Chain Reaction

Chapter sixteen – moving on

What if, in the escape of '09, Max hadn't escaped with the others? What if Jondy had tried to save her when she fell in the ice, but in the end they both got caught?

…

'10

Ten minutes before sunset, Star gently shook Micah to wake him up, and together they walked back to the sleeping area. They woke up Syl and Krit, who were curled up together under the table, and called Tinga in from where she was watching Zack.

"We need to get out of here soon," Star began. "As soon as the sun goes all the way down, three of us should go and scrounge some food and clothes and anything else that we need. The other two will stay here and pack up what we do have."

"Star?"

"Yeah Syl?"

"Who's going to be in command now? You?"

"Me? No, someone else should be."

"But you are the best commander of all of us out here, except maybe Zack. And who knows, you might even be better than him. You should be commander."

"But...I can't be commander. Ben should be, or Tinga."

"I couldn't be commander, Star." Tinga put in. "I'm not any good at commanding. I would rather follow the others, or do my own thing. But you, Star, you want to command. You like commanding. You like to be in charge. Like here, you're the one who has set all this up, given all the orders, made all the decisions."

"But...I can't be. I'm the youngest. The commander should be the oldest, or the closest to the oldest. Not the youngest."

"You may be the youngest Star," Krit interrupted, "But you're the best commander. We all know that, heck, even Zack knows that you're nearly as good as him. And some day, you will be better than him. You deserve this. Like Tinga said, you want to command. In fact, you need to command."

"But..."

"Star." Micah said gently. "Do this for us. You will be the best commander we have ever had. You will look after us, and make sure we're not found. Do this for me?"

"I still don't think I should. But, if you want me to..."

"We do."

"Then I will. I'll try. But if Zack wants his role back, then he can have it. Ok?"

"We suppose so." Tinga replied.

"Well, now that we've got that settled," Krit added, "who gets to go into town, and who stays?"

"You're staying Star. I won't let you go, not with your leg. And I'll stay here with you." Micah said.

"Then you and I will stay, and Tinga, Krit and Syl can go into town to scrounge. Ok with you three?"

"Fine with me."

"And me."

"And me. Let's go then."

"Wait a minute." Star called out, as they began to leave, "Only take what food we need, no more. We're going to go towards Seattle, so get enough to last us for a couple of days. If you find decent clothing that will fit any of us, however, take as much as you can get. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am," the three replied, smiling, as they each saluted.

"Get out of here!" Star mock scolded, watching as they walked out of the warehouse. Once they had, she turned back to Micah, who was staring at her.

"What?" She asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing."

"Micah?"

"What? I didn't do anything."

"You were staring at me. What for?"

"I wasn't staring."

"Yes you were. Now tell me what for?"

"I wasn't staring."

"Tell."

"No."

"That's it. You're gone."

With that, Star tackled Micah, and pinned him to the ground. Pulling a feather out of her pocket, she waved it in front of his face.

"Oh no. Please no, not the feather." Micah pleaded.

"Tell me then."

Seeing the determined look on Micah's face, Star gently ran the feather under Micah's chin. Watching him try to keep the laughter in, she lifted his shirt up, and rubbed it over his stomach. Micah burst out laughing, and squirmed underneath Star, trying to get away. Mercilessly, Star rubbed it up his sides, and then along his arms, before turning her body around, and tickling his bare feet.

"Stop...please...Star!"

Turning back to face him, Star held the feather in front of his face.

"Only if you tell why you were staring."

"I wasn't..."

Star cut him off by flicking his nose with the feather.

"I saw you staring at me just before, so don't say that you weren't Micah. Now, tell me why you were staring."

"Okay, okay. I was staring because, well because you told me you didn't know where we we're going to go, and now your saying that we're going to Seattle."

"Is that the real reason Micah?" Star asked, waving the feather on front of his eyes.

"Well...okay it's not. I was just amazed at how you take over the role of Zack so easily, and how good you looked while you were doing it." Micah burst out, all the words jumbled together.

"You really think I've taken over already?" Star asked, having understood every word.

"Kinda."

Sighing, Star placed the feather back into her pocket, before getting up and helping Micah to his feet.

"Come on Micah, let's get all the stuff packed up ready to leave. Then we can do nothing."

"Okay."

