After Night Falls

After Arrival

The group would have looked quite strange, standing together at the gate, had they not worked quite closely for the past 2 months. While it may be considered a short time for many people, bonds had been clearly formed between certain members, and feuds formed between others. It could be easily observed from the way they stood amongst one another.

Jane and Crystal stood closely together, contemplating the gate that loomed in front of them. Axel stood alone, studying the beam nailed to the walls of the abandoned compound. Max simply frowned at it, cocking her head to the side. Brad and Jake looked over the orders they'd received prior to driving to the compound. And Marie stood on the end of the line, her hand resting lightly on the pistol at her side.

"They never mentioned that the gate was barred on the orders," Brad stated, lowering the pad of paper to his side and refocusing his attention on the iron keeping the beam in place.

Axel frowned, his forehead tightening and pulling on the set of scars in his hairline. "Doesn't matter. We still have our orders, we'll just have to get a team out here to remove it. Doesn't change anything."

Jane turned her head, her curly red hair bouncing over her shoulder. "I don't know, this has some pretty big implications."

"Not really," Brad said, turning to walk back towards the vehicles they came in. "Gates keep things out. The bar was just some added security." He opened the back door and threw the pad of paper into the back seat.

"If this gate was meant to keep people out then it doesn't make sense that they would bar it on the outside of the compound," Crystal countered.

"So you're saying that they were trying to keep something in?" Axel demanded.

"The gate could have been barred on both sides," Max inserted, "they could have used an alternate exit. Maybe the compound was compromised and they wanted to be as sure as they could that it stayed unopened."

"Well we're here to find out what happened," Axel overruled, "so we'll stay here until a team arrives to get us an alternate entrance."

Marie spoke up. "Is there anything you want us to do while we wait?"

Axel stepped forward and took one last look at the gate before turning back to the group. "Saddle up. Brad, call in the team. Marie, I want you and Jake to take a drive around the compound. See if you can find an alternate exit that could have been used to evacuate the remaining citizens if Max's theory is true. It would likely be hidden, so just be sure to be back by nightfall. The rest of us will stay here."

The group nodded, and Jake and Marie moved towards the smaller vehicle. Marie slipped into the driver's seat, sitting comfortably behind the wheel while Jake hopped into the passenger seat quickly, holding his rifle comfortably in his lap with one hand, the other on the grab handle.

Brad moved away from the gate to use his radio without being interrupted by the rest of the group, who wandered aimlessly in the area in front of the gate.

"It's a shame the gate wasn't locked electronically," Crystal mused. "If that were the case, we could be in by now. Wouldn't have to wait for the team to get here to cut a hole in the walls..."

Jane smiled, grabbing a duffle bag from the back of the second vehicle. "I suppose that's true, but this way we get to take an easy day. The team won't be here for a few hours, so this gives us time to relax. Who knows? Maybe Max can find some fresh fruit around here, which will be loads better than all the food from the ship."

Crystal smiled, helping Jane spread a blanket on the tough ground. "I had enough relaxing on the ship. They woke us up too early if you ask me."

"I don't mind," Jane explained, "Once we get into the compound it's going to be a lot of work. I just want to sit down, listen to some music, and enjoy these last moments of peace."

Crystal shrugged, sitting down on the blanket with her. "It's a shame Marie got to go with Jake though. They get a couple hours of alone time," she commented, wiggling her eyebrows at Jane.

"Shut up," she said, turning red and scooting away uncomfortably.

"Oh, come on," Crystal teased, "I know you like him. Hell, I'll admit he's pretty handsome. But you don't have to worry. I know for a fact that Marie doesn't have eyes for him."

"She's very withdrawn," Max claimed, sitting down to join them, "you really don't ever know what she's thinking."

"She has a point," Jane said, poking Crystal in the side, causing her to squeal.

"Whatever," Crystal chuckled, "it's not really a big deal. What is a big deal though is where you got that dye, Max, and the razor for that matter. You know I've wanted to dip dye my hair red ever since I woke up."

Max laughed, brushing her purple hair out of her face. "I brought it with me," she explained, "it's inevitable that your hair fades during the sleep. I just happened to plan ahead."

"And how did you manage to shave half of your head?"

"I actually got Jake to do it for me."

"No way!" Crystal shouted, grabbing the attention of Axel, who stood only feet away watching Marie and Jake drive around the corner of the compound leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.

"Alright ladies," he said, "to your feet! I want you three to make sure everything is ready to go. As soon as we have a way in I want us in there finding a place to sleep for the night."

"Tough luck captain," Brad shouted, lumbering towards the group. "The team won't be able to come until morning. Something about the charge on the lasers."

Axel huffed in irritation. "No matter. Max, Crystal, Jane, I need you to see what you can find around here for dinner. I know vegetation is sparse but there should be something. If you can catch some rabbits I'm sure everyone would appreciate it."

He turned to Brad. "Start setting up a shelter. I don't want to be caught out here unprepared. We're in unfamiliar territory and I want to be ready for any eventuality."

"Yes sir," Brad nodded, moving towards the crates in the back of the parked vehicle, moving to set up camp for the night.

Axel stood back, arms crossed, to oversee it all.