate and those who were hurting kids took the first child I would think of as a son. Five years ago, hate once again took two boys who I thought of almost as sons away from me as well. They didn't die like the first one did, but they were still taken from me and hurt terribly. Three years ago, I found a son but witnessed again the cruelty that exists against those who are supposed to be the next generation, the generation that we as adults are supposed to protect and nurture, yet all too often don't. Five days ago, yet again, that hatred struck out and tried to take my family from me. Sammy is right, and I wonder if it'll ever end. It never seems to, yet meeting Adam and his Unit, meeting Cory and his Clan, meeting Jason and his family, and meeting Ambassador Sarek, I have begun to have hope. Hope that finally things will be different, hope that change will happen, hope that there is an end to the hate. Because we can't seem to protect that next generation, yet in them I have seen the next generation itself, helping itself and making a difference. I've seen them doing what we can't or won't do, protecting the children, loving the children." I looked around at everyone as my baby cried softly in my arms, then continued

"Five days ago, those who hate took more lives, some I knew or my family knew and others we didn't, and for that alone I would find it difficult to ever forgive them, but for what they've done to this angel in my arms, to my other children, to Adam and Cory and all the rest, for that I can never forgive them. For what they've done I WILL never forgive them."

I stopped a moment again, then went on

"Three years ago, a young boy died that my son had loved and counted as a brother. I never knew Adam, but I will forever be thankful for what he did for. Sammy and the other children in that hell hole. Something no nine-year-old should ever face having to do, yet as my son said earlier, something that he stood up and did anyway. A very courageous man stood up after what happened came to light and said no more. Part of what the Governor of Texas did was to see to the creation of a new children's center whose sole existence was to actually provide a loving home to those children who most need it, and staff it with people who would care for them, instead of be their jailers. On the entrance way is an inscription…"

I had to stop again as I tried to keep control for just a few moments more, and felt my baby squeeze me tightly, and with that I knew I could get through this.

"On the entrance way to Adam's Dream Children's Center outside Dallas, Texas are written these words, and I think they are most appropriate for this…for this day"

As I began to speak, Sammy's broken voice joined my own, giving me strength to finish as we said those words which seemed so simple yet seemed so hard to accomplish, yet held so much hope:

Adam's Dream Children's Center

Dedicated To:

Adam Scott Davenport

Age 9, who should have had the dream fulfilled.

 

Adam had a simple wish, a simple dream:

To be loved and cared for

To be hugged and held

To be safe and free of fear

To be happy and have a home where he could have all that and more

May this place grant all who enter it that simple dream.

 

"May that simple dream be granted to all the children," I said as Sammy and I walked back to our seats, total silence reigning, until Sammy as he cuddled into my lap, asked in a near whisper:

"Is it really so much to ask?"

** END MIKE'S PERSPECTIVE **

Cory looked over at Sammy. "No, it's not too much to ask, little brother." he replied to the question that few had heard. He then looked out over the assembled family as he moved to the podium. "For those of you who don't know, I'm Patriarch Cory Short, Patriarch of Clan Short of Vulcan. As I look out here, I'm seeing my brothers and sisters, not one wearing a smile. That is a sight I never wanted to see, I never wanted to be in a position to have to say what I'm going to say today. All of this started because of a wish to help others find family like the one I almost lost. That is one thing that drove both me and Adam Casey to form the groups that we did; neither one of us can stand to see another person suffering, especially a kid. There are one hundred and fourteen faces missing today; one hundred and fourteen family members who I have either only met once or not met at all."

Cory paused; the fire in his eyes making it plain that he was not going to let this pass easily. "Last Saturday, a group of adults decided they knew better than God what was right and wrong. On that day, they attacked a defenseless family who was finally returning home, just because that family had won a legal fight. These adults took it into their own hands to judge others, and in the process killed more innocent youth in a few hours than any single disease does in a year. My six year old son lost his innocence; for the rest of his life he will have the memory of having to kill to protect someone from injustice. Three of my earliest brothers have had their lives changed irreversibly by injuries suffered when they responded to the call for help. Every single member of my family has nightmares, every single member of my family will not go into the next room without at least one other person with them. Every single member of my family has needed the help of an empath to deal with the emotions brought on by this attack. Those of you watching may not think that is much, until you understand that my family consists of every single child, youth, and teen present today, along with those not present but watching to protect us in our hour of grief."

"There is no reason ANY of us should be here today. Due to the bigotry and hate of a select group of people, we now all suffer. If I had to do this again, I would in a heartbeat; but it should never have happened in the first place. Saturday proved to me that the general populace has not managed to convince the governments of the world to truly enforce the laws that have been put into place for our protection. Allowing bigotry to hide behind religion to the point where people get killed is unacceptable. Allowing kids to remain in abusive homes or living on the streets is unacceptable. Allowing organizations to try to break up a family due to their misguided perceptions of what makes a family is unacceptable. Every single one of the deaths that occurred Saturday are unacceptable. The pain I felt over what happened to my family almost killed me; if it wasn't for family it would have. In the last week, I almost died twice due to the actions of a bunch of bigots... THAT... IS... UNACCEPTABLE!"

