"Everyone, come in close," Ringer barked, crouching down of the diagram scribbled on the ground. 

The lot of us were there, dressed in dead soldiers' uniforms, listening to the plan Ringer had created. 

We would hijack the incoming helicopter and demand the pilot take us to the base. 

Apparently Ringer knew the pilot since he'd been the same one during her time there with the other squad. I suppose this would come to our advantage but still, the plan was simple and there was plenty of room for error. 

"Once we get to the base and land the helicopter-" 

"What if we can't land the helicopter?" I asked, butting in. It seemed to me she was brushing over any possibility of things not going our way. "What if the pilot refuses to land?" 

Ringer looked up from the floor, her face reading of annoyance. "Then we land the plane a little ways from the base and walk on foot," she said plainly. 

I nodded once, accepting her straightforward alternative. After all the time I'd spent with Ringer, I learned that there was a point where you just ceded all doubt and stopped talking. 

"Anyway, like I was saying," Ringer continued, "Once we get there, we infiltrate the base by going into these entrances." Ringer pointed to two openings on either side of her diagram. "We'll be splitting up, of course," she said. 

Zombie coughed slightly. "Is there a safe place half of us can stay while the others infiltrate the base," he said. 

There took no explaining to know he was referring to Nugget and Megan. Sure, Nugget had killed an Other and was skilled in combat techniques. But he was still a kid and if there was an opportunity to keep him out of harm's way, then we'd take it. 

Ringer's eyes darted quickly to Nugget and Megan, understanding. "Fine, then half of us will stay by the helicopter. That way, if things go to shit, we have a team able to start the helicopter while the others find a way out." 

Cassie nodded, pleased with the change in plan. "And we'll figure out who stays at the helicopter when she gets there," she said. 

I nodded slowly. If we mentioned Nugget staying behind now, he'd throw some flamboyant tantrum and that was exactly what we didn't need right now.

"Yes," Ringer said impatiently. "Anyway, those not staying at the helo will break up into two groups, dividing themselves between the two entrances. Once in, the goal is to find Evan and the main control room. Kill anyone and everyone along the way if needed. We need to shut this shit down before...well you know what," she trailed off. 

The room was silent. We all knew tomorrow was the day the mothership would bomb every city and destroy any remaining evidence of mankind. 

It was now or never. 

~*~*~*~

We crouched down so that our bodies were hidden by the wreckage of Grace's house. 

The incoming sound of the helicopter bellowed above us, its blades cutting the sky in double time. Once it was in sight of the once-peaceful house, it began to lower carefully, finally resting in a patch of grass about ten yards away. 

It's blades kept turning had to hold my helmet down, afraid it would be blown off and give away our cover. 

I looked over at Ringer, who was a couple feet away, hiding behind a large block of cement. She met my eyes and nodded once, flicking two of her fingers forward. 

I looked over at Zombie, who was a little ways away with Nugget and mimicked Ringer's motion. He did the same to Cassie and Megan.

I brought up my hand gun just as Ringer, Zombie, and Cassie did the same. After killing Constance, we had a total of exactly four guns, all of various style. Ringer was the luckiest, and most prepared for battle, sporting a machine gun. The rest of us had small guns that could fit in our belts. We weren't very prepared. But I hoped our strategy would pull us through. 

I slowly pressed my finger against the trigger of the gun. Then, in unison, we came out, guns a-blazing. 

We shot continuously at the area surrounding the helicopter, shooting down the kid soldiers that had started to emerge. 

We advanced with each shot we took, shooting with such rapid precision that the other squad had no clue what'd hit them until it was too late. 

Ringer went around to the pilot's door. She said something to them, jamming the end of the gun into their neck. 

Zombie threw open the side door, ushering Megan and Nugget in. Cassie followed, not bothering to look down at the bodies of the soldiers. 

I glanced down at them for a moment. They didn't know what this had been about. They didn't know that they'd been tricked by Vosch and the Others. And they most certainly didn't know that if we didn't get this helicopter to the base, everyone would be dead by morning. 

I looked up, taking Zombie's hand as I ascended into the helicopter. I slammed the door behind me, just as Ringer moved over to sit next to the pilot. Whatever threat she'd uttered must've worked, because the pilot started to the move the helo upwards and toward the base. 

