The meeting goes smoothly. There aren't any questions from me. I have them, but they all get answered by someone else before I have to ask them.
The plans are laid out and simple. There are two main teams - the group of us who will slip into the compound with the transport ship, and the one that stays back here and prepares the base and everyone in it.
According to the information that Ivan has, the transport ship is more than big enough to house everyone in this base.
The plan is simple enough, I guess. We sneak through the compound, Sinead inputs a code that she's somehow managed to procure to unlock the ship, and then Mia - apparently - will help Ivan and the others pilot the ship.
I'd think that it makes sense for there to be as few people on that team as possible but...
It's because we only get one chance.
If something goes wrong.
If they need to be held off, or distracted, if we get scattered, if...
Anything happens.
We're supposed to get to the ship. Whoever is left. Even if we're not sure what we're doing with it, it's still better than not getting our hands on the ship.
That's...
That's terrifying, frankly.
If it's me - if somehow it were me - there's nothing I can do. I'll be pushing random buttons. And...
Truthfully, it's more likely that if something goes wrong, I won't be the one making it to the ship.
I swallow.
That's.
I could wait here.
For rescue.
I could wait and be rescued with everyone else, and hope that it all goes well.
But I've done so little all this time. I've barely been any help at all. And Eric and Mia are going.
Even Hestia wants to go.
I can't just stay here where it's safe and quiet and let everyone else take all the risks and get hurt trying to save me. I can't do that. I won't do that.
And besides-
I'd go insane waiting. Not knowing.
Not knowing when or if the ship will appear, or if somehow the aliens will break down the doors and come for us after all.
It...
It feels less like safety and more like being a sitting duck, the more I think about it.
There isn't any safe path today. Nothing that isn't walking back to the processing camp and giving up all hope of getting home, at any rate.
I stare down at my hands.
We're still sitting.
Peter drew up maps for us to memorize before we go in. This place we're going isn't the place we were held for a year now. Or...two?
Has it been that long...?
No, no, it...
It doesn't matter right now.
This place we're going, I don't know anything about it. Apparently the information Mia brought Ivan when we got here allowed him to skip the step of the plan of breaking into that place for information and go to this second one.
Which vastly improves our chances already. We're not just walking back into our prison cells this way, at least. And there's less chances for things to go wrong.
Nothing is going to go wrong.
That's.
What I need to think about.
That's what I need to be...
Certain about.
We won't lose. We won't die. We're going to succeed at this.
And...
And we're all going to go home.
I bite the inside of my cheek.
There's dozens, maybe a hundred or more humans captive in the place we came from still. We can't go back for any of them. The ship won't be able to hold everyone, and even if we tried to take everyone we can - had some system to fairly do that without causing pandemonium...
Well, going into enemy territory again would be asking to be shot down.
This only works because it's a surprise. Because we're going to hit them with everything, steal what we need, and be gone before their guard can be up and they can respond properly.
Even then there's problems. Like what happens after we're in space. What happens if there's some kind of defenses or blockades, or if they chase us--
But...
No.
No.
They won't.
Ivan is right about that. We're just slaves. Barely better than livestock to these beings. All that effort just isn't worth it to get back a handful of escapees that have been out of their system for so long and a thorn in their side anyway.
I want...
I want to believe that maybe we can come back for everyone here. Once we get back to Earth. I bet Ivan will go to the president - no, the UN - and tell them. And with the space ship, the witnesses, the logs...
It's undeniable.
Maybe we'll be able to do something. Something to defend ourselves if they ever come back for us again, at least. Something so that I can step outside ever again, without looking up at the stars in fear.
So I won't flinch at every passing headlight in my window.
And maybe...
Who knows, governments have more tech they always hide, right? Maybe they'll somehow backward engineer the ship and then they'll send people - not me. Trained military men - to come and rescue the people here.
It could happen.
But none of that...
None of it will if we don't go back first. I can't be scared of losing my safety if I haven't gotten it back yet.
So this. This is necessary. And we can-
We will do it.
We have to.
Eric elbows me lightly. I glance up. Everyone else is gone, filing out, or in the process of doing so.
"...You're sure about coming with?" His voice is low.
"Of course I am." My voice sounds firm. Confident.
I'm impressed how good it sounds when it feels like my teeth will rattle out of my head and my stomach will leap out of my body.
He offers a smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"Let's get moving, then. We don't want to be the ones who make the group late, right?"
I laugh, but it's hollow and nervous, and the sound catches in my throat.
Guess that was just a bit too far a stretch.
He doesn't say anything else to that. Just moves and stands up. Mia is standing near the door, looking at the both of us.
We're the only three in the room, other than Hestia. Who is leaning against my leg, holding it and looking up at me.
Mia offers a smile. It looks like she's trying to encourage us.
"...Let's get moving." My voice is soft.
Eric doesn't look any less nervous. He doesn't argue though. Just moves to the door.
Hestia trails me closely. She's like my shadow as I follow the two of them.
And...
We're out.