It's the End of the World as We Know it (Silent Moments Series: Book 4)

Chapter 9

The hangar was bustling with activity as I approached Monty, my mind racing with concerns about Bellamy and the others. "Hey, any word from Jaha? Did they find Bellamy's unit?" I asked, anxiety evident in my voice.

Monty responded with his typical sarcasm, "Yeah. They're back, and we forgot to tell you." His attempt at lightening the mood barely registered with me.

Just then, Cass appeared, her presence a welcome sight amidst the chaos. "Hei my lukot (hello my friend)," she greeted with a warm smile.

I couldn't help but smile back, despite the tension. I embraced her, feeling a momentary relief in the familiarity of an old friend. "Heya. Ha soncha were oso (Hi. How light were we)?" I inquired, concerned about their well-being and the impact of recent events.

Cass's response was light-hearted yet reassuring, offering a brief respite from the mounting stress. "Always so serious. Better. Don't worry. The earth will be more generous next time. See you then," she said optimistically.

As she turned to leave, a sudden thought struck me. "Hey, wait. Uh...did you charge the radio that I gave you when you were here?" It was crucial to maintain communication, especially now.

Cass nodded, confirming my request. "Yes, like you told me to."

Relieved, I was about to thank her when Harper's urgent voice broke through. "Kegan!" she yelled, concern etched on her face.

Turning around, my heart dropped at the sight before me. Harper was with a man, and he was carrying Octavia's limp body. "Octavia?" I gasped, rushing toward them, my medical instincts kicking in.

"She just stopped breathing," Harper said, her voice laced with panic.

Without hesitation, I took control of the situation. "Get her on the table now," I commanded, preparing myself for immediate action.

Harper quickly briefed me on Octavia's condition. "There's a stab wound in her belly. She's soaked in blood."

I began administering CPR to Octavia, each compression fueled by a mix of desperation and determination. The thought of losing her, the potential impact on Bellamy, and the implications for all of us weighed heavily on my mind.

Turning my attention to the stranger who had brought her, I demanded answers while continuing my life-saving efforts. "First things first, who are you? How did this happen to her?"

The man introduced himself as Ilian kom Trishanakru. "I was on my way home from Polis when I found her," he explained, his voice tinged with concern.

I resumed my efforts, now performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The tension in the room was palpable, each second stretching out endlessly. Finally, Octavia's breath sounds returned, a wave of relief washing over me.

"Okay. Get her to medical now. Getting her here saved her life. Thank you," I expressed my gratitude to Ilian, my voice filled with sincere appreciation for his timely intervention.

As Octavia gripped my arm, I gently reassured her. "Hey, hey, hey. Shhh...it's okay. It's okay. You're okay. Octavia, you've lost a lot of blood, but you're home now. I'm gonna help you."

Her whispered words sent a chill down my spine. "Azgeda coming."

Monty, who had been standing nearby, looked shocked. "What did she say?"

"Azgeda is coming...army, marching," Octavia managed to gasp out, her voice weak but filled with urgency.

I tried to keep her conscious, my hands on her face, urging her to focus on me. "Octavia, hey, hey, hey, stay with me."

But her final words before losing consciousness were filled with foreboding. "War is here."

Understanding the immediacy of the threat, I barked orders. "Take her. Go!" Monty and the others quickly placed Octavia on a stretcher and prepared to move her.

"Okay! 1, 2, 3!" Monty counted, and they lifted her with care.

Turning to Cass, I instructed, "Start an I.V., blood and fluids, and get a suture kit ready!" Cass nodded, ready to spring into action.

"Harper, hey, look at me. Convene the guard. Miller's dad is the ranking officer. If Azgeda comes, we need to plan our defense, okay? I'll be there as soon as I can," I said, trying to maintain a semblance of control in the rapidly escalating situation.

Harper took a deep breath, nodding in understanding, and hurried off to execute the orders.

As I turned to follow Octavia, I called out to Cass, "Cass! I could use your help!" My voice was firm, indicative of the critical situation we were in, and the urgency of our collective response.

***

The air in the hangar was charged with a palpable sense of urgency as I approached Harper and the others. They were huddled together, their faces a canvas of worry and determination. Harper's eyes met mine immediately, searching for reassurance about Octavia.

"Hey, how is she?" Her voice trembled slightly with concern.

I offered a small, comforting smile. "Octavia's doing good, getting stronger," I replied, watching relief flood Harper's face, her shoulders visibly relaxing.

The conversation swiftly pivoted back to the critical issue at hand. Officer Miller and Riley were deep in discussion over a strategy that sounded increasingly risky. Riley, with a hint of eagerness in his voice, interjected, "We light em' up."

"That's right," confirmed Officer Miller, but Monty's voice cut through the air, laced with concern. "You want to light a fire outside the ship we just spent the last month getting ready?"

I stepped in before the conversation could spiral further. "That's not happening," I stated firmly, "any word from Kane?"

Monty's update only added to the weight of the situation. "No, but Jaha found the cargo truck 12 hours out. No signs of Bellamy or Stephens."

The absence of news about Bellamy sent a ripple of worry through me. He wasn't just a friend; he was a cornerstone of our community, our rock in tumultuous times.

I knew we needed a solution, and fast. "I have to speak to Roan," I began, the determination in my voice masking my inner turmoil. "Something happened, some sort of misunderstanding."

Harper, ever the realist, quickly voiced her doubts. "Kegan, if he wanted to talk he wouldn't be coming with his army."

Her skepticism was valid, yet I clung to a thread of hope. "Right, but there's only one way to get here from Polis," I reasoned. "I'll ride out and meet him."

The group erupted in protests. Officer Miller's immediate objection, "Absolutely not!" contrasted starkly with Monty's unexpected support. "Actually that might work," he mused, his mind clearly working through the tactical implications. "The Ice Nation thinks they have the element of surprise. Thanks to Octavia, we do. Pike showed us how valuable that can be."

Harper's reaction to Monty's reference to Pike was a complex blend of disbelief and revulsion. "You're citing Pike?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Monty's acknowledgment was reluctant yet grounded in practicality. "As awful as that sounds. Yes."

The tension hung heavy in the air, thick with the moral and tactical complexities of our predicament. The looming threat of war overshadowed our conversation, but in that moment, I was acutely aware that we had to explore every avenue, no matter how distasteful or fraught with danger it might be.