I have to wonder why it is that these aliens seem so confident.
They've got us here on this planet, doing their bidding. They're the ones in control of our lives.
But why are they so certain we won't rebel against them? Why aren't they more worried about us escaping?
I suppose that's because they think we're helpless, incapable of overpowering them or escaping even if we try.
Maybe they're right.
We're only humans, after all. Earth hasn't even landed people on another planet, and barely anyone on its own moon. How can we be expected to handle their tech or drive their ships, much less find our way home?
It...
The thought is depressing.
Dark.
A part of me feels like it's just.
Sinking into darkness thinking it. The air feels cold, suffocating. The emptiness pressing in around me...
"Sarah."
Eric nudges me, and I snap out of it, startled.
"Are you okay?"
"...I...yes." I say.
It's a lie and he can probably see through it.
I just don't have a good way of answering him.
He frowns, and shakes his head. "I'm not Mia." He mutters, voice low, a frown on his lips. He leans closer and his eyes narrow as he meets my own, so I can see how serious he is. "...But I know that face. That isn't okay. Don't say it is when it isn't."
Whoa.
He's close to my face.
His breath is on my skin.
He smells good.
...What.
I startle and quickly look away from him.
What he hell was that?! I was just staring at him.
"...Uh...I..." I stammer. "I..."
"Hey. Don't freak out on me the moment we get some kind of hope." He mutters, looking exasperated.
Hope.
Hope.
Right, hope. This is the first time we've had that since we've been taken.
...Maybe.
We're looking at the remnants of a group that's already failed once.
But-
Then again.
They may have failed but they're still here, right?
And...it's more than we've had since we got here. Proof that resistance is an option. Isn't it?
"Uh. Right. Yeah, I...I just..." I rub the back of my neck, cheeks burning, and I look away from Eric.
I'm still feeling flustered and embarrassed from earlier. I don't want to meet his eyes right now. My cheeks feel like they're burning, and my palms are sweaty.
I swallow and clear my throat. "Um. Okay." I mumble. "...Yeah."
Eric nods at me and then turns to look back at the older man who is sitting across from us. "So...what exactly is it that you want from us? The thing that only we can do? I'm guessing it's dangerous if you're bringing people who you don't know to do it."
The man gives a short laugh.
It's a hairsbreadth from mirthless.
"I'm not so cold-hearted." The older man snorts at us, and to me it sounds a lot like he is, actually, that cold. "I'm not sending you in on some kind of suicide mission."
He says. "...If anything, I'd say this is less dangerous than staying here. But I understand that it might not sound that way." His eyes are hard as he looks over at Eric again, before turning back towards me.
"It's simple enough. Right now you are allowed in that complex. They expect you to be there, and they don't expect you to know anything about us."
I purse my lips. "Why's that matter?"
The man sighs and shakes his head.
"If any of us go in there, there's a good chance we get caught, either trying to get in or trying to get out, and a better than average chance we get caught just wandering around there. At best it means we lose one of our people. Worst, they get tortured for information."
Torture...
I swallow.
Isn't that what they do to me every day anyway with those lessons...?
That's what I want to say but-
If that's what they do to try to get us to speak their language, I can't help but shiver at the thought of what they'd do to get information.
And Eric nods slowly.
"I...get that." He mutters. "So you want us to risk torture instead?"
The man shakes his head.
"Like I said, they've got no reason to suspect you and even if they think you're out of line, they won't know to ask you anything about us. You can move freely without suspicion. And if you play your cards right you can go just about anywhere in that place."
"...What exactly would you need us to get?" Eric asks, frowning.
"Anything. Everything. We've all been in the compound, but most of us haven't been to the sensitive areas. Only the ones who seem faithful and useful get there."
"What makes you think we can do that?" Eric deadpans.
The man shrugs. "I don't have much choice." He admits.
"We can't predict which parts of the wilderness they send their trainees out to. We've only gotten lucky they chose this forest while we happen to be here."
He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. "...It's hard. We haven't been able to make a move in a while. We've been in deadlock, just surviving and waiting for an opportunity. You're our opportunity. But. You're also your own opportunity."
He meets my eyes.
"...I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, and if you want to walk away right now and never talk to any of us again...that's your decision, too. It's safer. But I can't guarantee you that there'll ever be another chance to get back home. For either of us."
Eric lifts a hand with a sigh. "I get it. But you need to give us more than some generic 'everything'. What's your actual plan? What do you really need?"
His eyes narrow. "Don't give me the bull, I've had enough of that. And I'm not going to risk myself getting information you can't even use based on false hope."
The man sighs. "...We need maps, first off. Of the area, and of the galaxy. If we don't know where the Earth is in relation to the other planets, there's no way for us to figure out where we're going or how to get there."
He rubs his chin thoughtfully.
"There are people here who can read their schematics and schedules. People who can program a ship for us. If we can get one. And if we know where we're going. Good enough for you?"
Eric purses his lips. "We need a map to the Earth, a schedule of the ships leaving this planet, and control codes to take one of those ships. That it?"
The man crosses his arms and nods slowly. "Bare minimum. Anything else you can get will help."
Eric frowns and shakes his head. "Even if we can do it...how do we get in contact with you?"
The man draws in a breath.
"This is the first of two outings that trainees are given. The second one, for you, will be in one year." The man rolls his shoulders. "We know their patterns enough to know where they'll take you based on where they took you this time, so we will be able to meet with you then."
"...So we have a year to get the information?"
The man nods at Eric, face serious.
"There's no safe way to make contact sooner."
Eric sighs. "...Fine." He rubs the back of his neck. "...But I don't know how we'll find the things you want us to. I mean, they don't trust us with anything but shoving rocks around right now."
The man shrugs. "I don't expect miracles from either of you, but you have access. And a reason for them to take you places." The older man's voice is calm and even as he speaks.
Eric clicks his tongue.
"I guess." He mutters, not sounding happy.
But...
This really is the only hope we have, even if it'll take longer than I would like.
That's one more hope than I started this night with.