24 hours
They walked single file through trees when Asha appeared to them.
“The emergency channel is broadcasting.”
Nalim turned, gathering them in a huddle. “Get down. Keep your volume low.”
Asha took the center, and the weak connection flickered to life. The voice was nothing they recognized.
Nalim sighed, shoulders dropping. “It’s a preset message.”
“It’s just numbers.”
“They’re rendevous coordinates.” She looked at her Ghost. Time seemed to be running through her fingers. “They’re evacuating the planet.”
“Are we gonna make that?” Europa’s eyes flicked between her companions.
Nalim sighed. “No. It’s on the other side of the City. Not only would we have to backtrack, we’d either have to circle the City with a wide distance, or go through and hope the Cabal never see us. It’s too much of a risk.”
“We could go back for…”
Nalim shut her eyes in frustration. “Euri, I know you want to give Cal a proper burial, but we can’t.” She held one of Euri’s hands, and tried to keep her voice steady. “I won’t dig your grave as well. Please. Losing two was enough.”
Both of them looked at her in surprise, but Alexi was the one to speak.
“...Who else?”
She looked down at the grass underneath their feet. Shit. “River.”
They were silent. Alexi covered his mouth with his hand, and Europa’s knees fell into the dirt.
“A missile hit her apartment head-on in the first attacks.” She balled up her cloak in her hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Breathe. Not now.
Alexi’s hand squeezed her shoulder. “It’s alright. We were...occupied.”
Europa’s gaze turned down. “They really took… everything.”
Nalim bit her lip. “No, they haven’t. Not yet. Keep your eyes up. We’ll mourn them when we’re safe.”
“Safe?”
She sighed. “Safer.”