I often (okay, just now) wonder about how the alien invasion went down pre-Falling Skies. According to what we've heard, the aliens overpowered Earth's defenses and killed 90% of humanity in the space of a few days, which I guess means Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum weren't able to upload a virus into the overlords' Macintosh OS in time.

And while the show's primary focus is on Tom Mason and his sons, we've gotten enough hints of other characters' pasts to provide us with handy side plots when convenient. A couple of those came into play last night, though the episode was depressingly Pope-free.

TNT described the fourth episode of this season, titled "Young Bloods," as "an episode of discoveries, each one more shocking than the last." Right, then. Let's keep track of these.

First discovery: Apparently nobody has any problem letting Matt Mason (Maxim Knight) scooter around unattended, free to be drenched in the blood and brains of a couple skitters, courtesy of gangsta wannabe snipers Tector (Ryan Robbins) and Boon.

Hal (Drew Roy) and Ben (Connor Jessup) are scoping out an alien warehouse when their motorbikes are stolen. Ben discovers he's able to hear their engines and can therefore tell which way the thieves are headed (east). His new superhuman abilities don't really count as a shocking discovery, however.

Tom (Noah Wyle) gives Anne (MOON BLOODGOOD) a Choco Pie, and equates it with their blossoming love. It isn't much, blingwise, but you do what you can in the postapocalypse. Oh, and Tom sends Matt on the mission. Bad dad.

Hal and Ben track down the thieves. They're a bunch of kids, led by a fiery Latino named Diego. One of the creepy little Onlies tells them, "Adults get us killed." Hal, being a softy like his old man, invites them back to get some equipment and food.

Okay, so Matt's mission was supposed to be "scouting" only, and Tom takes umbrage at the Insane Clown Posse East (they even made up a "rap" song about Matt) using his son as "skitter bait." Just when you think he's going to deliver a Pope-style beatdown, he sends the two dudes on sanitation duty. Matt is upset at Dad's party-pooping.

Second discovery: Hal and Ben return with Diego and his girlfriend, Jeanne. Jeanne is Capt. Weaver's long lost daughter. Now we get to find out if Dad (Will Patton) is prejudiced against Hispanics. Jeanne tells dad about mom's death (stroke) and the two exchange creepy nicknames ("Papa Bear" and "Baby Bear"). He also meets Diego. Refreshingly, he simply hates the guy because he's (likely) boning his little girl.

Diego gives Hal some intel, and then gives the bad news to Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel) that the Mexican town of Parras -- where she's from -- was obliterated in the war. They then return to the kids' camp to find it trashed and abandoned. The sole survivor tells them the skitters took everyone, and Ben and Diego determine they've been taken to the alien warehouse to get harnessed. Diego wants to go, Weaver is more cautious, and of course the whole thing turns into "You couldn't even save your own family!" bullshit. Diego takes off...with Matt.

The 2nd Mass mounts up -- including Tector, the sniper guy who wants to make up for endangering Matt -- only belatedly realizing the kids have already Gone, Diego, Gone. And that young Matt has accompanied them.