…

(An hour later)

Star watched as Tinga, Krit and Syl walked through the door, each with a new bag on their backs, and each carrying another bag. Shifting Micah so that he was lying on the ground, Star got up and walked over to them, waiting until they put the bags down before speaking to them.

"What did you find?"

"We got six backpacks, one for each of us, and there's heaps of clothes in there, and some food. Mostly some bread and cereal and things like that." Tinga replied.

"Did you think to get some kind of drinks?"

"Yeah," Syl replied, "We must've gotten about eight bottles of water, which should be more'n enough to last us till Seattle."

"Good. Anything else useful?"

"Well, we got a couple of guns stashed away somewhere here, there's three of them I think, and a couple of clips of bullets for each. That's about it. Did you and Micah pack up all our stuff?"

"Yeah. Didn't take us long, and Micah's gone back to sleep again. I don't want to wake him just yet. But speaking of waking people, we need to wake Zack soon. First, though, I want to split up all the supplies so that each person is carrying what they alone will need. The three guns will go to me for the minute, until I decide who gets them."

…

(Ten minutes later)

Star stood up from where she was kneeling, having finished packing the last of the bags full of supplies. Picking up the three guns from where they sat, she put one in her pants pocket, tucked one into the front of her waistband, and the last in the back of her waistband. Looking around, she found Tinga, Krit and Syl staring at her.

"What is it with people and staring at me today?"

"Well..." Krit began.

"We, well I was just thinking how easily you've taken over the role of CO, and how well your doing so far." Tinga cut in.

"Oh. Ok." Star started. "Now, we need to leave now, so I need one of you three to go wake Zack up. Who will?"

"I will," Tinga offered.

"Ok. Krit, Syl, I need each of you to take a bag, and go out the front and scout around, make sure that there is no one watching us."

"Ok." Krit replied as he and Syl grabbed a bag each and left. Star waited until they were out the door, before walking over to where she had left Micah sleeping. She knelt down next to him, but before she could do anything, she heard Tinga call out her name frantically. Star got up, and ran as fast as her leg would allow into the next room, to find Tinga backed up against one of the walls, with Zack standing in front of her, holding a knife.

"Zack!" Star cried as she hurried over and pulled Zack backwards, which caused her to trip and fall backwards, pulling Zack down as well. He tried to get up, but Star grabbed his arm, holding him back.

"Tinga, get the knife!"

Tinga snatched the knife out of Zack's hand, and shoved it into her pocket. Star let go of his arm, and Zack fell back down, giving Tinga the opportunity to kick him in the stomach. He curled up, and rolled off Star, allowing Star to sit up.

"Zack?" Star called. "It's me, Star. And Tinga. You have to listen to us. We're not the enemy."

"I know." Zack said weakly.

"Then why did you attack?"

"I...I just, I don't know why. It was like my brain was saying one thing, but my body was doing something else. I haven't hurt you have I?"

"Not this time."

"I'm sorry Star. I really am."

"I know you are. But that's not the point. We need to get out of here, get to somewhere safer. You are coming with us. We're going to Seattle."

"I can't be near you. I will just hurt you. I'm not fit to be your CO any more."

"If you're unfit to be CO then Zack, who will take your place?" Star asked, sending a look toward Tinga to keep quiet.

"You Star. You are the new CO. I want you to be. You're the best. You'll do good. I know you will."

Tinga shot Star a return look, plainly telling her, I told you so.

"You have to get up now Zack. We need to leave."

"You'll be CO?"

"Yes Zack. I will. But if you ever want to be CO again, you can, you know that?"

"You can't let me. I would just get you found, or killed. I can't be your CO. You are now, and for ever."

"I understand."

Zack got up, and walked over to Star, and held out a hand to help her up.

"Thanks." She murmured, as Zack pulled her up. "Let's get going."

Tinga, Zack and Star walked back out to the other room, and each picked up a bag.

"Where's Micah?" Tinga asked.

"He's still asleep. I don't want to wake him, because he doesn't get much sleep, so I'll carry him. I need one of you to take his bag for now."

"I will," Zack quickly offered, "It's all I can do now."

Star walked back to where Micah was sleeping, and gently lifted him up, cradling him in her arms. She then walked out the front, to where the other four were waiting for her. Star began walking, and Tinga and Zack fell in behind her, leaving Syl and Krit to keep up the rear. Together, they walked out into the street, leaving the warehouse behind.