Into Ruin

Chapter 5 Blowback

Olivia placed the final folded tarp beside the piles of ropes. They'd work with the team on shelter, food and water preparations this morning, take a break and then gear up for fashioning makeshift weapons in the afternoon. Olivia smiled. It had been a while since she and Marcel had functioned like a well-oiled machine, but today they'd slipped back into the roles they'd had for nearly half a decade. Taking orders had never been her style back at the colony, but a partnership she could do.

"Olivia," came an eager male voice.

Her smile broke at the instant reminder. Her thoughts were a mere illusion.

She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. "Edward, we're starting in fifteen minutes and you know how I hate tardiness."

He smirked. "I know, that's why I'm here early."

Olivia walked over to the misshapen bundle of rope, tugged on one of the loose knots and let it drop to the ground. "I'm really not in the mood for one of your jokes at the moment. We discussed this in the meeting yesterday and my answer remains the same. Absolutely not." She collected the rope slowly, smoothing the folds in the nylon so they were even.

"You haven't even given me a chance to argue my case."

"This isn't a courtroom. You're a liability and I don't want you on the team. My decision stands."

Edward kneeled down next to her and took the rope out of her hands. "You don't want me there because I scare you," he whispered in her ear.

"Of course you do. The moment we picked you up from the desert, I was shocked a person like you could survive as long as you did let alone be selected. You were only let in because your technical skills made up for your lack of self-reliance techniques."

He grimaced as she took the messy rope from him. His efforts had just made more work for her. The last thing she needed to do was babysit.

"I make you doubt yourself and your strength. I make you face things you're buried for far too long."

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes, and once we're done a reconnaissance mission, we can all sit around and sing kumbaya with Amelia's husband. But we need information, stealth, skills, strong resolve. These are people you can't win over with a dirty joke or a heart-to-heart."

"Worked on you," he said with a cheeky smile.

Olivia sucked in a breath. The thought of Edward's actions being a ruse would unravel her. He brought the only unselfish kindness to her calculated life. She wasn't sure what to look forward to if that rug was pulled out from under her feet.

His voice lost its usual pleasant charm. "Doesn't feel so great, does it? Being treated less than equal."

"Get training and you can go on the next one."

He balled his fists. "I want to be in on this one!"

Olivia groaned. Would he ever quit? "Why is this so important to you?"

"Because." he paused to catch his breath. "You're going up against people who nearly destroyed you. I don't want you to face that alone."

He just wanted to be her moral support even knowing he hardly stood a chance of defending himself properly. She really was an asshole, but one who would make it out alive. "I'll have support, Edward."

"But you'll never tell them when something is up."

"I'll-" she bit her lower lip. "I'll talk to Nate should something come up."

"Alright." Edward's shoulders slumped and he ran his hand over the tarp. He gave up much easier than she had imagined. "So what's this all for anyway?" his voice was distant and small.