THE HIVE

Chapter 31

"And like that, should any complication arise, you guys can have our back and jump in for the rescue. Or maybe... think something better, depending on the emergency, " I conclude, laying out the plan to the new faces who volunteered for the rescue mission.

"Whaaaaat, really? We can't go in?" a broad shouldered young man says, tall for his age, as if whining. His name's Raymond.

"Hey, it's better this way. It's low risk for us," says a girl with dark skin and blonde hair, who's called Amanda. She adjusts her glasses. "Besides, we don't owe that bastard any favour to throw our lives away just like that."

"It's not like it's a raging inferno in there, either. You speak of it like it's literally purgatory," another boy complains, with an Australian accent, named Brian. "Mate, what if we are on the cusp of a new discovery? Earlier... the news was too much to take in... Really. First we get transported here with no way back. And now, there is no way back, because there's nowhere to go back to. That is so bitter... and cruel... I volunteered because, I didn't want to think too much of it. Because, I won't hold up, I just won't. I'm sure of it, if I start thinking about it in broader terms. Oh my god, it's horrible," he mumbles, probably imagining the destruction, the ramifications of it. He runs his hand through his hair, then grabs a tuft. "I... want to be useful. I want to be efficient. This is a tough time, more so than ever."

"And Billy has it the toughest, if he's still keeping up," the girl- Amanda says. Then her expression changes. "On that note, how long can he survive like that. He has rations? What about doing number one and two?"

I snort. But before I can attempt to make a reply, another person beats me to it.

"Be rest assured. There's enough emergency rations for a week in every Fly. And if he can be utilitarian, he should be able to use the available items to take care of his um...duties," with a hand gesture he ends that sentence. And this kid, I've seen him before.

"I actually am pleasantly surprised you joined," I say to the tall and thin guy. He has a navy hair cut. So fitting.

"It'd be a pleasure from my end as well. I wanted to do something cool as you. So joining in was my best bet, for now." His speech and mannerisms are very polite. And, I am lead to assume that he holds a certain respect for me, as was evident from my earlier encounters with him.

"Are you perchance, his favourite?" I say, implying the alien whom I remember speaking to him the couple times I reached out to him.

"I am rather curious, and I am methodical in my approach while learning, so, maybe it's a byproduct of that. Although, I must say: you confronting him caught my heart racing."

The incident flashes by in my mind. This guy witnessed it all. "Yeah, maybe I got a bit too carried away by the revelation..."

He smiles, comes forth and places a firm hand on my shoulder. "It is only natural, to act out, when you find your world has ended."

I swallow, tightening my cheeks involuntarily, then look up at him. "Yet, how are you so calm?"

He keeps the same expression. "Because I know, we have got better more important things to do, than cope with the fact, and come to terms with it. But believe me, Jordan, I'm aching as well, as we all are. I'm just...too desensitised at this point, after all that's happened. My brain doesn't properly know what to do. And so, I don't put pressure on it. Not when it can be helped. We need to get Billy."

I smile at his words. "Right. We must get him back first."

"You're the leader of this operation, Jordan," Sally says to me, arms crossed. "Besides, I was incompetent the first time." She narrows her gaze downwards. Samantha puts an arm around her. "Stop blaming yourself," she says.