As we flew to the base, Ringer and Cassie started talking about their plan to find Evan and then, the command center. 

I glanced over at the pilot, whose eyes were still glued straight-ahead. I pursed my lips, knowing he was listening in on the plan. I opened my mouth to say something to Ringer, but decided against it. Ringer wasn't stupid. If she was talking about the plan in front of him, she had full intent on killing him once we got there. 

I sat back, choosing to look out the window, bringing my hand up to rest on the cool surface of the glass. 

The ride to the base was agonizing. My heart started thumping wildly against my chest as my mind started to swim with uncertainties. I knew that once we got to the base and the plan started unraveling, I'd lock into solider-mode. I knew that once that happened, I wouldn't be nervous. But now, while we waited, trusted this pilot to bring us to the base, I couldn't help but imagine this plan going very very wrong. 

"Hey, it's going to be alright," Zombie murmured next to me. 

I looked over at him, just as he laced his fingers with mine. He ran his thumb over my knuckles reassuringly, a shadow of a smile on his face. 

I let myself smile in return, thinking back to only a little ago when he said those three coveted words I'd been dying to hear for so long. It seemed as if there was nothing that could tear us a part.

"Yeah, it will be," I said softly. "When this is all over." 

He nodded, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. "And then it's just you and me," He said. 

"And me!" Nugget interjected, tugging on Zombie's jacket. 

I smiled a little. "Yes, you too," I said to Nugget. 

"And me!" Megan said timidly. 

Zombie smiled softly. "Yeah, you too," he said. 

I gave Zombie's hand a small squeeze. Maybe I'd never truly have him for myself. But I did hope, after today, I wouldn't have to share him with the Others anymore. 

"Would you all stop having some kind of family moment and look outside? We're here," Ringer barked. 

I dragged my gaze away from Zombie long enough to divert it to the window. And more importantly, want lay beyond it- a huge, multi-compound building, with the notorious mothership sandwiched right between it and a lake. 

I was about to turn to say something about it to Zombie, but the helicopter took a sharp turn to the right, straight toward the lake. 

"What the hell-" Ringer started. 

"What? You thought that just because I knew you I'd lead you straight to Vosch? You thought I'd fly you directly to the base and then let you kill me before you doom the Others? No-" the Pilot sneered. He shook his head violently, accelerating the helicopter. 

The helo started diving nose first toward earth-toward the water. "No," he continued, "If I go down, you go down with me." 

I glanced nervously at Zombie and then at Cassie. She shook her head. 

We all knew. There was no way to take the pilot out now and still regain control of the helicopter before entering the water. There was only one way this could go. 

We braced ourselves as the helicopter was submerged into water. Within moments, the turning blades of the helo halted and the pilot quickly moved to lock all the doors. 

The inside started filling with water. I fumbled with my seatbelt, unclicking it as fast as I could. "Nugget, Megan!" I said, "Unbuckle! Now!" 

Cassie, Ringer, and Zombie had already done so. Ringer shot her fist out to the pilot, undoubtedly trying to overpower him so she could unlock the doors. 

I started pounding on the window, just as the water reached my chin. I took a breath and then dunked under, waiting for the water to fill the helicopter and then force the doors open. 

Zombie came up beside me and nodded, knowing what I planned to do. I took a hold of a bar lining the ceiling and swung myself back. 

My chest started to hurt as my lungs screamed for air. 

Despite my body's protest, I swung forward, mustering the little strength I had left to kick the door open. 

I pointed feverishly at the door, hoping everyone could understand that I wanted them to get out. 

Once everyone was out and to the surface, I looked over at Ringer, who was still fighting the pilot. 

I looked briefly at the open door of the helicopter, my body begging me to leave. 

I pursed my lips. This son of a bitch was going to die. 

Without thinking, I darted forward and gripped the Other's neck in my hands. Then, I killed him. 

<><><>

As you can probably guess, Perish was not complete before the new year! I apologize for that. It is clear I need to set more realistic goals for myself. 

Anyway, it will be complete soon! And Happy New Year!! I hope 2018 is a great year for all of you!