Tears were streaming freely down Cory's face now, totally ignored by him as he finished. "Today is not the last time we will remember those who gave their lives to protect others. Today is just the beginning; every single day of the rest of our lives will be in memory of those who paid with their lives to ensure that bigotry and prejudice would not win. Today I speak for our entire family as I say your sacrifice was not in vain; from this day forward we will no longer wait for the call, but instead will be there before the call is made if at all possible." Cory turned towards the memorial display, came to attention, and saluted. "Go in peace, my brothers; you are always in our hearts." As he broke the salute, Cory fell to the podium, finally allowing the emotions he was holding in to surface as he laid on the ground crying.

A sudden movement from the front row drew Sammy's eyes down to where he could see his little armored brother, Joel, running for the stage. He managed to reach Cory at the same time as both the small Vulcan and Sean did so.

"Elf?" Sean choked out, "Is he...?"

Joel quickly pulled one of his gauntlets off and threw it offstage, then placed his bare hand on Cory's cheek. A slight pause and, "He's okay. He's just crying inside, Big Ted. It's not like last night."

Even though Joel was a foot or so shorter than Cory, and even though Cory outweighed Joel by more than 70 pounds, the little Vulcan managed to lift his beloved big brother into his arms as he stood up.

He then moved quickly back to where Cory had been sitting and placed his brother back on the chair.

"You okay?" Sammy whispered to Joel in awe.

Joel nodded, while Sarek spoke softly, "He is a Vulcan, Samuel."

"Stay with us, Sean. It'll help him. SamSam? You can go introduce the next person, then come back, okay?" Joel smiled at them both.

*** Sammy's POV ***

I nodded, and turned back towards the mic. I just had to glance back worriedly at Cor, but at a reassuring nod from Joel concentrated on what needed to be done next.

"I…he's gonna be all right…he's gonna be all right," I said quietly, but I didn't know whether it was more for me or the audience because he had to be.

"I've said so much about the next speaker I guess there's not much more to say. He's stood up and he came when he was called. He risked everything for me and my family and it cost him a lot of his. For that, there is never enough thanks that can be said, but I'll never stop trying to tell him, just like I won't stop telling Cory. Of all the things I can say, though, it's that he's now my brother and part of my family, and I am so lucky that he thinks of me the same way. He has stayed up for days trying to get this ready for today going non-stop, not sleeping and only eating because Logan threatened to kick his ass if he didn't," I said to chuckles from some in the Unit who knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce Commander Adam Casey of The Unit and now head of Clan Short Special Forces. A boy who is only a couple of years older than I am, yet has done so much for so many that it's impossible to list it all. Mostly I want to introduce everyone's big brother from the Unit and mine now too, Adam Casey…"

** END SAMMY'S PERSPECTIVE **

Adam stood up, and took a moment to smooth out his uniform. Walking up to the podium, he let his eyes scan the crowd. He'd worked long and hard over the last two days to get this ready, and by God he wasn't going to let it go wrong.

He knew what was expected of him, and he knew what he was going to say. He hadn't shared what he was going to say with anyone, other than Daileass. He knew because Adam needed his help to pull this off right. 

He took a deep breath as he reached the podium, and pulled out of his pocket the little remote that Logan had handed him earlier. His lover had no idea what it did, but Daileass asked him to give it to Adam, and Logan did. Once he was ready, he looked up and out at the assembled guests, took another deep breath, and began. 

"You know, I really don't want to have to do this. Not because I don't feel that the people... no, the heroes who died don't deserve it. No, I don't want to do this because only very few people have even seen me cry, and I know there is no way I can get through this without it."

He took a deep breath, let his eyes fall, and for a moment closed them. When he looked back up, the people up close could see a change in his eyes. One would not expect eyes showing that kind of pain, suffering, or weariness to be worn by someone who had barely turned fourteen. "One hundred and fourteen. I know every single person here today, or watching at home knows what that number means. One hundred and fourteen lives were needlessly wasted four days ago. Don't get me wrong, their sacrifice was not needless. They sacrificed themselves to save their family. What's needless about it is the fact that it was forced to happen. Many of the others talked about being angry or sad about those one hundred and fourteen. I will not."

He paused and saw Logan in the front row look up at him with a look of confusion. Very few people knew that Logan's temper was actually worse than his. The reason for that is, Logan had a lot more control than Adam did. But when Logan loses his temper, well, Adam never wants to be on the receiving end of that. He shook his head to get back onto what he wanted to say. "No, I will not. What I will be is grateful. I will be grateful for every second that I was able to spend with each and every one of those one hundred and fourteen, even those, some of those I never met. . I AM grateful for every single time I got to hug, or got a smile from, or even just a nod in passing from one of them. They were my family, and I will never forget them."

