The Long Dark- A Journey Through Frozen Hell

Signal Tower

The sled pulled along, guiding over the snow.

Yukari would occasionally lift the bedroll to check Vaughn, who was usually asleep.

As night came and they couldn't see anymore, they stopped for the night.

Vaughn still laid on the sled under the bearskin, forcing Miho to use her down feather bedroll.

Miho climbed in her bedroll, staring at the night sky.

Slowly, she fell asleep.

...

Somewhere in the night, Miho woke up.

She sat up, looking around, feeling like someone was watching. Or something.

Uneasy, she grabbed her rifle and laid back down, pretending she was asleep.

Nothing came as she slowly fell back asleep.

...

The next morning, they set off again, this time, they determined to get Vaughn there before nightfall.

As the sled pulled and Vaughn slept, Miho noticed him jerk his arm.

Assuming he was dreaming, she watched.

Vaughn's motions were now frequent and erratic.

Miho reached over, shaking his shoulder to wake him up.

Vaughn shot up, arms swinging, and hit Yukari on the back of the head.

She yelped as Vaughn frantically looked around, hyperventilating.

"Mister Vaughn!" Miho said.

Vaughn's frantic breathing slowed as Yukari rubbed the back of her head.

"Sorry, Yukari." He said.

"It's okay." She mumbled.

Vaughn laid back down to stay out of the wind and stayed up, watching the dogs pull the sled, listening to Miho's command.

"You're a natural Miho." He said.

"I just watched how you did it." Miho said.

"And you're pretty good at it, too." Vaughn said.

...

Eventually, they made it to the radio telescope, where Yukari and Miho helped Vaughn to his feet.

Miho knocked on the door, where Doctor Cleft opened it.

The researchers wore PPE hazmats with gas masks and gloves, protecting them from airborne diseases.

The sight worried Yukari and Miho because they weren't protected. Still, they wanted to save their friend.

"Let's check you out." Doctor Solomon said, sitting Vaughn down in a chair.

"We will work on your friend. You can start up the towers. Here is a map." Dr. Atwood said.

She stood up and walked to a bin, where she dropped the map.

"You are also going to need this. It is a handheld shortwave radio. Use it to home in on distant objects by navigating in the direction of the highest signal strength. The Shortwave's default tracking mode will detect signals of unknown origin, while its secondary setting is useful for locating hidden supply caches or downed aircraft."

Atwood set the radio in the bin as Miho picked it up.

Atwood walked back to her desk and typed away on her computer.

"Run along now." She said, facing away from them.

Miho turned to see Solomon with a syringe, taking a blood sample of Vaughn.