Humanity at Stake (Completed)

Chapter 26

"I know, this is the point of no return.
I won't turn back" -Point of No Return by Starset

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Nova's eyes searched the tops of building in surprise, grasping the reins tighter in her hand. She found out too late that it would have been a good idea to switch between walking and riding. She had adopted this idea the last couple days of travel, the ache slowly disappearing as she got used to the trek.

"This place looks different to the last, but the size makes it feel familiar," Nova murmured, her feet walking unsteadily against the uneven stoning of the road. Despite alternating, she lost the ache in her thighs and butt, but gained it in the heels of her feet. She powered through it, the rest at night lessening the pain each day. It was finally to the point where it was just a dull, ignorable pain coupled with the itching of her skin.

"I've heard that the Colonel is searching for a big enough place to house us," whispered a man to his walking companion next to him. Nova's eyes flitted down to them briefly before going back to watch the passing building.

Much like the last town and any passing ones they visited, vines crept up futuristic building that she didn't see in any of the villages ran by humans. Unlike the mainly wooden and stone buildings you normally saw in the villages, these buildings seemed to be built out of metal, and covered in windows. Much of the glass and been blown out, and became some shards on the side of the road.

"These don't look like the buildings in our old city," spoke the awed tone of female solider. Nova couldn't help but agree. At the old HQ city, the building were towering, but they had a more antique feeling compared to these. The building there were light in color, and a stone. Normally it was easy to find detailed decorations along the walls, marking windows and doors. There, a big clock ticked away the time. Although she had never been there herself, she heard gears complicated the space, filling it up. People were given the duty to slicken the gears to keep the clock working way past its use.

A murmur started its way down the line of soldiers, slowly making its way to Nova.

"There's an abandoned inn they found." The excited chatter of the Resistance fighters rose at the news. Soon they found themselves piling in front of a decent sized building, forming a large half circle around the front door. As per usual, Colonel Marie stood at the top of the steps of the inn, her posse behind her standing as quiet and cold as she. The last of the traveling soldiers found a place to stand before she started what she had to say.

"I'm sorry for the unfortunate event that has befallen us. I, as much as you guys, did not want to change locations of our HQ, but what happens, happens. We are here now. I ask that you choose rooms close to your other squadron members.

"Due to the size of the building, I would ask that you at least stayed two to a room, if you don't feel like putting more in a room. It would also be preferable that your squadron members were your roommates. I will be choosing the teams to take some horses and explore the surroundings." Colonel Marie turned to survey the area around her.

"Over there is a little slice of grass, but it won't be enough to supply all the horses." Her words drew the attention of others as the looked over to where the Colonel spoke. Crossing roads of a previous civilization were cracked and crumbled, an overpass collapsing to the ground below. Between the intersections sat an acre and a half of green grass. "We'll need to find a larger area of accessible grass where the horses are easy to get to for us. Until then, I want you all to find rooms," she finished, listing off the squadrons that she wanted to do scouting.

Nova and her team weren't called. Nova made a disapproving noise in the back of her throat as the six of them headed past the Colonel and into the inn.

"I call rooming with Nova!" Leon hollered as he bolted up the stairs to the next level. The five of them shared a look as they travelled up the stairs behind him.

"But, Leon!" Pax whined as he shuffled his way up the stairs in front of the group. "Why can't you room with me?"

"Because Nova is hotter than you!" came the muffled call from inside a room to their left. An offended gasp rose from Pax as he heard that.

"Nova doesn't want to room with you, pervert," Tony announced as they made it to the end of the hall where Leon had already started setting up his part of the room. Leon looked up from one of the two beds, his eyes narrowing at Tony.

"No, Tony, it's fine if we room, I don't-" Nova was cut off as her teammate held up her hand to silence her.

"No offense, Nova, but we all know this creep will probably try to take advantage of you when you're sleep." Nova's jaw dropped at the allegation, watching Leon's lip twitch in agitation.

"Watch yourself, mercenary," Leon's voice turned serious as he whipped a knife out from his uniform. Nova's eyes widened and she was quick to step between the two.

"Woah, guys! This isn't necessary! I said I'd be okay with rooming with Leon. It's-" Tony pushed Nova onto one of the beds. In the same step sequence, Leon lunged forward, flipping his knife in his hand so he was holding the blade against his forearm. He stopped when the knife was against Tony's throat, his shoulder touching hers. His mouth was next to her ear.

"Don't test me, Antoinette. You'll find yourself in a hole you won't be able to dig yourself out of," he hissed out. Nova's eyes widened, flitting to Tony's face.  She was shocked to see a composed, calm look on her face despite the situation.

"Leon," she started, her voice as cold as ice. "Don't forget whose lifestyle was killing from a young age." There was a moment of stillness before the tables turned. Quicker than Nova could track, Leon suddenly had the curved edge of a scythe against his neck. The blade was placed so expertly, it managed to only slice through a bit of skin. A thing strip of red dribbled slowly down his neck. Leon's eyes left the weapon below his chin to meet Tony's narrowed eyes before slowly raising his hands, the knife dropping deftly from his fingers.

"Antoinette," Christopher's sharp voice sliced through the tension, causing the woman in question to freeze. "If Nova is fine with the two of them rooming, you do not need to interfere." You could see an internal conflict flash across Tony's features as her eyes searched through Leon's. She scoffed lowly, pulling her weapon back before she met Nova's gaze.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" she asked again. Nova nodded her head quickly in response, causing Tony to sigh. She glared over at Leon, who had taken his right hand to assess the damage down to his neck.

"If I hear so much as a complaint, a whisper, that Nova is uncomfortable with you, you will regret your decisions, and you will be found dead along the side of the road," Tony threatened before storming out of the room. The three remaining boys shared a look outside the room as Tony passed by and jogged down the stairs.

"I'll take her as a roommate," Christopher relented, watching her skip out of view, before turning toward the door across the hall and stepping into it. Pax and Ridge glanced at each other before taking the room next to Christopher's. With the hallway now emptied, with the increasing noise of soldiers filing in and find rooms, Nova turned to her roommate.

Leon grinned sheepishly at her, his had cupping his neck to help stop the blood dripping down.

"Lets see if there's anything in the room that can help you with that," she told him lowly, gesturing for him to sit down as she wandered over to a cabinet.

"Thank you for choosing me," Leon answered softly, causing a small smile to creep into Nova's lips.

"Of course, Leon."