He paused as he fought back the tears; there would be time for them later, but not now. "I have spent the last forty hours working to prepare for this today. It gave me more than enough time to think about what I was going to say when the time came. What I finally settled on, is family. I came up with many different little stories to tell you all about what family meant to me, and how every single member of the Unit has become a member of that family. But then I realized something. What I could tell you about family, and what it means to me wouldn't really be appropriate. So I figured I would let a few others tell you about what Family means to them. What I am about to do is play a recording from one of the helicopter crews. Daileass, if you would please."

When the recording started, Adam couldn't help but remember the thoughts that went through his mind the first time it was played for him. 

"Wow, it's getting pretty crowded up here." Seth's voice came out loud and clear over all the speakers placed around the stage.

"Yeah, it is, let's see if the boss will let us take HI-CAP." We heard next in Dennis' voice. "Viper 8, lead?"

"Yeah, go ahead, Dennis." Will responded.

"Hey boss can we kick it up to about 2.5 or so, it's getting kinda crowded up here."

"Sure Viper 8, you're cleared HI-CAP at 2.5 to 3 but be ready to come back down if we need you."

"Roger that, Viper lead."

Adam paused the tape there, hitting the button on the controller Logan gave him. It sent a signal to Daileass to stop the recording. When he pushed it again, Daileass would re-start the playback. 

"The first voice you heard what that of Sergeant Seth Hopkins, thirteen years old, and first officer of the helicopter. The second was Master Sergeant Dennis North, sixteen years old, and flight commander. The third one is Major William Casey, twelve, and the air wing commander. And before any of you question whether children that young can fly a helicopter, I will throw out there a general challenge to any certified helicopter pilot: if you don't think they can fly it, your welcome to come out and watch them fly circles around you." Adam pressed the button again, and the recording started up once more. 

They could hear the engine kick up a bit, and after a few seconds, Seth's voice came back over the radio.

"Ah, that's better."

"Yeah, it is." Dennis replied

"So you think they bugged out for good?" Seth asked next.

"Don't know, but I hope so."

"Yeah, but we missed all the action and I was hoping to get some." Seth said.

"Why were you hoping to get in the shit, man, I wanna stay the hell out of it." Dennis asked, and we could all hear the disbelief in his voice.

"Well…ya see, if we came back heroes and all, then maybe Sally would give me some." He replied, and Adam pressed the button again, stopping the recording. He looked out and saw the disbelief in many of the people's eyes. He could imagine what they were thinking, 'what the hell does this have to do with a funeral?'

"I can see that many of you don't understand what is going on here, so let me explain a few things. First off, what they were asking for at the beginning was permission to climb higher than everyone else was, so that they could have some breathing room, and not be that close to the other helicopters flying around there. You then hear the normal response of a thirteen year old boy, and if you don't think conversations like that are normal, I would invite you to ask any military officer who knows about pilots, and they will tell you some stories. You are also about to hear two new voices, the first one will be Private First Class Keith Serty. He was only ten years old, but he busted his ass to get to the position he was in, and he earned it. The second of the new voices belongs to Private First Class Eric Maro, only eleven, and Keith's best friend." He hit the button, and the recording started again.

"Jesus, Seth, is that all you ever think about?" We heard Keith ask disgustingly.

"Well…..yeah!" he said, and Adam swore he could see him grinning.

"Forget it, Sally ain't never gonna do nothing with you." Dennis said laughing.

"If that's all I'm gonna think about in a couple of years, then I hope I never grow up." Keith replied, and there were scattered laughs. Even Adam couldn't keep the small grin off his face at hearing that, but the tears were also starting to flow.

Ah kid, it ain't that bad."

"Hmmmph" was the only response.

"Really, it's pretty neat." They heard Eric say.

"But that's all…." Keith started to say when a scream cut through his voice over the radio: "SAM! INCOMING!!!"

"Find it!" We heard Dennis cry; it wasn't hard to imagine their frantic looks, trying to find the missile.

"Oh Jesus!" Seth gasped.

"Dennis, it's going for 'Phantom'!" Eric cried into the radio.

Adam hit the button stopping it again. "I think you may have been able to figure out that this recording was made on Saturday. The 'Phantom' they are talking about was an MI-26 large transport helicopter. On that day, it was carrying a lot of supplies, and many of our untrained personnel. See, we were already heading up to Montana before we got the call for help. We were going up there for a little vacation on the Reynolds property. Everyone was real excited about getting out of the base, and after over a year of hard work, we all figured the troops could use some rest and relaxation. We loaded everything up into the helicopters, and because we were also planning on doing some mock drills, we had a lot of equipment with us. It was supposed to be a time of fun for everyone where they could unwind after all their hard work." Adam wanted to say more, but he choked up, so instead he hit the button and the recording started again.

We heard them all gasp, and then Seth quietly chanting, "Climb, climb, climb," trying to make the helicopter move faster.

They all cried out, and Adam knew that everyone who was there was re-living that day through their words and eyes. 

