Humanity's Last Light

The Power of Friendship... Or Something

I stood agape. "What are you doing here?!"

May didn't say much, seeing as she was still writhing with electricity.

"You know her?" Sierra said, still aiming at May; I could hear doors opening around us, spilling out armed, half awake rebels. Felix even had slippers on.

"Yeah; she's my friend from the Superior City, so please don't shoot her again," I said, watching as the sparks and spasms died down. May rolled into a sitting position, and raised a shaky finger. Her face contorted, then she hung her head, and vomited.

Behind me, Alice called out for a mop and bucket, and it sounded like Felix ran to go fetch them, all the while calling someone from his phone. Down on the floor, May spat and looked up at me.

"If I'm just your friend, then... I lost my train of thought. My point is, you and I are best friends, and don't you forget it, mother-," May bent back over, retching.

"Ok, enough of that, let's get you up on the couch, love," Tessa said, hoisting up May; gently, they made their way to the couch, and sat down together. I quickly placed a wastebasket between May's legs, then crossed my arms and glared at her.

"Alright, first let's get the cliche out of the way; May, what are you doing here?"

May looked up, her mouth quivering.

"What, my b-b-best friend d-d-dies suddenly in a raid on his house, and you expect me to just roll over and accept that?" May said shakily, her face still pale. Sweat was running down her face, or possibly tears, as well as snot. I felt my heart skip a beat, and break. I knelt down and wrapped her in my arms.

"May, what are you talking about? Who said I died?"

She sniffled into my shoulder. " I saw those robots go into your house, and come out with body bags. It was all over the news, that your dad had been caught with rebel propaganda, and that in the raid at your house, you and Anna had been killed in the crossfire between your parents and the police. But it didn't seem right, especially since I saw people leaving before the ambulance showed up, so I did some digging, you know, really dug under the layers, and found no records of your death, and ohmygod, is that a robot arm?" May said, grabbing the arm in question.

I learned back. "Whoa, whoa, back up a little. You were at my house?" She ran her sleeve across her face, and looked me in the eyes.

"Yeah, I was coming over to study, remember? 1st week exams?"

I did remember, distantly, our plans for after school.

"Well yeah, but that was days ago, according to everyone here. Why are you here just now?" Somehow, May's face crumpled even more. I sat next to her on the couch, and placed my left arm around her shoulders.

"Well, it took me a while to figure out how to hack the Police Database so I could figure out what happened to you, where this place was, and even more time to convince someone take me here, and- and, well, all of that doesn't look very loyalist right? So-so-so my p-parents- so my parents kicked me out!" May wailed, burying her head in my shoulder. I hugged her, and handed her a few tissues.

I looked up. Everyone had put their weapons down, and were in various stages of getting breakfast. Sierra and Tessa sat across from us, and slid two mugs of coffee across the table.

May sniffled. "Thanks Noah; I needed that. But you can let go now." I unwrapped my arms from her and grabbed my mug. May grabbed hers as well, and seemed to deflate as she sipped it.

"Fortunately, I managed to grab something's, especially my datapads, before they called the police. They're with the guy who brought me here, and he said he'll deliver them here tomorrow."

"Well that's good; practically your whole life is on those things," I said as Sierra quirked an eyebrow and set her mug down.

"Datapads of your life's work, you say? If I may ask, a database on what? Also, second question: who brought you here, and how did you get in our room?"

May gave her a name and said she told him she gave him my name and that she was looking for me, and he brought her to our room.

"Also, the datapads contain all of the stuff Noah and I have made since we started learning about robotics. If you want, I'd be more than happy to share them with you."

"You seem awfully trusting," I said, sipping my coffee.

May shrugged. "I trust her; she did save you after all. Also, I don't believe we've been formally introduced. Is she your girlfriend?" She said, which resulted in a fine spray of coffee from everyone.

"May, I just woke up today. I'm not that smooth. Speaking of which, seems pretty weird that I woke up exactly as you were going to implant my arm, and that May arrived on the same day," I said. Sierra quickly shook her head as she drained her mug.

"First, I'm Sierra. It take it your name is May. Sorry for tazing you by the way. No, we're not dating," she said to May, who waved a hand in acceptance; Sierra turned to face me.

"Second, all of those were coincidences; truth be told we were actually keeping you asleep while Cody built your arm. We took you off of the anaesthesia cause the arm was ready, but again, we hoped you would stay asleep until after it was attached. And how could we have planned to bring your childhood best friend?"

I simply nodded as Felix came to sit with us. "Well I'm glad that's all sorted out, but we have to have a serious discussion regarding May, mainly where will she stay?" He said; Alice sat with him.

"We have an extra room; if you want, you can stay with us. It always nice to have more people in these housing units anyway; we get a larger budget. I'm Alice by the way, and this is Felix to my right," she said, shaking May's hand.

While everyone gathered around May, I took a moment to study her. She wore the signs of a long journey, her black hair disheveled and matted, her clothes torn. She kept picking at one of the many bandages wrapped around her fingers.

I stood up and took the empty dishes into the kitchen. I washed them while absorbing the conversation behind me. When I returned, Alice and Sierra were gone, and Felix was opening the front door.

A tall, mocha skinned woman stepped in, dressed in a white coat and slacks. "Hello Nurse Solano; I came as fast as I could. Where is the patient?" She said, shaking Felix's hand.

"She's over there on the couch, Doctor Montero. Right this way," Felix said, leading the doctor to May. As the two talked, he came up to me.

"I wasn't sure if she was checked over when she entered the city. So I called Montero. Its not that I trust May, but I can't trust her folks. Sorry," he said sheepishly. I waved it off, and asked where Alice and Sierra had gone.

"Alice and Sierra are waiting for you in the gym. If I were you," he looked me up and down, "I'd change into some sweats." Nodding, I went and changed, then walked past the Doctor and May, who was currently having her arm thoroughly inspected it seemed.

Chuckling quietly, I entered the gym.