The Boy from the Bunker - Season 8

Episode Five, Part 2:

Episode Five, Part 2:
Oikogéneia

And I wonder if this will all work out. 
Can't tire thinking about you. 

Kodiak leaned against the door to his dorm, letting out the most exhausted breath he could make, desperate for some rest.

Everyone was safely - and reluctantly - returned to their cells, all having avoided being caught by anyone from Neptunum for another day. Yet, even with the time he had managed to spend with Elara - which felt like a miracle all on its own - Kodiak wasn't satisfied. He wanted more; more time with her; more chances to hold her; to be able to return to his bed in the Quarters where she would already be curled up, unable to keep herself awake until he crawled in beside her, finished with his duties for the day. He wanted everything about their old life which challenges seemed like nothing compared to what he was going through now, but he would have to keep on waiting.

As he finally found the strength to head into his dorm alone, someone in the hallway called out for him.

"Ammon!" Xander jogged over, unable to guess how tired he was considering it was only early evening.

"Xander, hey," Kodiak breathed out, letting go of his hold on the door handle, knowing he would have to get his chance of rest at a later time, despite the pleading of his exhausted heart.

"I need you to follow me."

Kodiak frowned, suddenly awake with concern. Xander's voice was full of fear - something he had rarely, if ever, heard in his voice before.

"What's up?"

"I'll tell you when we're alone," he said. "But I need you to come with me. Make sure no one is following us."

Kodiak nodded, gulping down his own anxieties as he glanced down every hallway they passed, not even paying attention to where Xander was leading him until they reached a supply closet at the end of the corridor, and Xander pulled him inside.

"What's going on?" Kodiak asked, completely puzzled at why Xander was locking them inside of the small space.

"I know why the trials didn't work on that boy."

"W-what?" Kodiak stuttered, beginning to panic, trying to come up with an answer to whatever words he couldn't predict.

"The boy Athena tried to start the trials on, but it didn't work," he confirmed it was Wynn.

"What about him?" Kodiak asked. "Is it something to do with our machines-"

"He has some sort of device in his head. An implant."

How was Kodiak going to keep this quiet? How was he going to prevent everyone else from finding out about this? What if they already knew?

"It must have been what was stopping the signals from getting through to him," Xander continued. "Like, it works as some sort of barrier."

"Who have you told?" Kodiak asked, afraid to say too much.

"Ammon..." Xander lowered his voice, suddenly becoming much calmer. "Just you," he said. "I-I felt inclined to tell you before anyone else. I guess I just get the feeling that you've been..."

"That I've been what?" Kodiak searched, deeply afraid of what was coming.

"That you've been trying to protect this boy for whatever reason."

"Xan-"

"You switched his cell. I was checking every one the other night as part of my duties and he wasn't there. There was another girl missing, too, and neither of them were at the trials. I didn't know how to say it, but the more I pay attention, the more signs point towards me being right. You know this boy, don't you?"

Kodiak let out a shaky breath, struggling to look Xander in the eyes as he debated answering. What if this jeopardised everything? Xander had been one of the few people that Kodiak liked within Neptunum; he was the only person he truly trusted and confided in, but what about this? Could Kodiak trust him in this, too?

"I'm not asking for an explanation," Xander held his hands up, worried that Kodiak wasn't seeing his intentions. "I just need to know if there is anyone else you need me to protect; any more of the harvest we brought in that might have an implant."

Kodiak nodded, finally looking up at him.

"Is it the girl that you moved the other day?" Xander continued. "I noticed you made a few changes to some of the cells, but there was someone that as missing. I think you put her with the boy from the trials, correct?"

"Yeah, she was with him," Kodiak admitted, terrified that he was naively putting Chessca's life in just as much danger as Wynn's.

"Does she have an implant, too?"

Kodiak nodded.

"Anyone else?"

"No," Kodiak answered, scratching over the scar on the back of his neck. "Just those two."

"Is there anything else I need to know?" Xander searched, hoping Kodiak would realise how genuine he was being; how he felt sworn to secrecy. "I can remove the devices safely out of them if you want me to; I'm worried about what Athena will do if she finds out about them. If the trials aren't already enough of an experiment, she'll probably move onto the implants and try to figure them out, as well."

After a few moments of hesitation, Xander became anxious for a response.

"Ammon," he said, keeping his voice slow and quiet. "You can trust me."

Kodiak nodded again, swallowing down his fear. "I know," he said. "And you're right - we should get the implants out."

"Good," Xander smiled. "I'll get the boy and transport him to the empty medical room on the third level of the ship. You bring the girl and we'll meet you there."

////////

Kodiak held his hands together as he made his way to Dreea and Chessca's cell, unable to keep his fingers from shaking. He knew what was coming... He knew he didn't have the strength to hold off any longer, but maybe that was a good thing.

The past six months had exhausted him to the bone, and now that Wynn, Sol and Dreea were here, it meant he didn't have to do everything on his own. He pushed away the growing fears in his chest that he was making a mistake; that something terrible was waiting on the horizon, and continued on to his friends, knowing that all the rest he needed would be found in their embrace. 

Five // Part Two
Something terrible was waiting on the horizon.

This is so short and disappointing.

Oh well. Next chapter should be better!

21/11/20.