"New York...?" Reese's eyes widened. "That's...an idea. Why there, though?"
"If you want to leave Wilmington, New York's your best bet. The Navy has ordered me to go there," Enterprise explained. "I...I can't guarantee anything, but I'm heading there anyway. At the very least, you'd have an escort. If it still stands, then you people will be safer there, at least. It's a gamble, I know. But so is staying here. But the decision is up to you, of course. I'm just suggesting an option."
"I see..." Reese sighed. "You have a point. It's a gamble, but maybe we'd have to. I'll think about it. As long as the bus isn't ready, I'm not going to talk about leaving anyway. But thank you for suggesting this. Better than not knowing where to go."
"No problem. I'll leave you to it. I'll go check on the Commander."
"Can I ask one more thing before you go?" Reese called just as she was about to open the door. "If...we decide to go, I hope you're willing to help us...no, scratch that, protect us."
Enterprise gave him a long look. She could sense that he was not the type to trust strangers, and yet here he was, asking for help. It was something that spoke volumes about how desperate he was. Or how desperate he had become.
"Reese, you've helped me and the Commander, and you've shown kindness to Amy. And it's my duty anyway. Don't worry."
"Thanks. That's all. Sorry to keep you."
***
Sam was working almost non-stop on the bus, to the point that all his meals had to be brought to him. Enterprise couldn't tell what the man was doing, but she knew enough to understand that he was trying to make sure the bus was ready to go as soon as possible. She didn't know what drove him, but she guessed it was the incident at the depot.
Reese had sent her on a few more supply runs, though this time, they were told not to scavenge far. Just to scout the nearby neighborhoods.
Some had started asking him if they were going to leave, and he had been considering telling everyone. But he was still hesitant, afraid of causing a panic. Yet restlessness had seemingly started to creep into the minds of the community members anyway.
Enterprise could feel it. There was a sense of uneasiness hanging in the air.
Mercifully, the children were not aware of it. They continued to play together whenever they had the chance or study under whoever was willing to teach them.
Commander Halsey, meanwhile, was already strong enough to walk around a bit, though with a limp. He took the chance to know more about the people. Only by watching him did Enterprise realize how easy it was for him to talk to people, even strangers. Amy was happy to see him up and about again, too.
She figured that would help if the community needed convincing when the need to leave came.
***
She was preparing for night guard duty, which she had volunteered for, when she noticed him approaching her post.
"Commander?" She asked, walking toward him. "Why are you out here? Is something wrong? What about Amy?"
"Amy's having a sleepover at Jessie's tonight—even though they are just a few rooms apart," Commander Halsey grinned, seemingly amused. "And nothing's wrong. Just checking up on you. Maybe joining you, too. It's boring staying inside."
"But you are supposed to be resting," she said. "You're still limping. You're hurt."
"Hey, as long as we only need to stay awake and keep an eye on the surroundings, I'll be fine. You don't have to be alone out here."
He was a stubborn man, she remembered now. But while exasperating, that had kept him alive longer than most, and she was glad he was.
And if she had to admit, she wasn't too opposed to the idea of sharing the quiet night with him.
"Okay. Just don't strain yourself, alright?" She gestured to the chair nearby, and he readily obliged, much to her amusement. "How are your injuries?"
"Getting better. As you can see, I can walk around and finally get some fresh air. I miss being outside," he sighed, looking up at the night sky, at its thousands of stars twinkling in the darkness.
"I'm glad. And people seem to like you, too," Enterprise smiled. "It's a good sign."
"Heh, I don't want them to see me as a dead weight. At least I can help around somehow. How's the bus? I've been...bringing up New York with a few people. They don't seem to be against the idea. If Reese needs help convincing the community, I'm sure we can do it," he chuckled.
"Well, hopefully, there won't be any need for that," she said. "But Sam did mention that he'd be finished with the bus tomorrow. So...we'll see, I guess."
"I'm sure it's gonna go well. Reese is a good leader. If he's in the military, he would've gone far."
"You think? Well, I'm sure of it, too. He's got the spirit."
"And Enterprise, are you feeling better? Your rigging, I mean. You've been running around a lot. I'm a bit worried," the Commander asked.
She looked down at her hands. They twitched at times like the veins beneath the skin had a life of their own. But should the Commander know?