"They're hit, they're hit!" Keith cried out.

"Oh God!" Seth cried.

And then there was silence, for many moments nothing could be heard but quiet sobs, both from the recording and from many people in the crowd. Finally they heard Dennis say quietly, "Viper 8 descending to one thousand and we're live." They could hear buttons being pushed and switches being flipped, they were getting everything ready for combat. "Look alive, we're hot and it's payback time."

For a few brief moments there was silence, as they all were getting down to the job they had been trained for.

"Shit! They got another SAM! Helena, break left!" Everyone heard Juan cry out, and one could only imagine the feelings that everyone else had at that moment. Adam hit the button again, pausing the playback. 

"For those that don't know, SAM is short of Surface to Air missile. Helena was the pilot of one of the other MI-26's also loaded down with mostly non-combatants... mostly kids." Adam said no more as the recording started up again. 

"Do something!" Seth screamed.

"There's nothing we can do." Dennis answered, and you heard the strain in his voice.

"There's gotta be something!" Keith cried out.

"Dennis, ya gotta save 'em; you can't let them die too!" Eric added.

"Guys, there's only one chance, and if we succeed, then we won't make it out alive." Dennis said. Adam heard a sob escape from someone. Then he realized it was his own.

"Do it." Both Eric and Keith said at the same time, and one could only imagine the looks on their faces as they said that - knowing that they were going to be sacrificing their own lives for their family.

"Are you sure?" Dennis asked.

"We can't let em die." Eric said.

They heard someone re-adjusting themselves in their seat. "Hang on to your balls, then!" Adam could only cry harder as they heard the engine wind up, and one could see Dennis swooping the bird down to try to save the precious cargo that was in danger.

"Viper 8! Dennis! What the hell are you doing? Get outta there!" Will screamed over the radio.

"What we have to." was the response he got. There was nothing but peace and determination in that voice.

"Dennis, no!" Will cried again, but it was useless.

"I wonder if ya can get any up there?" Seth asked. Adam saw a lot of people smile at that, but every single one of them had tears flowing too. 

Keith moaned, "Leave it up to you to worry about that."

"I love you guys." Dennis said, in a voice filled with love, as the missile got closer and closer. 

"Guess we're gonna find out, bro." Dennis said, and then there was static.

Adam let the silence linger for a few moments, as he tried to gather himself. He didn't bother wiping the tears from his eyes; it would have been pointless. Finally he looked up, and all eyes were on him. There were very few dry eyes. "THAT is what family is all about. They could have done nothing... Hell, I don't know how many people would actually have done that. Everyone says that they would die for their families, but when the time comes... you never know what you will do. I can only pray, that when I have to face my end, it's with as much strength and courage as those boys... no... those MEN showed."

Adam tried to go on. "I... I loved.. them." And that's when he lost it. Everything hit him right then. Everything that had happened over the last four days hit him like a ton of bricks, and he went down. "WHY?!?!" He sobbed over and over as Logan rushed to his side. He was joined by a number of other people, and they all helped Adam back to his seat. Logan knew Adam had been holding things in, but to see him like this... Logan looked at Chang, who nodded to him, and Logan turned and stalked to the microphone. Few people heard Joe's "oh shit" as they were all focused on the thirteen year old boy glaring out at them with fire in his eyes. 

"I had promised my mother I wouldn't say anything here, not because she didn't want to let me pay tribute to those that died, but because she knew what I would say. So I'll start out with an apology. Sorry, mom, but some things need to be said." Logan took in a deep breath and drew himself up. Normally Logan was not a intimidating person, but with the look in his eyes, a few people in the front row sat back in their seats to get as far away from that glare as they could.

"A few of the others touched on it, but they were all touched on it with sorrow. I'm not. I'm not here to say soothing words, or offer comfort to anyone. I'm far too pissed for that. Over the last few days, there have been many people saying how tragic this was, how bad they feel about all those poor defenseless little kids that were slaughtered. How things like what happened should never be allowed to happen again. Well, you know what I have to say to that? BULLSHIT!"

"IF any of you guys actually gave a shit about the kids you mourn now, then where the fuck were you when it could have made a difference? You all cry and moan about how bad some kids have it these days, but none of you got off your asses to do a damned thing about it. It finally took a group of kids... and some aliens to get together and say 'ENOUGH. If you guys won't look out for us, then we'll do it ourselves.' What not many of you know is that on Saturday we killed almost a thousand people who were trying to kill us."

He let that sink in for a second. No one dared say anything to him right now. "You know what. It felt good. It felt good to be able to make those bastards pay for what they did to us. I got shot in the beginning. My little eight year old brother threw himself on top of me to make sure I didn't get hit again. He took three bullets for me, and almost died. That day I saw many kids doing things that adults would never do. I almost have to wonder if growing older actually makes you stop caring about those you should care about. If it does, then make me Peter fucking Pan, cause I don't even want to grow up and stop caring."

