Field Mice
4. Home, or Far From It
"Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"Still watching the clock?"
"Yeah."
"How many hours we got?"
"…Two."
Pause.
"Oh. G'night."
"Night, Ty."
---
"So it wasn't so bad, you know," Sara accredited, "Beats work. A little adventure is good for the soul and all."
"So they say," Angela grinned, "Sad to see you go, though. I mean, everyone is pretty fond of you. Except- um, I've never seen Elijah turn that shade of purple before. But that... had to be good for him. Somehow."
Sara wrinkled her nose, "I dunno, I think he hates me now."
"Oh, no, Hon; he doesn't really like women, is all."
"Oh." thinking about this for a moment, the younger girl asked, all innocence that wasn't innocence, "So he likes men?"
"Uh," Angie could only answer something that sugary-sweet honestly, "Well not like that, that I know of anyway. He's... completely terrified of women, is all."
"Weird."
At that moment, Hein chose to make his morning appearance to the dining chamber. He had spent the ungodly hours of the AM collecting his wits for the day's assignment, and now he needed coffee. Coffee was good, and the supply was getting low, which meant he had to get to it before everyone else, especially if he was going to take on a daring new mission-type. Yep. Coffee was good.
"I've..." Angela glanced at Hein as he rummaged the shelves, "Huh. I've got to get back to work on the plants. Good luck with getting back home and all."
"Thanks! You... um, good luck to you, too!"
"Later, Commander."
"Mmhmph."
At length, Hein glanced over his shoulder. Sara was sitting at the near table, staring adorably in that... strange... innocent way she had. He had managed to mostly avoid her for the full three and a half weeks since she had arrived. Groaning inwardly, he collected his precious coffee and settled himself into the chair across from her.
And so they sat, staring. Minutes ticked by in silence. There was... nothing to say.
"So," Hein tried at length, "Tell me about yourself."
Sara merely shrugged.
---
The plan was simple: rendezvous with Councilman Auberon and his escort; drop off Sara; escape under an oath of truce; and, finally, immediately violate said truce in order to bring home the month's supplies.
Hein hated it, but they risked well enough so far in contacting Auberon. And maybe, as was the thinking of his peers, Sara could do some convincing that the rebels weren't all bad. The Commander only hoped that Auberon could protect her if she decided to even try it. The old man was one of the most influential men in their sector, sure, but it wasn't like men more powerful had been spared death for being significant.
Shaking off his doubts, he took stock. Elijah was flanking him left; Tyler was flanking Sara, to his right. Two others – Llorin and Rad, were hidden to keep in communication with Sub-commander Zinan, who was orchestrating the impending raid, somewhere on one of the tiers below... The abandoned section of street on the very edge of the city was pockmarked with debris. The old structural supports reached into the sky like skeletal fingers.
The sun was nearing zenith, and Auberon stepped from the shadows of the old, dead offices and homes and businesses that no longer were. He stared at his granddaughter for a moment, and, stony expression not changing, turned that gaze to the Hein.
"You're look healthy, Commander."
"Strangely," Hein laughed, "Curses will do that to a man, it seems."
Elijah started, looking up. Skeptical, he slinked around Hein for a better, less suspect look, but Auberon had turned his attention back to Sara.
"You alright, princess?"
"Yeah! These people are like, the nicest in the world...!"
And so she rambled off, slow to step forward as she recounted numerous things that had happened. Hein grimaced at the sheer... embellishing of the story. Behind him, Elijah fidgeted relentlessly.
"Commander," the young man hissed, "That's hi-"
The accusation went unstated, for at that moment Auberon turned away, ignoring Sara's Hey! at being ignored, and there was a movement of the shadows. The world blurred to adrenaline.