He would, eventually. But, she decided, it shouldn't be tonight.
"If...needed, I will fight. I can fight; I'm sure of it. I'll keep everyone safe. So don't worry."
He looked at her, and for a moment, she thought he could see right through her lie. But he just sighed and smiled weakly, nodding.
"Hopefully, until we can get Vestal or whoever to take a look at you, you won't have to. I don't want you to strain yourself, Enterprise. Not until you're ready. You've done a lot for everyone already. It's...not fair."
"Nothing is, Commander. If it is, then we won't be here in the first place," Enterprise said, her voice soft and somber. "These days, I've been thinking that I could be more than a soldier. But that doesn't mean I don't have a duty anymore. It's just that duties and ordinary life can coexist. You people are proof of that. You are soldiers and officers, yet you are also fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. And so...I think I can do that, too. Have a life and do my duty at the same time. I can do both."
"That's true, yeah," he said. "...If only it didn't take...this to make us realize that. But better late than never. So, you better start thinking about what you want to do once this is all over."
"Once this is all over..." She echoed, looking up at the stars. "Didn't you ask me to dance with you?"
She almost regretted reminding him of that probably delirious request, seeing how awkward he suddenly looked, but it was too late. He turned away, clearing his throat.
"Er, well, I told you it must be the concussion. I mean, you don't have to say yes. I just, uh...yeah, I did," he said.
"Commander, I'll dance with you when we've won. And I'm not saying this just to be nice or humor you. Even if we don't, I'll stick with you."
The more she spoke, the more she wanted to bury herself somewhere and hide from the embarrassment—and yet, the more she felt bolder, too. Like she could do anything she set her mind to. Not a new feeling, but this time, it felt more... personal.
"Then...we will dance, Enterprise," he smiled, and there was a glint of determination in his eyes. "But first, we have a war to win."
"Then we will win, Commander."
A little stronger now.
***
Nothing happened during the night, and being with someone helped her to be less on edge, even more so since it was the Commander. They talked a lot about many things. It was the first time they had ever had such a deep conversation, and she felt like she knew the man more now.
They weren't the only ones sleepless. When the morning came, Sam emerged from the garage, a tired but triumphant grin on his face. His glasses were smudged, his clothes dirty with grease, and his hair was messy.
"The bus is ready. I've checked everything twice, and I'm sure it'll run as intended," he told Reese. "I have filled her up with all the fuel we have. So...whenever we're ready, we can leave."
"Good job, Sam," the Commander said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're a lifesaver."
"Ah, it's nothing. I just did my job," he said, blushing. "Though I'm worried about going through Philly. I...heard about what they did to Baltimore. I hope...we don't run into anything, really. I'm not a fighter."
"Don't worry. I'll keep everyone safe," Enterprise said, nodding. "That's a promise."
"Thank you," Sam smiled. "I'll go take a shower now. Uh, please excuse me."
***
She wasn't surprised when Reese finally called the meeting after breakfast. There was a solemn, tense air hanging over them. The children, too, had begun to pick up on it, and some were huddling close to their parents.
"Everyone, I have something to say," Reese said. He stood at the front, the Commander at his side. "It's about our future here."
Whispers. He let them go on for a while before continuing. "This city is our home. I know. But with...those things running around in our backyard, sooner or later, we'll have to make a choice. So far, they haven't done anything to us, but I'm not willing to take chances. If they come in droves...Then, I don't think I can guarantee everyone's safety, and that's something I can't allow. So...I'm thinking we should move out. Somewhere safer."
"Where?!" One of the women shouted. "There's nowhere to go!"
"It's a gamble, but I'm not sending us on a suicide run," Reese said, his voice stern and firm. "We have a bus, and it's fixed up now. We have the means to get away, and we're not going anywhere blindly. We have a destination. New York."
There were gasps and more murmurs. Some were hopeful, others doubtful, and still, others were simply scared.
"It's only a two-hour drive through New Jersey. We're not completely defenseless, either. We have weapons and ammunition. We have food and water. We can make it. We even have a KANSEN with us."
Enterprise soon found all eyes on her, but she stood tall. She met their eyes, not wavering in her resolve. She was used to being in the spotlight, after all, and this time, she was going to use it to the fullest.
