"How far're they?" Augustus leisurely rifled through a box of frayed fabrics whose prints were reminiscent of fashions long gone.
"Probably 20 clicks or so." Marcus stared into the grey fragmented distance straining to see something not yet there. "Mean's we got time," He spit. "but don't let it run out."
Augustus waved a hand absently above his head to sign he understood.
Aside from staring at the large jagged windowpanes, Marcus could only pace the store while Augustus made up his mind. He ran his hands against the skeleton clothes display, tattered clothes on rusted hangers that jutted out like fresh bones. Mannequins stood around, immobile and naked except for rags that clung desperate and dirty. The blackened walls in the north side by the broken registers indicated a fire, but Marcus couldn't tell if it was caused by violence or survival.
"Know what kinda plant this is?" Augusts held out a bit of the fabric so Marcus could see the silhouetted print.
"No"
"Calla Lily. First plants they could figure out how to grow on Cera; Tough-ass greens, only a little bit of water keeps'em alive. Remember having a shit ton at the Cole Castle." Augusts let out an amused, but resigned breathe, like recovering something he'd lost, only to have it go missing again. "Yeah..."
He examined the flower print between his fingers as trying to squeeze nectar from it. "Two of these'll do." Augustus eyed Marcus. "Now how 'bout finding me some matching hats?"
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Two locusts crouched behind a crumbling wall after hearing soft noises floating near by. One hissed and the additional four scouts running behind dug themselves into niches, nervously, excitedly, clutching their weapons. They all sat still, listening to the same cooing noises repeat. The one that hissed edged an eye around a corner to see two figures sitting at a table with a large umbrella coming from it. It could see these figures were not soldiers, not men, but women, soft, fragile, women. An arid wind blew about the bright dresses they wore with shapes the locus couldn't recognize. Their faces were secrets behind large brimmed hats. So many to play with on emergence day, but now the men, the COGs protected them all. Locked them away.
It prepped its weapon and began to slide around the corner. The others made to move, but another hiss came; meaning for them to stay, and stating only it was allowed. As the other scouts settled, it hesitantly moved towards the soft noises, the bright dresses, the women.
"Cole?"
"Followin' him"
"Don't. You see where he came from?"
"Yup"
"How many can you take out once we start?"
Augustus adjusted the sight distance, and read the targets with a ready rifle. "Two, Three if one runs out"
Marcus lifted the safety on the detonator, "Let's hang'em."