"I know there are some adults that care, but ask yourselves this. Are they in the minority? I would like to think they're not, but see, since yesterday morning, I have been in charge of dealing with all the kids that have been asking for help. By the time I left this morning, he have had over ten THOUSAND calls for help just from the United States alone. That doesn't show me that you adults give a shit about the kids in this country. Maybe all the kids should be taken from their parents when they're born and taken some place that actually cares about them. Maybe... oh hell, I don't know. I just don't know what to think any more."

Logan paused to look right into the camera's lens as he figured out what he wanted to say. "As far as those that dared kill my family members. When we find you... May whatever God you believe in have mercy upon your souls... 'Cause I sure as hell will not."

Logan turned on his heel and walked back to where Adam was sitting. There was not a noise to be heard for several seconds before Jeremy stood up, and slowly made his way to the podium.

He looked down at his notes, everyone could tell he was still shaken by the fierceness of Logan's words, but he still couldn't find fault with anything the older boy had said. He looked out at everyone and saw more than one person from his family with a fire in their eyes. He knew that his big brother's words had affected more than himself. He was just about to speak when he heard a voice from off to the side.

"Son, could I please say something?" Jeremy looked over and saw a man dressed in a police officer's uniform, and silently nodded, 'Why not?' he thought to himself, as he backed away, and motioned the man forward.

"Good afternoon," the man said looking out at the crowd.

"My name is Captain Roger Balsam retired of the Rochelle police department in Rochelle, Illinois. I wanted to speak here today because I've spent over thirty years on the police force and I've seen a great deal. I've seen the hatred, the anger, the hurt that so many have spoken of, I've seen what brings us all here today, I've seen it all or at least I had thought so. You don't do the job I do and not run into the worst of our society yet also I have run into the best as well.  I joined the police department when I was eighteen years old and they have been my life for the most part. I also had the wonderful privilege, and I do want to emphasize that, the privilege to help children in need beyond just in my capacity as a police officer. For many, many years my wife and I were blessed with being foster parents to some of what I believe firmly are the most remarkable people I've ever had the honor of knowing. These children who we were blessed with coming into our lives lived everything you can imagine and probably a few things even you can't. Yet they were so innocent, so sweet and so loving that it broke your heart to think anyone could ever have harmed them. The most remarkable thing though was that even with all they'd been through, after everything that had happened to them, they still loved and still hoped" he said before pausing a moment.

"You see even with everything, even with all the horror they'd had they came back and were willing with time and lots of love to trust again and they never stopped loving, never. I had always thought that God had to be there with a gentle hand, supporting them through everything, for them to get through it and do so in such a manner. I won't go into all the things that were done to my babies that brought them to our care because I think many of you know exactly the kinds of things I am talking about. What I will say is that they did come through and they were and are remarkable human beings. I've had children who turned out to be gay, straight and even two who are bi and you know what? I love them! I love them just as much as I love each and every one of my other kids. I may even love them a bit more because of how much they had to struggle over it and how heartbreaking it was to watch them come to accept something they should never have had to. You see, I firmly believe there should be no struggle, no fear, no fight. I believe it should be just as normal as anything else and shouldn't even have to be thought of. It's just what it is, period. I've watched those children over the years suffer abuse and degradation all over who they were inside yet it had nothing to do with who they were. Because if it did, then those torturing them would have known what was inside was beautiful, just plain beautiful," he said stopping again for a moment.

"So I've seen what indifference, not caring, and hatred do to children both in my professional life as well as my personal one. I've seen more than I ever wanted to. Yet I've also seen what loving and caring can do for those same children. I've seen them overcome the most horrendous situations imaginable and grow up to be wonderful special human beings that I'm so proud to know and to have been a part of their lives. Those days are over for me since my wife passed, being single I'm no longer suitable to take care of children, but those memories are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life."

You could see the pain in his face at losing something he loved so much yet also see and hear the love that was there in every word for those children he had once had.

"Seeing you young people and what you are doing gives me such hope for the future, such joy even if it is because of why we are here today for those who gave their lives did so proudly and for their family and an ideal. That I can plainly see and their sacrifice I think has far ranging consequences beyond even what you're capable of seeing right now possibly. There will be good to come from this, there will be, don't ever doubt that children, please" he said pausing before going on.

"I spent over thirty years with the police department until a certain Tuesday afternoon, a little over three months ago. It was the most heart wrenching day of my career because it was both the most horrific and at the same time most beautiful day I've ever encountered. As strange as that may seem, with the tragic events which took place, it was a testament to love that shines through and stays with me, that and one other thing. I just couldn't stay with the department after that, it was just too much." He stopped to look out and his eyes focused on two young boys sitting in the audience as he gently smiled at them

"I've spent every day of the last three months since I left the department looking for two lost souls and I have to say arriving today and finding them here safe and sound has made me more happy than I can possibly say. You see, we received a call that a man who had beaten his son almost to death had escaped from jail. Upon checking his former residence we found his ex-wife murdered and his two young sons missing. We had feared the worst but never were able to locate them until now. It was his third son though that is the reason I am here today" he had to stop but after looking down for a moment raised his head and began

"Mark Simpson was twelve years old and the older brother to Josh and Kevin, he was also someone deeply in love with another boy. A boy named Zachary Meadows whose love for him ran just as deep. Later on the same day that we found Mark's mother we received a 911 call which I'm going to play shortly for you. It was from Zach. It is heart breaking to say the least, yet if you could have seen the scene you would see just how remarkable and a testament to their love it was" he had to stop then to collect himself and from the looks being passed between a number of people everyone kind of figured it wasn't going to be good.

