He grinned. “No offense taken. I’m pretty sure Chloe liked Kevin more than me at first.” He’d only recently gotten the sense he mattered to her. “Are we the only ones coming today?”
“No way to tell. People trickle in a few a week. Some meetings, we get as many as three or four, some days none.”
“Other survivors will be here,” Laurel said. “We take turns attending the meetings to welcome newcomers since we never know if anyone will show up, and we’re all working toward reestablishing a community. I’m a nurse. Along with the doc we were extremely fortunate to get, I tend to illnesses and injuries. I also prep houses for people to live in.”
“So, you’ve settled in Springfield?” Rok asked.
“Yes. We planned to travel the country in search of survivors then realized it would be easier to stay put and invite them to come to us,” she explained. “It wasn’t enough to meet people; we wished to establish a community.”
“When there are more of us, we’ll dispatch teams to nearby cities,” Grav said. “And then expand from there.”
“We assume people seeking to reconnect with others will venture to the urban areas—theformerurban centers. They’ll hide in rural areas first but then will seek out other people. Unfortunately, not everyone seeks to reconnect in a positive way.”
“Nor will everyone accept the invasion is over,” Grav added grimly.
“A few weeks ago, a colluder showed up,” Laurel explained. “Friendly at first, he returned with a Progg. Grav intercepted them and took care of the situation.”
His brother patted his holstered weapon and glanced at the one on Rok’s hip. Thankfully, he’d retrieved it after Chloe had thrown it away. Not only did he prefer to be armed, but if they hadn’t gone back for it, he might not have found his brother.
Laurel cocked her head. “What was that?”
“What was what?” Grav asked.
“I thought I heard a crack.” She paused. “There’s another one.”
He shook his head. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Me either,” Rok said.
She shrugged. “Guess I imagined it.”
“It’s critical we spread the news the campaign is over, and none of us are going home,” Grav continued. “I’d gone scouting for a new location when I got word Admiral Drek had taken ill and was shuttling to the command ship for treatment. Before he died, he infected the entire crew and observers from the General Ministry, who shuttled back to Progg-Res.”
“Oh, Zok…” It would have spread…
Grav nodded. “My last communique reported millions had sickened and died. Shortly thereafter, the command ship pulled out. I don’t know if it ever got to Progg-Res. Those left behind were to abort the campaign and avoid humans. I think the concern was that they would catch the plague.”
“My unit didn’t receive the message,” Rok said. “I doubt other units did either.”
“I’m pretty sure Progg-Res is in chaos. The information came through on my private channel. Then my comm device stopped working.”
“If the command ship isn’t there, the comms don’t work either.”
“Right.” Grav nodded.
“So, we get the plague from humans, but they don’t get it?” he asked.
“We do, but it’s not usually fatal,” Laurel said. “Most people feel crappy for a few days, and then they recover. Damon—he’s the doctor—and I debate whether it’s the common cold or the flu or maybe COVID. Nobody—nobody human—dies of a cold. Influenza can kill the weak and vulnerable, but most survive. Same for COVID.”
“Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!”Kevin tore down the aisle, a leash trailing from his harness.“Ruff! Ruff!”The dog halted in front of him and continued to bark.
“Quiet!” Rok said. “Sorry. He doesn’t usually do this.” He reached for the leash, but Kevin darted out of reach.
“Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!”
“Kevin, stop it.” He moved toward him.
The dog darted up the aisle, halted, and barked.
