“I don’t think we should go directly to the dome. The truck could be heading there. We don’t know if the rebels are from the dome or the tunnels, but they may be looking for us to head to the dome since that was the original plan. Like you said before, we’ll have to change our plans, do something unexpected.”
“So we’re going to the subway first.”
“Yes, but we should use a different entrance than might be expected. Do you know of another one we can reach from here?”
“Yeah, we can take the East entrance. It’s further away from the nearest dome. How are we going to contact the commander and let them know what happened?”
“We’re not, at least not right away. The rebels think they left us here to die in the storm, so they’re not expecting us to show up, and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible. I’ll contact the commander once we reach the tribe. I’m actually hesitant to do that right away.”
“Why?”
“Someone on the strategy planning level must have revealed where we would land. We were set up. If we can discover those rebels, we might be able to find out who the Drastan traitors are.”
“How do you think we’ll find the rebels?”
“I injured one of them pretty bad. He’ll be searching for treatment.”
“That’s right. It looks like there might be another storm coming this way. We need to leave now if we hope to make it to the city before it strikes.”
They walked side by side and Nix couldn’t stop looking at the barren area. A desert stretched out in all directions, surrounding a outcropping of broken down buildings. The city looked like a mirage, one that spoke of destruction and death. The wasteland of sand and cracked earth would not support life of any kind for many decades to come. If there was any water, it would have to be underground, deep below. She didn’t understand why the people of Earth wouldn’t jump at the chance to be relocated to a more suitable planet, or even to go to Drasta.
“You’re in deep thought over there. What’s on your mind?”
“I was just thinking, I don’t understand why anyone would choose to stay here when the surface of the planet is uninhabitable.”
“It’s our home. We were so divided—race to race and country to country. Even after the disaster, there was a great deal of fighting just to survive. Everyone was looking out for themselves. It took a long time for people to realize they had to work tegother to survive, especially in the tribes. Now, we all want to rebuild our world. Nothing brings people together more than having a common goal.”
“I have to admit, that’s admirable. I don’t know if I would have stayed when given the option to live elsewhere.”
“There are some who are applying to travel to Drasta to live there now that Commander Estro has gotten approval.”
Nix couldn’t stop herself from asking, “What will you do? Will you stay here, or travel to Drasta?” She hoped she didn’t sound too hopeful. He wasn’t the asshole she originally thought that he was. The more she learned about him, the more she wanted to learn.
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve been training to become a Drastan warrior, but Maggie’s father spoke with his superiors about a position for me here if I want it. He’s recommending me also to eventually become a dome leader.”
That surprised her. “I didn’t think he knew you that well.”
“I’m friends with Maggie, we’re like family. I don’t really think I’m qualified, but I think Maggie has convinced him that I walk on water or something.” He smiled as he said it.
A tinge of jealousy wedged its way into her thoughts. “Yes, you all seem really close, especially you and Maggie. Were you two ever…?” She had been told by Maggie before that there was nothing between them, but seeing them together and the way Corey looked at the pretty human, with reverence and longing, had her questioning their relationship. Whenever they were together, they looked like a couple. At least, until Liam came in and took his spot next to his mate; then there was no question that Maggie and Liam were meant to be together.
“Honestly, there was a time when I hoped that Maggie and I would come together. I told myself I was waiting for her to be ready for a relationship. She was attacked when she was a teenager and it took a long time for her to deal with that and the outcome of it. It never happened for us, though.”
“Why not?”
“She fell in love with an alien from another planet.”
So it wasn’t that long ago that he had loved and wanted Maggie. Did that mean he still wanted her? The thought hurt her inside. She didn’t say anything else and neither did he. They continued on for what seemed like five hours, but probably was only about two. They finally reached the edge of the buildings, the last sign of where a prosperous city once stood.
Corey pointed to a half-standing building to the right. “That’s as good a spot as any. It’s half-covered and will give us the privacy we need to change out of our uniforms. Our packs should have Earth street clothes that will help us blend in with the other tribespeople.”
“How familiar are you with the tribes on this end of the city?” she asked as they stepped over rubble and through what had once been a doorway.
“I’m not that familiar with them. The tunnel that connected my tribe was blocked from this side, making it hard to get through. Occasionally, while scouting for food or traveling to another tribe to trade, I would run across someone from this side. That usually only happened if they came above ground to get to the unblocked section.”
“Do you think they’ll know we don’t belong?”
“Not right off. With the tunnells opening up, more and more people are moving between tribes and some even going to the domes. It’s actually probably a good thing that I don’t know that many people on this side. It won’t blow our cover. The clothes will help, but let me do most of the talking.”
