Chapter 9: Riebeck
The forest roars.
It's a sensory onslaught, one that catches Riebeck off-guard whenever the wind picks up. It's an odd feeling, like dunking their head under a waterfall. But they'll take it over the rumble of stone giving way, the feeling of not being able to trust the ground beneath their feet, any day. At least the roots have stopped attacking. Well, they don't seem to be growing above the lowest floor of the ruins, and Riebeck's Little Scout informs them that the upper floors are still stable. Stable enough. It may be only their imagination, but are there a few more cracks in the walls than there were before?
…Perhaps it's best not to think too hard about that.
The atmosphere on the landing pad is… subdued. The trio check each others' suits in silence. By some miracle, Gabbro's oxygen tank is merely scratched from their fall. Their line must have been knocked loose in the chaos; their eyes are rimmed red, their voice rough from the fumes in the cave, and from calling Feldspar's name over and over on the signalscope. Chert patches up the scrapes with resin tape, and checks - double-checks - that everything works as it should. As soon as they're done, Gabbro rises to their feet, squaring their shoulders.
"I'm going to go find them." They say it so matter-of-factly that it takes Riebeck a moment to process what they've heard.
"Gabbro, you can't go back down there!" Chert jumps up, dropping the roll of tape in shock. "You're in no condition to launch a rescue mission."
"I'm not going down there." Gabbro juts their chin toward the sea of red leaves that surrounds the ruin. Already Lumen 282-b sinks toward the horizon, turning the sky purple. "The lower levels might be blocked off now, but there could be another way into that cave, somewhere out there. Stars, maybe Feldspar…" They swallow hard. "Maybe they found another way out."
But wouldn't we have heard them on the signalscope by now? The words are on the tip of Riebeck's tongue, but they swallow them, appalled with themself. But judging by the look on their face, Chert is thinking along the same lines.
"At least take some time to recover. You're not breathing right."
"We don't have time. Feldspar's oxygen won't last forever. You've seen what that poisoned air does." They don't say what everyone knows, deep in their hearts; that there's no way an oxygen tank could have lasted this long.
"Look," they huff, frustration etched into their features, "we're alive because Feldspar bought us time to escape. They didn't have to do that, but they did. Do you want to give up on them now? Do you want to tell Hornfels we left them behind?"
There's a long, painful pause.
In the end, it's Chert who looks away first.
"This is crazy," they mutter, shaking their head. They turn on their heel and walk back to Traveler-4. Gabbro watches them go, fatigue and disappointment dragging their shoulders down. But when they turn to Riebeck, they've schooled their expression into something neutral.
"You don't have to come. Chert's right, this is probably stupid, and risky, and pointless, and… well, I don't know." They say it so kindly that Riebeck is halfway through nodding when it hits them - Gabbro doesn't expect them to come. After all, they've already lost someone today. And who knows what might be out there, in those endless woods?
Shame pools in their belly, like that disgusting sludge in the cave. Riebeck, the timid one. The weak one. The coward, scared of their own shadow. Who would ever expect them to go willingly into danger? They'd even been on the verge of dropping out of the mission, before the launch.
There's a fire burning behind their hearts as they stand, drawing themself up to their full height. "Of course I'm coming," they say flatly. "Feldspar needs us." Is that surprise or gratitude in the smile Gabbro gives them? Riebeck decides they don't want to know.
They gather supplies from Traveler-2, or at least what they can carry - a first-aid kit, some packets of food, rolled blankets in case they need to make camp. Gabbro carefully avoids looking in the direction of Traveler-4.
Descending the vine-swaddled exterior of the ruin is easier than wandering the maze of hallways searching for an exit. Gabbro takes a winding path down each crumbling tier, painstakingly testing every hand and foothold, murmuring encouragement to Riebeck as they go. It's unnerving, scrambling over plants that may or may not come alive at any moment and attack. But no, they remain inert, and Riebeck thanks their lucky stars. They're not sure their nerves can handle any more of that. Already they're certain their nightmares from now on will be filled with white, grasping things.
They reach the tree line, Lumenlight giving way to dappled red shadows. What had been a balmy day turns to red-tinted twilight. The oddly shaped moon passes overhead. Its crystalline insides catch the light, glittering in the deepening sky. Riebeck follows it until it disappears behind a spire.
"Hey!" They start as a small figure appears at the ledge right above them. Stars, where did they come from? "Wait for me!"
"Chert?" Gabbro looks just as surprised as Riebeck feels, though given the way their eyes light up, it's for different reasons. Riebeck turns away to hide a smile.
"Really, Gabbro! Couldn't you two wait five minutes? Honestly…" Chert carries on muttering crossly to themself as they pick their way down the wall. It's not a difficult climb. The others know better than to offer a hand.
"I had to grab a new Little Scout, since mine got buried in that death-trap downstairs," their friend explains, once they're safely on the ground again. Their space suit and face are streaked with dust. The look Gabbro gives them is so tender Riebeck wonders if they should give the pair a moment alone.
"Oh. Well… I'm glad you're here."
Chert just lets out an exasperated huff. "Oh, stop that. I still think this is a terrible idea. But… yes. Well." They shuffle their feet awkwardly. "Anyway, let's get moving. The light's fading, and we've got an idiot to rescue."
