"Even if we were lucky enough to slip past them with every human survivor in tow," Elena added, her voice heavy, "we'd still be the only race left on the board to fight the Hiveminds. We'd be isolated."
Cissel was the last to speak, her eyes sharp. "We may have six thousand humans waiting for us in the southern regions of the pocket trial, but they are weak. They aren't organised, and they certainly aren't trained for what's coming," she said, effectively ending the debate.
"We can't expect much from them. We all saw what happened to us when we dropped into this hellhole. We suffered, we almost died. If not for sheer luck and having John on our side, we wouldn't have survived, let alone grown this strong. Don't pin your hopes on a miracle from them."
"But…" Luke started to argue, his idealistic streak still fighting for air.
John raised a hand, a simple gesture that instantly commanded the silence of the group. All eyes snapped to him.