"Enterprise and her Commander are heading to New York, too. And she's willing to help us. To keep us safe. I trust her."
"It's the least I could do," she said. "Reese and his friends have done so much for me, the Commander, and the kid we picked up. The least I could do is to help in return. So, if you choose to go, I will keep you all safe. You have my word."
"But what if...we run into those things?"
"Then, you have me. I won't let anything happen to you."
More murmurs. It seemed that they were starting to be more open to the idea. Still, she could see doubt and hesitation among them.
"I trust her," Janine said, standing up. "And I'm going, too. I can be useful there if they're keeping refugees, at the very least. If you want to go, I'm coming along. It's not like we won't be coming back. This will always be our home, but it might be hard to stay safe if we don't leave. We've been lucky so far, but how long will that last? I don't want to find out."
"I'll go, too. I can't stand being here for another day," a man chimed in. "I wanna go to New York and be safe. And I've got a wife and kids to worry about. I want them to be safe. I'm willing to take the risk."
"I'll give you time to think it over. Just know I'm not going to force anyone. If you want to stay, you're free to," Reese said. "But I hope you'll all come with us."
"And what about those of us who are staying?" The same woman who spoke up before asked. "You're abandoning us?"
"No, we're not. I'll leave supplies behind. It'll be up to you what you do with them. But you'll be on your own after that," Reese answered. "We won't be able to help if you run into problems. It's not easy either way, but there's also the fact that I don't know when we can come back. I hope it'll be soon, but we just don't know yet."
There were no more objections. Everyone seemed to understand, even if reluctantly, and it was a start. Reese let the meeting conclude there, and everyone dispersed to discuss the decision among themselves. Janine stayed behind, however, along with a few others.
"Thank you, Janine," Reese said. "Well said."
"What are you saying, old man? Just stating the most logical thing to do," she shrugged, though there was a smile on her lips.
"Uh...Just glad you're coming along, that's all," he said, looking away and scratching the back of his neck. Enterprise had to suppress a chuckle at the sight.
"Well, then, I'm going to check on the folks. You've been...working hard, Reese," Janine said, nodding to Enterprise and Commander Halsey. She left the room, and Reese let out a long sigh, shaking his head.
"Well...that's one thing off my shoulders," he said. "Now, the more important thing. Preparing for the trip. We can only go through I-95, as the bridge is down over the Delaware. We'll be going through Philly, and there's no telling what we're gonna find. We have to be careful. Enterprise, do you think you can handle it?"
Her hands were twitching again, and in reflex, she clenched her fists. She couldn't afford to be useless now, not when they had to move.
"I can," she nodded. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye out."
"Alright, then. I'm trusting you. Well, I'm going to check the bus and make preparations. Now, I know you two have been up all night, so maybe get some rest. Especially you, Mr. Halsey. I can't believe you're doing that when you're hurt," Reese chuckled.
"I'll make sure he does," Enterprise smiled. "Thank you, Reese."
"Yeah. I'll go ahead first. See you two in a bit."
Amy had gone off to play with the other children again. They were calmer now, so they didn't need to worry about her running around.
Commander Halsey fell asleep almost as soon as he hit the bed, and Enterprise had to pull the cover over him, amused by the sight. Her gaze lingered longer than she would've liked, and she shook her head, sitting down on her own bed.
She had a feeling that this might be the last moment of calm before the storm. They would leave Wilmington the next day, and the journey would begin.
Nobody knew what would happen. Cities and towns they would pass through could have descended into chaos or been left desolate. They could encounter the invaders, and there might even be casualties, but as long as she could fight, she would do her best to protect them all.
It was a promise she had made, and she wouldn't let anything happen to them.
She had to be ready.
***
Commander Halsey spent the better part of the lunch chatting up more people, and though Enterprise didn't feel like overhearing, it was hard to ignore their voices. He was talking about New York, trying to ease their worries.
Nobody gets left behind. Perhaps, despite the reluctance, he still believed in that, and he was making sure that everyone would come along, even when it was not his problem. Even if it wasn't his community.
Was it just his kindness?
Or was it his guilt?
Reese had made it known that they must come to a decision by dinner, and if anyone had already decided to go, to start packing their belongings. They were going to leave early in the morning the next day.
