It sounded like a really good plan. I could easily envision it happening. The hard part would be just killing Black.
“That’ll create a power vacuum though, wouldn’t it?” I asked.
Char nodded. “It would be war for sure. And Augustus coming would only complicate things. It might be a good idea to approach some of the gangs beforehand — the ones we know aren’t happy — but that also risks having our intentions betrayed to Black before we’re ready.”
“Then we have our own gangs to worry about,” Anna said. “Rey, Grudge, Cain…they will all want their share of the loot.”
“We still need their help,” Makara said. “Unfortunately.”
“So are we scouting the Bunker first?” I asked.
Char nodded. “We’ll have to. Our people can’t stay exposed in Pyrite for much longer. The swarm is approaching. We’ll need to get them underground — out of harm’s way, and out of the cold.”
“Who’s going, then?” Anna asked.
Ruth watched with wide eyes as we all talked. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into.
“Alex will go,” Makara said. “Along with Anna, Michael, and Julian.”
I nodded. I didn’t really want to go, but that wouldn’t stop me from doing it. We were the main people who could be spared. Samuel, for obvious reasons, could not go. Char and Marcus had to stay behind and keep the gang lords in line, and Makara had to lead.
Which meant the four remainders got the job.
“When do we start?” Anna asked.
“As soon as you are rested and suited up,” Makara said. “Ashton has the coordinates: 41 degrees north, and 123 degrees west, roughly. He will be transporting you there, and will remain on ship during your time in the Bunker. This will be a quick recon — in and out in a couple of hours or less. I don’t want a repeat of what happened at Bunker 108. There should be nothing there, but we need to be sure before we start relocating.”
I couldn’t explain why, but a sick feeling twisted my gut at the prospect of exploring Bunker 84. It was something I couldn’t shake, no matter how hard I tried.
“Who’s leading?” I asked.
No one said anything for a moment. Makara met my gaze levelly.
“You are.”
I hadn’t expected that. It felt wrong that I should lead people like Michael, Anna, or even Julian. Anna said nothing, and from her face it appeared as if she thought there was nothing strange about this.
Finally, I forced myself to nod — though that was difficult. I wished, at that moment more than ever, that Samuel were awake. One, because he would be the one leading, and two, I really needed to talk to him and get some advice. I was way in over my head.
“You’ll do fine,” Anna said. “Quit looking like you’re going to throw up.”
Michael and Julian chuckled.
“I’m not going to throw up,” I said.
To my surprise, my voice was steadier than I expected it to be. I reflected for a moment on what my life had become; getting comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable. Since leaving Bunker 108, my life had been nonstop fighting, growing as a person, becoming stronger.
Perhaps, even now, becoming a leader.
“I can do it,” I said.
I could always think of something to hold me back from that goal — I was too young. I was too small. Too timid. Too quiet. Then again, Samuel was not a big talker, and he was the best leader I’d met in my life. I was only limited insofar as I limited myself. Believing I could do this was the first step in actually doing it.
“Good,” Makara said. “Get plenty of rest tonight, and use the morning to pack all of your gear. Tomorrow, Ashton will brief us on what needs to be done. He’ll be your pilot there and back, but Alex is in charge once boots are on the ground. I want everyone on the same page so that there is no confusion. What we are meaning to do is dangerous — not just because it’s a Bunker and we have no idea what’s in there. You’re going far to the north and at this time of year it will be colder than it is even here. Added to the fact the elevation is much higher, the biggest threat to this mission is probably the weather.”
“We’ll be fine,” I said.
Makara smiled. “That’s what I like to hear. And now it’s about time we headed back to Pyrite. Maybe 108 was a bust, but at least we’ll get the privilege of delivering good news about the extra food.”
Gilgamesh landed in Pyrite around midnight, settling amidst hundreds of crude tents and shanties that were hardly sufficient protection against the cold. Odin was parked nearby, meaning Ashton had returned from his latest trip to Skyhome.
I felt nervous as I left Gilgamesh and started for Odin, where my bunk was. I was a little nervous about leading, but with Samuel gone I had to step up and take on a more important role. Samuel himself had told me that back in Skyhome.
I entered Odin through the blast door, the warm air tingling on my skin. Anna followed me in from behind — Char and Makara had stayed aboard Gilgamesh. It was dark, but even without the lights, I could discern blankets, pallets, and sleeping bodies spread before us. Those who needed the most shelter from the cold — the weak, the old, the injured — took up all available floor space on Odin. Every bunk would be filled to capacity. Getting anywhere on the ship at night was a near-impossible proposition.
“Stay here,” I said. “I’m going to wake Michael and Julian to let them know.”
Anna looked at me. “You alright?”
I nodded. “I’m fine. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I turned down the corridor, heading for the cabins. The corridor was clear of sleeping people so I didn’t have to worry about stepping on anyone. I entered the cabin immediately to my left.
I saw Michael sleeping on the bottom bunk, and Julian on the one above him. Normally their quarters were aboard Gilgamesh, but they had appropriated my cabin for their own use. I was about to speak but I decided not to. There was no point in waking them now. It would be better to just let them sleep and tell them in the morning. I could at least give them that much.
When I returned to the wardroom, Anna’s eyebrows raised. She was sitting at the table, facing me.
“You didn’t tell them, did you?” she asked.
I shook my head and sat down next to her. “It’s not…hesitation. I just feel there is no point in saying anything. Telling them now rather than in the morning changes nothing.” I sighed. “Let them sleep.”
Anna nodded. “Just make sure you’re up before them; that way you can catch them before they get started on their days.”
I nodded, sitting at the table. That wouldn’t be a problem, because I usually woke up earlier than everyone else. But it was already past midnight, and if things kept going as they were I would be falling asleep any minute.
“Maybe we should both get to bed,” Anna said.
“Yeah. We have a big day tomorrow.”
Despite both of us acknowledging the fact that we needed to go to bed, neither of us made a move to get up.
“Maybe Makara wouldn’t mind if we all slept in a bit tomorrow,” I said.
I wrapped my arms around Anna and she leaned into me, laying her head on my shoulder. I lay my head on top of hers. We hadn’t had time to ourselves in a while.
We just sat like that for a few minutes. Anna closed her eyes. Part of me didn’t want to move, wanted to fall asleep, but I knew it would be best if we got to our beds.
I stirred, which caused her eyes to open.
“Time for sleep,” I said.
We left the table to go to our cabins. Tomorrow was the start of yet another mission. But, I thought, we had survived and learned so much along the way that a simple Bunker recon wasn’t going to be a big deal.