Season 05 - Episode 13

‘continues the same’

“Ok everyone,” says Ny to the table. “Before Es starts the meeting I have an announcement to make. As I know some of you are already aware, we lost Clo yesterday.”

Between them, the dozen or so faces around the table express all the emotions wrestling in Ny's chest. Ashen grief, trembling rage, stoic calm, crumbling despair, all are present within and without as Ny pushes through to continue.

“She was distributing medical supplies,” he continues, his tongue suddenly feeling thick and clumsy. “When they came under fire, GovCo or The Church we don't know. Either way, she fell, as did the rest of the team and several of the civilians they were aiding. I know this a blow but I also know Clo would want us to press on so with that in mind, Es?”

“Thank you, Ny,” says Es, pausing to swallow her own emotion. “But before we get to that, I see we have a new face at the table. Ko?”

“Hi everyone,” says Ko, before gesturing to the woman sitting beside him. “This is Syl, she made contact via our new friend Qi. He brought Syl to meet with me earlier this week.”

After a general murmur of welcome, Es draws breath to continue but Ko isn't finished.

“Syl is the GovCo exec who helped me escape when I posed as an EnFo,” he says.

The table erupts into chaos, with cries of spy and traitor tumbling over one another until Ny calls for calm. Syl glances about in obvious fear.

“Ko,” he says seriously. “Are you sure about this? Are you vouching for her?”

“I am,” says Ko calmly.

“Well,” says Ny, pausing to stare at Syl thoughtfully. “That's good enough for me. Es?”

The table grumbles to quiet and Syl continues to receive several open glares.

“Alright,” says Es, lips pursed, eyes narrowed. “The fact is, we are failing the people, across the board. What happened to Clo and the others yesterday was far from an isolated incident. We're losing people every day now. It seems like each time we try to lead a group of refugees to what we think is safety, we just lead them straight into another battle.”

There is no grumbling now, just gulping and sniffing and staring at the table.

“Added to that,” Es continues, blinking a single tear onto her cheek. “Medical supplies and food are running out, everywhere. We're perhaps a few weeks away from having literally nothing to offer anyone.”

Syl stares at Es open mouthed, while others hold their heads in their hands.

“So,” Es continues, raising her chin defiantly. “With all of that in mind. Ny, this plan of yours, what would attempting it actually entail?”

Ny nods sadly and reaches out his real left hand, placing it on top of Es's.

“Thank you, Es,” he says quietly. “You raised some very good points about this last time. Since then, I've been working with Mo to address them. He's found a way to make the projectors more powerful but also much smaller meaning we now can create enough of them.”

Syl turns to look questioningly at Ko, but he shakes his head.

“Power is still an issue but I'm afraid we are just going to have to take it on faith that it will be there when we need it,” Ny continues. “The same goes for what happens after. I know that's not a great answer but given the circumstances, I'm afraid faith is all we have. We just need to get on with placing the projectors, everywhere, as quickly as possible.”

There are a few gasps at this but no actual objections.

“Finally and I know I haven't mentioned this before,” says Ny, swallowing and then licking his lips. “But saving everyone in The Levels simply isn't enough. We're going to save everyone on The Scapes as well.”

Now the objections come, thick and fast with cries of 'impossible' and 'insane'. Ny shakes his head and waves them all away resolutely.

“I'm sorry,” he says. “But this is how it must be. We are not going choose who lives and who dies here. It's everyone or no-one. Now I hear the people of The Scapes have a Queen these days so I propose we dispatch a formal envoy to make contact and bring them into the plan. Ko? Are you willing?”

“Ok,” says Ko, wide eyed with shock. “If that's what you want then... sure.”

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