"This is the communications center recording that day up to and including that call of…of what happened…."

"So Cara comes running out of the bathroom buck naked with Beth screeching at the top of her lungs like the world was coming to an end or something" a voice said obviously laughing at the memory.

"Well, four year olds don't much like clothes," another voice said laughing along with the first one.

"Yeah, try telling Beth that. She doesn't seem…." The first voice was saying when some type of alarm sounded and you could hear the first voice say

"911, what is your emergency?"

All that could be heard on the tape was heavy breathing as an obviously irritated dispatcher could be heard saying, "This is 911, do you have an emergency?"

There was nothing but the breathing and then the first voice saying to someone else.

"Heavy breather", then it all changed in an instant with what was clearly a child's gasp of "Help…us…please."

You could hear the change in the dispatcher's voice as he quickly said "What's wrong and where are you at?"

"Help…" was repeated by the child's voice and then the dispatcher could be heard saying urgently to someone else, "Get me a trace right now." Only to get a reply of, "On it," as the first one asked again "I need to know what's wrong and where you're at, honey."

Gasps could be heard from the crowd as the child cried "He's bleeding so much."

"Where are you?" the dispatcher asked almost desperately over the hoarse breathing by the child.

"L..L…Lin…coln" the child managed to gasp out as the dispatcher asked "Lincoln Park?"

"They hurt us…" the boy cried now with shock and pain in his voice but most would remember the disbelief there above all.

"Fort, please" the young boy begged before saying, "Don't go Mark, don't go without me, please."

There were cries from the audience at hearing that, and then the dispatcher almost yelling to someone to get medical and police over to Lincoln Park and to do it now. Then that same dispatcher could be heard telling someone else "I've got a child, sounds like a little boy and he's with someone. He says they've been hurt and the other child is bleeding badly. It sounds bad, real bad."

Then the man was telling the boy, "We've got help coming just hold on, but I need to know what happened."

He didn't get an answer, just a soft whimper as he said to obviously someone else, "I'm almost there, stay please."

"It hurts, Zach," another child's voice said.

"They're coming, stay with me," the dispatcher begged now, but it was obvious the boy no longer heard.

"I'm here Mark, I'm here," was heard from the boy with a long sigh followed by silence.

"Zach is it, talk to me son, what happened?" the dispatcher asked frantically now but it was between the two boys now, them and someone else.

"We can go now, Mark, look at the light. Oh Mark, isn't it beautiful?" the boy called Zach cried as the other voice replied, "He does love us, Zach, can't you feel it, they were wrong, he does."

"Zach!" the man screamed, but this time there was nothing but silence.

A soft voice of the second man could be heard asking what was going on and then the horrified reply of the first one

"I think I just lost them."

There was silence and tears flowing as the Captain just stood there for a bit before saying, "Mark and Zach were attacked by some older boys in the name of God. They were tortured to put it bluntly, and that was just some of it. I won't go into details, but in the end, mortally wounded and in indescribable pain, Zach crawled across the clearing to where his backpack was lying to get his cell phone to get help for the one he loved. Through all that pain two things were foremost to him, to get his love help and to get back to him. He crawled, clawing his way all the way back across the clearing leaving a trail of blood as he dug each painful inch with his hands across the ground, the one thing on his mind. We found them with Zach laying with his head on Mark's stomach and Mark's arm wrapped protectively around him with Zach clinging to it as his final act. You may wonder why I'm telling you all of this horrific tale and it's because of three things. The first is the incomparable love that must have existed between them for Zach to do what he did and even more to make it back across that clearing to be with Mark, and also Mark holding on long enough for his love to get to him, even though he was hurt in ways I won't describe. The second was something that will stay with me for the rest of my life like everything else about that day and something I feel so privileged to have seen. It was the look of pure joy and peace upon faces that shouldn't have had anything but pain and agony there. When I finally heard the tape I just played for you, I understood even more what that look meant." He had to stop once again to regain control of his voice which had choked up but finally did.

"I could say so many things about those who would say God hates but I think I'll let Mark and Zach say it as they did that day when they said. "Look at the light, oh Mark isn't it beautiful" and Mark replied "He DOES love us, Zach, can't you feel it, they were wrong, HE DOES." For anyone who thinks that He doesn't please just listen to two boys who KNOW that He indeed does love all because they went to Him and found out."

