After Fate Fell

30 • MARINA

1 year, 3 months, and 16 days after it all
•MARINA•

The flight from Xigaze to Windhoek lasts much longer than I thought it would, but I guess it's just because my mind is so set on getting to Windhoek, meeting up with the others, and getting moving. And the first step is taken. The plane lands and I quickly depart from the plane, grabbing the only luggage I have: Nine and Sam.

We depart into the city. Ella told us to look for a rental car company that lets people take their cars out into the desert, but I'm guessing we wont find one. We'll probably just end up taking regular rental cars out there and hope we dont completely wreck them. We'll need high-power vehicles, and lots of extra gasoline. We can't get stranded out in that desert. Who knows how long we'd last on foot?

The city of Windhoek is beautiful. There's palm trees everywhere, which is really surprising because it's not like we're right on the coast, we're pretty far inland actually. And there's lots of sand, even though we aren't technically in the desert yet. We're close enough, I guess.

Ella told me that she, Five, and Adam are on their way in a rental car and should be arriving here in about an hour. I realize I have no idea where John and Six are. I decide to ask Ella if she's heard from them.

Ella, do you know where John and Six are? I ask her.

Yes, I guess I forgot to tell you. John contacted me earlier in the car ride. I fell asleep after that. They're landing in Windhoek as well. I'll ask how close they are.

Wow that's crazy! That just makes things easier for us I guess. Yes just let me know what you hear, I tell her. And I am ecstatic.

Will do, she tells me.

We're finally all going to be back together. Yes, most of us were together up on that mountainside, but were we really all there? No. And Five, Sam, and Adam weren't there. This is really it. We're all going to be in one place, at one time. We can do this. Whatever this thing is out in the middle of the Namib desert that's depleting all of Legacy's energy, we'll deal with it. And then we'll get our asses back home.

They're landing in just under three hours, Ella tells me. So we'll all be there together in about three hours. We'll tell you when we get there. Look for a good meeting place for all of us since you have the extra time, she tells me.

Of course, I say. See you soon Ella.

See you really soon Marina.

//

Nine, Sam, and I head off to find a car rental place. The good thing about being in Namibia is that the official language is English, so it's easy to communicate with the locals. While we're walking down the street, Nine asks a woman who is walking by if she knows of any car rental places. She gives us directions--it sounds like it's just a few minutes walk--and off we go.

"The woman said she only knew of one car rental place near here, but she's sure that there's more. The only time she had to rent a car is when hers broke down last year, and this is the one she rented from," he tells Sam and I.

"I just hope that they have some good selections because we've gotta ride into that desert in style baby," Sam says, surprising me with this statement.

"We'll try to find one that satisfies you," I tell him, laughing.

From then until we arrive at the rental place, Sam and Nine get into a cutthroat argument over which car we should rent. Of all the things to be worried about, the type of car...but of course they're worried about it. It's them.

//

A few hours later, and we have a rental car, which we are supposed to only use on the roads, but the good thing is, it's a big strong-looking vehicle that'll get us through the desert sand. Or so at least Sam and Nine say. I guess I just put all of our lives in the hands of the two of them. Not the best idea, but they know more about cars than me, so I guess it was the only option. I wasn't going to ask the man renting our car to us how well their selections would fare going over dunes out in the Namib. That would get us turned down immediately, which of course, wouldn't be good.

So now, we're driving around town--I'm the one driving of course--looking for a meeting place. Nine tried to put up an argument for why he should drive, but surprisingly even Sam said no to that. So, for once, Nine shuts his mouth, and I enjoy it while it lasts, because I know it won't.

We find a meeting place, a public park a mile or so north of uptown Windhoek. We park our cars on the street and find a little area with a few benches which is perfect for a little family reunion, Loric style. Then I take that chance to reach out to Ella to see if they've reached city limits yet.

Ella, are you guys in Windhoek yet? I ask her.

We're about five miles out. Be there soon. Where's the meeting place? I'll tell the others.

I then proceed to tell her about the park we found, and she thinks that's perfect. Then she says she'll get in touch with the others, and we should all be meeting at the park soon.

//

Sam spots the car first. It fits the description of Ella, Five, and Adam's rental car. We all stand up, not really knowing what to do with ourselves. They're here.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I see Six and John walking down the park path toward us.

The reunion is a joy-filled one for everyone, I can see smiling faces all around me. There are too many hugs to count. There are some words said between Five and Nine which I can't distinguish but I can only guess aren't pleasantries, but that was expected. I'm just too excited to even speak. I just smile and hug everyone. It's all I can do. I feel the joy along with everyone else, but I just can't shake the feeling that this may be the last time we're all this happy, and we're all still alive.