“This is Commander Sahaun Loure representing the Galactic Federation,” the words are like magic as they crackle through my radio. We can’t communicate but we hang on every word as he gives us information about a rescue mission launched. We hadn’t contacted them back and our ship issued a mandatory distress signal as it was destroyed. We can finally be free from this nightmare if we can just reach their landing location. I find myself hoping they send a pinpoint for their location.

When the broadcast ends my wrist comp as well as Marshall’s receive a location for the pickup. They don’t even know if anyone is here, but if they’re coming we’ll meet them. The rain has stopped and help is on the way, it’s time for us to move out. If we can get the rover we can get there in no time. If we arrive ahead we can start to clear out any grubs infesting the area. This isn’t the miracle I had hoped for earlier, but it’s a miracle and I won’t take it for granted.

“We should get going,” Marshall speaks the words before I can.

“Wait, I’m not risking my family for some radio transmission and you don’t know who’s on the other side,” Karl speaks out.

“The Galactic Federation is on the other side. Specifically Commander Sahaun Loure,” Niko responds as if Karl didn’t hear the transmission.

Debate is quickly sparked about if we should trust the radio call or not. I’m not interested in participating. Some want to go straight to the location drop, others want to check the beacon, and some want to head toward the rover first. Then there’s Karl who wants to sit on our hands and wait for them to come to us.

“Karl, you don’t seem to understand that this is not a search and rescue mission they are on,” Marshall speaks and everyone seems to listen. “They’re on an evacuation mission. They evacuate, those who can make it. We likely won’t be the only people getting the signal. They can’t go out and search for every single person that got the signal. You all want to get out of here, and my mission is to get information on what happened here. That means, I need to get to that lab, and take whatever they’ve got. You’re secondary.”

The fear in Karl’s eyes is clear to everyone in the room as Marshall speaks. His wife holds him tighter, and their daughter steps behind them. The girl moves to scream, and Marilyn covers her mouth. We’ve all gotten on board with the plan. This is what we chose, but Karl has no reason to participate.

“I’m sorry,” Marshall inches closer to Karl to intimidate him. “You’re not my second priority. Getting these people here to safety is. I don’t give a damn what happens to you and your family. We know where the rover is already. We don’t need you.”

“But you can’t fix it without me,” Karl almost whispers.

“I’ve got a feeling you won’t be necessary,” Marshall smiles. “You think I’ve spent years in the military to fail at making field repairs to a rover? You have to be an idiot,” Marshall’s smile fades as he walks to the back of the restaurant.

“Everyone, pack up, grab anything useful, and prepare to move out,” I give the order before following Marshall. I catch up with him in an office. “What was that,” I ask, trying to keep the volume at a minimum.

“You seem to have forgotten we have a mission to complete here. We need to learn what happened and that beacon you located is going to give us answers. We don’t have time for the weak. You’ve managed to redeem yourself. Don’t start backtracking now.”

“Those people out there are our friends. We’ve been through a lot with them in a short amount of time and they agreed to help us get to the lab.”

“Then as far as I’m concerned, they’ve enlisted as soldiers in our militia.”

I head back to the front and help with the packing. It seems like we’ve gone back to the old Marshall. Part of me wonders if I should be watching for a sucker punch. The temperature of the room has shifted after Marshall’s little speech. Even the hospital group doesn’t seem to be as committed as they were before.

Aaimina pulls me to the side, “is everything going to be okay,” she whispers.

“I’m honestly feeling really hopeful,” I force a smile.

“Why is Marshall acting like that? I know he did something to Karl back there.”

“He’s just a little anxious at the moment.”

“You know, you don’t have to lie to me,” Aaimina rolls her eyes as she walks away from me.

“Let’s move,” Marshall says returning from the back and walking through the front door.

I grab my bag and follow him. I can feel the eyes of the others on my back expecting me to stand up to Marshall, but I can’t do it. I’m not the kind of person that can fight him on even footing. At the end of the day he has me beat in multiple hierarchies. The hushed whispers make me understand why Niko spent so much time getting high on sunshine. The anxiety of being an outcast is enough to make me want to run away. The only reason I don’t is I know that without Marshall around, I’ll likely end up dead or running around and hiding like Karl and his family. I simply need to follow his lead for just a little longer and we can get through this. He’s been the guide for this whole disaster and he’s going to guide us just a little longer. After that, none of us will ever need to see him again.