p class="MsoNormal"The landscape stood out against the beach. The forests and the hills beyond where they had landed would be explored soon. They just had to find enough people ready and willing to make the trip. That was proving harder than it was already previously anticipated. They had not forgotten the traumas of the maze and what had happened to them all since their 'liberation' by WICKED's forces. But that mattered not to them as they all started to adjust to life in the safe haven. The first week or so had been tough, but Vance and the others had made life there just a little bit more bearable for them as they settled into a routine. They had found a freshwater source within the first couple of days relatively close by to their living area. The living area itself wasn't much, just a few beds strung together and an area for eating. They also had an area for klunking and an area for cooking, those two being nowhere near each other. But it felt more like a home that Thomas had felt since the Glade./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He was walking back to camp with Brenda, just bantering her and joking around. Eventually they reached the central complex where the cooking and eating areas stood. Minho looked up from where he was eating/p
p class="MsoNormal"'Frypan's cooking doesn't get any better does it?' he said with a smirk on his face./p
p class="MsoNormal"'I heard that shank' Frypan called from the kitchen. 'Look forward to a little extra in your food tomorrow that's all I'm saying!'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'It would make it taste better' Minho said and we all laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal"'What's up?' he asked and then noticed their hands locked together. 'Did this finally become a thing then?'/p
p class="MsoNormal"Thomas and Brenda both looked down to where Minho's gaze was directed and quickly unlaced hands. Minho laughed again at this./p
p class="MsoNormal"'Evidently not' he said. 'Anyway, it's meeting time. Vance wants to see me, you two, and Jorge.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'What for?' Thomas asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'It's exploring time' replied Minho. 'We're finally gonna go and explore at least a little bit of what this place has to offer beyond the freshwater lake at least. From what I've heard, he wants the both of us on his team and he wants to use our technique of mapping and running the maze to help us./p
p class="MsoNormal"'That sounds great' said Thomas 'Where do we sign up?'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'Come with me and you'll see' Minho says and they headed towards what had become the area where decisions were made. The cockpit as it had effectively been dubbed./p
p class="MsoNormal"'Ah Thomas, Minho, Brenda' said Vance. 'Come on in. We have business to attend to.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'That we do' Thomas said. 'You wanna start exploring and mapping this place then?'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'Yes we do' said Vance. 'Is there anyone besides yourselves you think would be good to come with us./p
p class="MsoNormal"'Frypan' he said immediately. 'Been with us since the maze and is a reliable person.'/p
p class="MsoNormal"'Good' said Vance. 'Let's get him on board then. I'll assemble some more people to join us and we leave at sunrise…'/p