"Why don't you take a look around to see what you need to get it started and I'll check the rest of the rooms?"
"Oh, my dad—"
"I'll let him know I assigned you to the plant room."
Tim was already starting to walk away, so Sawyer left. He wasn't sure what was going on with the man, but it wasn't his place to ask. He barely knew the guy. He didn't want to stick his nose in where it didn't belong.
Sawyer finished checking out all the rooms in the bunker before making his way back to the main room. He walked to the kitchenette. He dismantled everything except the coffee pot and carried it to the large industrial kitchen. If they had power, then they had a working stove and oven, and even a walk-in fridge and freezer. That meant better food with more variations.
He was in full support of electricity.
Now, if they could just get the plumbing going.
"How the hell did we get lights?"
Sawyer chuckled when he heard Roark's loud voice shouting from the main room. He walked a little faster as he went back down the corridor. He was happy that everyone was back home safe and sound, but he was thrilled that Stefan was back.
"Hey, Roark, glad to see you back. How did things go?" he asked as he walked into the room.
"We have lights," Roark said. "How?"
"Turns out Ralph and Tim are electricians."
"No kidding?" Roark chuckled. "Do they know anything about plumbing?"
Sawyer shook his head. "Sadly, no."
"Ah well, I guess we can't have everything."
Sawyer glanced beyond Roark. "Where's everyone else?"
"Bedding down the horses," Roark replied.
"Any problems?"
"Not exactly, but things didn't go quite like we expected."
Sawyer raised one eyebrow. "Oh?"
"We're still part of the ADF," Roark replied. "We're just kind of a different branch of the Allied Defense Force."
Sawyer's eye twitched. "Could you explain that?"
"After talking to a few people before going to our superiors, we decided that leaving the ADF would bring us more problems than it was worth. We still need contacts at the different settlements. If we're not part of the ADF, we'd be considered marauders."
Sawyer hadn't thought of that.
"We made it clear we would stay part of the ADF, even if it was mostly in name only, follow the rules set down by the ADF, and not cause problems for them with the understanding that they leave us alone."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I'm not thrilled by it, but I understand it. If we fully left the ADF, it would create as many problems for us as it would for them. This way, no scandal is started, and they leave us alone."
"Can you be sure they will keep their word?" Sawyer asked, because he very much doubted it.
"If they don't, they know what will happen."
Sawyer frowned. "What?"