·◊◊◊·
Amongst the trees, where the wind carries the scent of fallen leaves and healthy soil, Riebeck should, by all rights, feel at home. But with every branch that rustles and twig that snaps underfoot, they tense, waiting for the ground to start trembling again. And there's a tangible sense of being watched that they simply cannot shake off. But the thought of Feldspar all alone, maybe hurt, is worse than the thought of what else might be out there, so they keep their mouth shut.
The ruins sprawl further beneath the trees than the astronauts had first realized, though only a few broken pieces remain on the forest floor. A corner of a wall here, a twisted path there, overgrown and shattered. Tiny shards of purplish gemstone glint in the cracks.
"What are we supposed to be looking for?" says Chert, hurrying to keep up with Gabbro's determined, long-limbed strides.
"I… honestly? No idea," Gabbro admits. "Some way to get underground. An old well, or something? Did the people here even have those?"
"I suppose we'll find out," Chert replies doubtfully.
An hour passes, and then another. They circle the ruined city in ever-widening circles, lighting up the forest with their Little Scouts, yet finding nothing. The crumbling stone gives way to untouched wilderness, and velvety darkness folds in as night falls. Their torches barely seem to make a difference. And without being able to see the branches overhead rustling in the wind, the sound seems to be everywhere at once. It makes Riebeck feel very small indeed.
It's not long before Gabbro starts to lag behind. "I'm okay," they insist, between shallow breaths. "I just gotta keep moving."
Chert purses their lips, ears wilting. "Perhaps we should stop for a moment. Let me check you over-"
"That's sweet of you, Chert, but I'm fine. Trust me."
They're not fine. None of this is fine. Even by torchlight, Riebeck can see the strain on Gabbro's face, and Chert's helpless expression. They have to do something.
"Um, actually…" they raise a hand, cheeks warming as the others turn to look at them, as if they'd forgotten Riebeck was there. "I really could use a break."
"Oh stars, I'm sorry, bud. I wasn't thinking." Gabbro rubs a weary hand across their face. "Let's take ten. I'll… I'll keep calling Feldspar on the signalscope."
Riebeck nods, and they don't have to feign their relief. And out of the corner of their eye, Chert mouths something at them that looks a lot like thank you.
·◊◊◊·
When they find the mine, Riebeck's first thought is oh, sweet Hearth. We did it. Their second thought is a less happy one; oh no, we have to go down there?
The trees abruptly give way to a wide, shallow pit. The dirt is barren, ashy, with an oily sheen that catches the torchlight. Mounds of dark rocks lie abandoned around the pit's edge. And, in the distance, an inky shape rises from the tree line, blotting out the stars. The ruin, not so far off after all. There's a familiar acidic taste to the air. Without a word, Gabbro puts on their helmet, and seals their suit. The others do the same.
The mine entrance proper is a stone-reinforced tunnel set into the side of the pit. Rails, broken and twisted, emerge from its yawning mouth. A few yards away, a solid-looking wheeled contraption lies on its side. Riebeck gives it a wide berth, but even so, they can see how badly pitted and dented it is.
"What happened h- augh!" A wail of terror bursts from their lips as something hooks around their ankle. They stumble and right themself, their torch beam swinging wildly back and forth. "Something's got me!"
In a blink the others are at their side. But nothing shoots out of the ground to attack them. If anything, with their helmet to shut them off from the roar of the wind, the forest seems strangely still. As if it's holding its breath. Gabbro shines their torch around Riebeck's feet and lets out a quiet, relieved laugh.
"Just a bit of old metal," they rasp. "The trees must have forced it up out of the ground."
"Oh," says Riebeck, feeling foolish. Stupid, clumsy- "Sorry. I just - I panicked."
"We're all on edge," says Chert kindly, and Riebeck is suddenly glad of their helmet, so they don't have to meet their eyes. It's one thing to embarrass themself, but it's quite another for the others to be so nice about it. As if Riebeck's mistakes haven't already cost them enough already.
But this is no time for self-pity. The mine entrance awaits.
They huddle together, for comfort or for safety or both. Riebeck can feel the dirt shifting underfoot, even though they can't hear it. They do their best to tread lightly, their skin crawling. As the tunnel swallows them up, their torch beam catches on swirling eddies of dust. It hangs in the air, reflecting the light back at them. It's disorienting - they would have preferred total darkness.
Then, out of this blinding cloud -
Roots.
A whole fleshy mass of them, entangled in a mass of fallen rocks. Three pairs of footsteps falter, and fall still. The tunnel ahead is caved in completely. There's no way in. And no way out.
And yet.
Something else gleams amongst the debris. Gabbro drops into a crouch, wraps their hands around it, and carefully levers it free. It's badly crushed, but its shape is unmistakable.
"No," Riebeck breathes.
"Oh. Oh, no." Chert's voice cracks. "Poor Feldspar."
Gabbro says nothing. What is there to say? They stand stiffly, Feldspar's signalscope dangling from their fingers. Head bowed under the weight of their exhaustion and this new, bone-deep ache of loss.
Feldspar would make a sarcastic comment right about now. Without them, the silence feels empty. Riebeck wants desperately to fill it, but their tongue is leaden in their mouth. The thought of making the long trek back to the Traveler without them makes their knees tremble. Without Feldspar, space feels suddenly… bigger. Emptier. And so much colder.
"Gabbro?" Chert says suddenly. "What are you doing?"
Wordlessly, Gabbro raises the mangled signalscope over their head, and smashes it into the tangle of roots as hard as they can.