Enterprise decided to take a walk around the compound. The atmosphere had changed. Even the children seemed quieter, more subdued. Some of the adults were looking out at the city beyond, and she caught a glimpse of sadness and fear.
This was their home, after all, and they had been forced to leave it behind. It was a difficult decision to make. Not that she could truly understand it. She had no home to return to. The Navy was the closest thing she had to one, and even that had been taken away from her by the invaders.
But she could at least empathize.
She would make sure they could return here.
That was a promise she intended to keep, even if she had not said it aloud.
***
Dinner was an even quieter affair than lunch, and even the children weren't as lively. Reese served everyone himself, not wanting to bother the volunteers who were packing. He was solemn, and Enterprise couldn't help but feel sorry for him for having to make the difficult choice.
After what seemed like forever, Reese finally stood up in front of everyone once more.
"So, some of you had told me that you're going. But nobody has told me yet if they're not going, so I'm just going to ask one more time," he said. "Who is coming? Raise your hands."
One by one, the adults raised their hands, some reluctantly. But in the end, it was unanimous. They would all be going.
And for the first time in days, Enterprise saw a genuine smile on Reese's face.
"Thank God. I don't want to leave any of you behind. I hope that...we'll come back here someday," he said. "Alright, we're leaving at 7 tomorrow. Pack everything you need. If you need to bring medicines, bring your personal medications only. We have a communal supply of the basics. Don't pack too many clothes, either; we don't have the space. But do take warm clothing, just in case. Everything else, if you can't bring it, you're gonna have to leave it behind. We can reclaim them later. Just lock them in your respective rooms. We will bring weapons, so anyone who can handle one should talk to Jim. Any questions?"
"What about the kids, Reese? Do we have enough seats for them, too?"
"The bus is a Greyhound. It should be large and comfortable enough. And don't worry about protection. Josh and Jim already added some extra protection for the windows, so we should be relatively safe from gunfire and such. And, as I said, we're going to have weapons. Anyone else?"
Silence.
"Alright, then. I'm not going to keep you long. Just want to say that I'm glad you're all going to come with us. It's the best for us. Good night, and have a good rest."
***
Enterprise and Commander Halsey spent the rest of the evening packing their few belongings. Mostly clothes they had taken along the way, and things the latter brought back from his glove compartment and trunk. The tapes, too—reminders of when there were only the two of them and Grim.
It was raining heavily again outside. The wind was howling, and the rain was pelting the windows and walls. Grim was already sound asleep, unperturbed by the weather.
"Amy, something wrong?" The Commander asked. She was huddled on the chair, watching them packing their things.
"Are...you and Enty gonna fight those..." She hesitated. "Those bad robots again?"
"We will, sweetie," Enterprise said, smiling as she knelt beside the Commander. "We will keep all of you safe. You, your new friends, everyone. Don't worry. We won't let anything happen to you."
"But...what if...what if..."
Enterprise drew her into a hug. She didn't need to finish that painful question to know what she was thinking.
"I'm not going to leave you, sweetie," she whispered. "I'm going to protect Je—the Commander, too. We will survive this...and then..."
And then what?
Her own thoughts were about to stray into an unbecoming territory, but she quickly reined them in.
"...And then, we'll be safe. All of us."
"She's right," Commander Halsey joined in the hug. The warmth, the tightness in her chest, as she realized, was not only from the proximity or from the hug. "We'll make it out of this. Together."
"Really?" Amy looked up, her eyes wide and wet. "Promise?"
"Promise."
"Promise," Enterprise nodded. "Now, let's go to bed, alright? We're leaving early in the morning. You need to sleep."
"Okay," Amy nodded. She wiped her tears and smiled. It was weak, but it was there. She climbed the Commander's bed, and he lifted the covers for her before climbing in himself.
Enterprise turned off the lights, and in the dark, she could hear the Commander whispering to Amy. She couldn't make out what he was saying, and the words weren't meant for her, but she drew comfort from it nonetheless. His voice was warm and gentle, a melody in the night, and soon, Amy was asleep, curled up beside him.
Like a father, she thought. A picture of a man with his daughter.
Perhaps, when the war was over, her place in the picture would be clear. More importantly, perhaps she could see herself in that picture.