The following days were filled with preparation. Ripler joined them at the second floor labyrinth they had temporarily converted into a meeting space for planning the Sub-Space expedition.
They already knew they would be jumping on the rats' backs, but that didn't mean they could skip the groundwork. Thorough preparation was essential for what lay ahead.
They spent several days training to get their bodies back into fighting shape. Ripler in particular was rusty after only a few days of rest, his muscles protesting the renewed exertion.
They also gathered supplies. Food was their primary concern, given the uncertainty of what they might find in the Sub-Space. Beyond that, they repaired their armor using Benny's collection of mutated scorpion carapaces. The patches were crude, but they held. None of them claimed to be a blacksmith, though that would prove to be an interesting assumption later.
Eventually, the others who had partially regained their sanity began to notice their movements. It wasn't that the group tried to hide what they were doing. The others had simply been too consumed by their own dark thoughts to pay attention.
But now they saw it. There was a jovial bounce in the group's steps, an enthusiasm in their voices that seemed impossible given their circumstances. How could they be so energized? The question lingered in the survivors' minds, but none of them had the energy to ask. They were exhausted, worn down to the bone. Besides, it was just the leader Gustav, Meredith, and Ripler along with that coward Benny, who they'd assumed was dead after they let him run off alone. What could have possibly changed?
Despite their focus on the expedition, the enthusiastic group still made time to check on the first floor sanctuary where most of the survivors remained. They cooked meals together, brought fresh meat from time to time, and even encouraged the others to overcome their fears. Their unsolicited advice, which nobody had asked for, managed to irk more than a few people.
After these brief check-ins, it was finally time. They assembled at the meeting point, fully armed and carrying their own packs. Even Benny had a bag, though it carried whatever few belongings he owned. He hadn't had much to begin with.
One of the survivors grew curious enough to voice the question on everyone's mind. "Where are you all going?"
Gustav answered for the group. "We'll be exploring the cave."
The vague response was intentional. They didn't want to give anyone false hope. Whatever would happened in there, they would be the ones to risk their sanity and life for it.
They left and arrived at their usual spot, a massive boulder that offered a significant height advantage for observing the mutated rats' movements below.
They waited there for several minutes until the rats appeared. Gustav looked at each of his teammates in turn, his eyes asking the silent question: are you ready? He made no sound, letting his gaze speak for him. They responded with quiet nods as they watched the last four rats approach the entrance.
The final rat in the group was about to enter the space when Benny and the rest jumped onto their backs. Their timing was perfect. The rats were already so close to the entrance that they couldn't react in time.
They were entering a new world, at least for the three who had never been there before. The moment also proved that Benny's past experiences weren't false after all. It wasn't delusion or hallucination. It was all real. But before any of them could fully process what they were seeing, they jumped off the rats back, who were just beginning to sense something was wrong.
As quickly as they had appeared, they vanished.
The four rats would be confused, no doubt. The intruders smelled like their own kind since Benny and the others wore rat hide, but when the rats searched, they found no one. There were no other rats on their backs, no signs of the presence they had sensed moments before.
Meanwhile, Benny and the rest stood transfixed. For three of them, this was their first time seeing the Sub-Space with their own eyes. Even Benny acted fascinated, still amazed that such a place truly existed despite having been here before.
Rain fell steadily across the strange landscape. They needed shelter, somewhere to set up a temporary base. They would likely be here for a while, studying this place and whatever secrets it held.
They moved quickly, leaving the confused rats behind as they searched for cover.