I wake when Ivan shakes my shoulder. I was startled for a moment, until I remembered where we are, and why.
It's dark now, but it's not pitch black. There are a few lamps turned on in the room.
Everyone is awake. They are checking their gear, weapons, and other things.
I stand and stretch, then take a few sips from the bottle Mia gave me. It's still cool, which is a pleasant surprise. I drink more of it, then, until I'm not feeling quite so dry and scratchy inside.
Ivan gestures for us to gather around him. Once we're all there, he speaks.
"The guards have changed shifts. The loading crews have left for the day. There are fewer people in the place now. But there are still guards on duty."
He spreads out a hand drawn map on the table. It shows the layout of the trading post, including the small hangar where the ship is stored.
"The ship is here." He points to a spot on the map. "The hangar has guards at the entrance, and there are a few patrolmen who will walk around the area. But they are not expecting any trouble. They've had none since..." He pauses, his face grim. "Since the last attempt."
He looks up at us, his eyes sweeping across our faces. "We will set up a diversion at the front gate. When we're in position, we'll set it off - it's what explosives we've managed to make. It's not enough to do real damage, but it will get them all to gather. And then...we'll have very little time." His eyes meet mine. "Just get to the ship. As quickly as you can. Don't look. Don't think. Don't hesitate. Run for the ship and don't stop." He sighs. "And...if something happens. If something goes wrong."
He gestures to Sinead. "If I fall, Sinead takes command. If she does..." He gestures to Peter. "Peter. And after him..." He gestures to one of the guards, a tall, thin man named Riker. "Then Riker."
"And after him?" Eric says.
Ivan's lips quirk up in a smile that I don't think he feels. "No matter how few of us make it, that ship is taking off."
After a pause, he shakes his head. "But it won't come to that. I know these aliens well enough. I can't say that we've practiced this, and when you're in the field things will always change, but..." He looks up at us. "We will succeed."
"I doubt it will be so simple." Eric's voice is a low rumble.
"It won't be simple." Ivan agrees. "But we don't need simple. We need to get onto that ship and get the doors closed before they know what's happening." His eyes meet each of ours. "Be ready. Do not wait for anyone else."
Mia blinks. "You want us to cut others off....?"
"Not if they're at the door, obviously. But if someone falls behind, if someone is injured, if someone is caught..." He shakes his head. "There's nothing you can do. Do not stop, do not look back. Just run. The others are counting on us. This is your last chance to turn back if you won't take that risk." He looks to each of us, and his gaze settles on me.
I swallow. "...I'm staying."
If I get left behind...
Well.
I don't like that idea.
But I'll try to make sure it means Hestia gets to go home at least, since I know she...
She'll go where I go. Even though Ivan's just given a warning like that, i already know Hestia won't turn back unless I do. And I can't live with the idea of waiting while everyone else risks themselves.
Especially not now that I know someone could be left behind, too. That thought is chilling, but it doesn't make me want to turn away and leave it to others.
If anything...
It makes me want to go more. To be there. To help make sure that we all go home together.
Mia and Eric exchange a look, and then both nod at me.
"Then let's go." Ivan opens the hatch to the cellar. "It's time. This is our moment."
One by one, we exit into the night air.
It's much cooler now, but the sky is completely clear. The moons and the stars are bright overhead, illuminating everything with their silver-blue light. It's enough to see by, but not quite enough to eliminate the deep shadows.
The air is still and silent.
The only sound is the crunch of our feet on the sand.
We walk in a line, moving quickly but quietly, the guards at the front and rear with their weapons ready. Ivan is in the middle, between Sinead and Peter.
Mia and Eric are on either side of me, with Hestia clutching my hand.
We're ahead of Ivan. I'm not sure if it's because he thinks we'll do best here, or if it's to make it less likely we'll fall behind when the running starts.
The trading post comes into view as we get closer to it. It's...impressive. Or at least, bigger than I expected. There are several buildings, including a large warehouse and what looks like a landing field behind them. A high fence surrounds the entire complex.
There are guards at the front gate, just as Ivan said. They look bored, like they'd rather be anywhere else.
Ivan gestures for us to stop. He looks at Sinead and Peter, and the two of them nod at him. They move off in one direction, while Riker and the other guard move off in another. That leaves just the five of us: Ivan, me, Mia, Eric, and Hestia.
We watch and wait.
Time seems to stretch. I feel exposed, even in the darkness.
Eventually, the guards turn and walk away from the gate, chattering something I can barely hear and absolutely can't understand.
The other four are still missing. Whatever they're doing...it's probably setting up the diversion, but I don't see them.
Ivan touches my shoulder. "We move. The others will meet up with us at the transport." His voice is a low whisper.
He gestures to Mia, who nods and darts across the open space to the side of the gate. She moves silently, quickly. A moment later, she's on the other side, hidden in the shadows there.
Eric goes next, moving just as silently. Then Hestia, who clings to my hand for a moment before letting go and running after Eric. She doesn't make a sound.
Then it's my turn.
I take a deep breath, and then I run.
It's only a short distance, but it feels like miles. Every instinct screams at me that I'm exposed, that any moment, someone will see me and sound an alarm.
But I make it to the other side without incident. I press myself against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest.
A moment later, Ivan joins us.
He gestures for us to follow him, and we move along the wall, staying in the shadows. The landing field is ahead, and I can see the ship there. It's not as big as I expected, but it's big enough.
There are two guards at the hangar entrance, just as Ivan said. They're talking to each other, not paying much attention to their surroundings.
Ivan gestures for us to follow, and we duck behind some kind of crates.
Wherever he got that map, he hasn't been wrong yet.
He leans back and scans the area behind us. "They'll be here soon. Wait."
I swallow and nod.
And after a moment, grip my hand with my other.
It's shaking.
...This is the point of no return.