"The final thing that day occurred as I was sitting in my cruiser, crying for what had been taken. Say it's just the imaginings of a tired old man who has seen too much if you will but I will swear to my dying day that I heard a soft child's voice speaking the words I am about to say again when there were no children there"

Slowly the man with tears still running down his cheeks began to speak in voice haunted words that touched to the very souls of all present. As he spoke there was not one person there who did not hear softly another voice join in echoing the pain filled words of the Captain, a child's voice, a young boy's voice.

 

"Why did I have to die?

I was just a kid,

Why did they hate me?

I didn't even know them!

Why did they hate me,

They didn't even know me!

I was just a kid,

I loved my family and I loved life.

Why did I have to die?

God made me and God made them,

So why did they want to kill me?

I loved God and God loved me,

They loved God or so they said.

I was just a kid,

Why did I have to die?"

"Why" is (c) 2008 by its author, The Story Lover.

 

As the words went on, that child's voice was joined by another then another until if anyone had been able to count they would have heard sixty-three children echoing the Captain's words that afternoon "Why?"

Silence reigned for many moments as the Captain moved off the stage. Stunned disbelief predominant over the sobs filling the area and no one knew or could say from whence those lone pain filled voices had come. After that, no one was really sure what was going to happen next. Until they heard a voice from the side call out startling them as it loudly proclaimed, "UNIT!!!! Form UP!"

As one, every member of the Unit sprang to their feet, and within thirty seconds, were formed up in front of the caskets almost as if choreographed, it was done so perfectly, as another six of their own came marching in from the side. The six marched solemnly forward and over to the side where the full rows of coffins lay in wait, all with rifles resting against their shoulders. By the time they raised those rifles into the air, everyone had gotten to their feet to pay homage including Joe who was supported on one side by Eric and on the other by Jack. All would be standing for this, none would fail in this, their final tribute which they would be able to give their fallen comrades, and family.

The six stood there for a moment and you could see them taking deep breaths for what was to come, to prepare themselves, to get through it and do those they loved honor properly.

Finally, that moment arrived and ringing out crisply to all and then some a lone cry of "READY!!!" could be heard from Jeremy as all six rifles came up with stocks meeting shoulders and rifles pointing to the sky while every single member of the Unit came to full attention.

"AIM" came the cry next to issue from Jeremy's throat as all six braced themselves for what was to come and the entirety of the Unit as if one, snapped and held a salute. Even Janet, who had never been one to follow the military ways that everyone else held followed her dead children's heart and paid tribute in the way they would have wanted, snapping an very crisp and proper looking salute. No one had a dry eye by this time as all knew what was to come even if they couldn't see it in the faces of the lost ones family.

The moment came, as the one word everyone had been waiting for echoed and re-echoed across the island piercingly

"FIRE!"

As one, with tears streaming down their faces, the six boys known as the Tiny Terrors let the world know Terrors they may be but Tiny they were not as they pulled the triggers on all six rifles letting the shots ring out to be joined by a round fired from the massive sixteen inch main turret of the USS IOWA which had arrived into the harbor the day before. Adam and everyone else couldn't help but flinch as the shots rang out causing an almost physical pain to echo the one in their heart.

The was repeated two more times, until the full twenty one gun salute was given. The only sound heard the entire time, besides that of gun fire, was more and more people sobbing, or openly crying. Yet by the time it was over, everyone, including the Vulcans that were present, in their own manner, were saluting, as everyone said their last good byes to those who had fallen.

As the last round left their weapons, the Tiny Terrors brought their weapons back to attention even through their own sobs, never faltering in their last duty though all could see the toll it had taken on them. None were prouder than Adam, Janet and Joe of these six of their children at that moment.

As the echoes of the salute faded into the distance, the sound was replaced by one of the most haunting of all melodies as a lone bugle player, standing behind the caskets, played the opening notes of that which tore into the hearts of all present, Taps. Not a single person dropped their salutes as the final resting call of generations of the military was played by what made it even more poignant, a young boy, and to everyone's surprise echoing back across the bay to C.D. that of another bugle joined his in final homage to the heroes who would go to their rest today.

More than one of the youngest of those present couldn't hold their salute any longer, even though they tried with all their hearts to do so as their emotions finally became too much and they sought comfort of a nearby loved one, grabbing onto their leg most often and sobbing their little hearts and souls out.

When the final note came and the last echoes had died away on the mist, Adam called out in a voice choked with all the emotion he had been holding inside, his final act of the day.

"UNIT!!! FALL OUT!"

Everyone lined up behind Adam, as he marched over to where the five caskets stood on the place of honor in front of the stage. He reached into a bucket sitting there over flowing with red roses, and took one. He marched towards the first casket, holding the brother of his dear friend Khan. Logan waited a few steps behind him, as Adam gently laid the rose down on the casket, bowed his head, and said a silent prayer up for all those family members he had lost, and one for those he knew he would lose in the future.

Adam was too busy to notice two huge projection screens rise up from behind the rest of the caskets, one on each side. The one on the right showed a single woman in a flowing white dress, with her head bowed, standing on the deck of the USS Iowa. Behind her sat the remains of the helicopters that were downed during Saturday's assault.

On the left screen, there were two images floating there, one was the Unit Crest, the other was the Clan's crest. Slowly, as a lone piano started to play, the two images merged together seamlessly, forming one single crest. The crest of the Clan Short Special Forces division.

Adam moved off from Kuan Ti's casket, just as Delta Goodrum's voice started to come through the speakers. Adam stopped and stared at the screens, more specifically, the one on the left. What he saw there, made the tears that he had just managed to make stop falling, come back strong. On the screen were pictures. Pictures taken from everywhere they could be taken. Not only showing Unit members, but also Clan members, and even pictures of the Cadets, and their families.

Here we are
Sharing our lives
We made it through
The good and bad times
And still we stand
With hope in our hearts
No matter what
We will play our part
And now we've come so far
One chance to touch a star
Go higher and higher

 

Adam barely registered Logan coming up next to him, and embracing him in a one armed hug. He didn't notice the people moving behind him, as he watched the pictures come across the screens. He cried harder and harder as he saw pictures of all those happy kids. Kids that would never laugh again.

Find your guiding inspiration
In a place where dreams are made
With a lifetime's preparation
theres no time to be afraid
Put our differences behind us
While we shine like a star
See what we've all become
Together we are one

 

Adam barely heard others around him, and glanced over to see Cory, Sean, Logan, Sammy, Mike, and many others were standing there arms draped over their fellows as they watched the pictures flow over the screen. Some of the people in the pictures he'd only met recently, and some he had never met, but they were all a part of his family, and he mourned every single one of them.

Deep inside your heart and soul
You work so hard
To reach your goal
With every step
With out regret
You gave it all
Till there was nothing left
Seek out the strength to win
No thoughts of giving in
Go higher and higher

Find your guiding inspiration
In a place where dreams are made
With a lifetime's preparation
theres no time to be afraid
Put our differences behind us
While we shine like a star
See what we've all become
Together we are one

 

The words flowed with the pictures so well, that it almost was like the song was made to go with these people. Some of those people were dead, but most were still alive, but all... all of them were one.

Find your guiding inspiration
In a place where dreams are made
With a lifetime's preparation
It's no time to be afraid
Put our differences behind us
While we shine like a star
See what we've all become
Together we are one

See what we've all become
Together we are one

"Together We Are One" was performed by Delta Goodrem, and written by Brian McFadden, Delta Goodrem, and Guy Chambers. (c) 2006

As Delta's voice softly faded a new picture came onto the screen, that of over five hundred people. A picture which included the entire family that he and his had been included into. A picture of the entirety of the family called Clan Short. Gasps could be heard as slowly, almost painfully one hundred and fourteen members of that family started to fade from the picture. Everyone was crying hard as those one hundred and fourteen who were mostly children under fifteen and who had been lost to their family faded until they were barely visible.

They may have faded in the picture but Adam and all there knew they would never fade from their hearts.

It took Adam a few minutes to gain control as he stared at the picture but finally he nodded to himself making a solemn vow once again as he had a million times these last few days.

"They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. Never."

 

Editors Notes: 

I am really honored that I was offered this opportunity to help out. My hope is that everyone included in this work of art will be happy when it goes to post. Everyone should be commended on a job well done, and thanked for all the time and hard work it took to put this together. I know the readers will be thrilled and moved by this chapter, as I was. Special thanks to Roland for all the hard work I know he put into it along with the heart ache. To write about death and pain is never easy and you have to have a heart of gold to do it well. To all the authors who had a part in this beautiful remembrance, I hope someday I can meet every one of you face to face and give you a hug for what you have done and written. It is truly an honor to be part of such a wonderful group of men!! May God bless each and every one of you for you have enriched our lives with the pouring out of your soul, once again. 

Boxerdude

Clan Short Archivist's Review Notes:  First of all my congratulations to all of those involved you did a fantastic job! I know from my own experiences that writing something like this is as hard if not harder than reading it. In my humble opinion this chapter is the only way to accomplish what needed to be written. Trying to write individual chapters for individual stories would not have accomplished what this one amazing chapter did. I am amazed how well all of the different stories, viewpoints and writing styles meshed into such a coherent and seamless whole. My kudos to all involved. 

This chapter allows the individual stories to move ahead yet remain connected as never before. It also is a beginning for the healing that all involved need.

I sincerely hope that the readers will take heed of the messages that are interspersed throughout this chapter. It is up to us to protect and help the world's children! If we don't do it who will? 

When I wrote my poem "Why?" I tried to capture the emotions of all the children killed or injured in all of the stories. I as did all of those involved in crafting this chapter succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. I am honored to be included in such a wonderful group of talented authors, editors and others who have taken a simple dream and made it the wonderful saga it is today.

TSL 

 

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