Calibrate Vol. II

She followed the footsteps with complete devotion. Sometimes they wove around, sometimes they faded, but any sign of life was enough for her.
“How far are we from the City?”
“Far.”
“Thanks, Argo.”
He chuckled. “The exact measurement isn’t going to mean anything to you.”
“Fair enough.” She resembled more a desperate ghoul than a Guardian. “What are the chances these are old?”
“Possible.”
“What are the chances they’re already dead?”
“Callisto.”
She sighed, the strength leaking from her gait. “Realistic, then.”
Argo neared her shoulder. “We are going to find these people. And we’ll be okay.”
She opened her mouth to refute, but nothing surfaced. No energy to argue. Just to walk.

“What if I die of radiation poisoning?”
“What if, and this is just speculation,” Argo pointedly looked at her. “I do my job of not letting that happen?”
She smiled.

Ahead of them, the forest broke once more. She followed the footsteps out of the trees and into the sunlight.
“Cal, look.”

One ship. One battered, dirty, idle ship. Just sitting in the grass. The footsteps muddled into chaos underneath her.

“Oh my god.”
Argo nodded. “We did it. We found them.”

Both of them stood in silence. The silence did not break.

“Where are they?” She whispered. Whether it was the awe or the exhaustion that drained her words, he did not know. “One ship, no people.”
“They’re probably hiding. Or just doing something else. It’s not safe to fly in the daytime.”
“Not one person is going to stay behind with the ship?” Her words dulled with every second.
“You don’t know if they’re dead yet. Let’s investigate. Carefully.”
She dragged herself forward, reaching the shadow of the ship. The silence did not break.
“No bags, lights, nothing. Ship’s not on.”
“I assume they’d carry everything they could with them. Maybe that just means everything.”
“I can’t see any more footprints.”
Argo left her shoulder to scan the ship. “City Hawk 723. This ship belongs to a Guardian.”
“Can you tell how long it’s been here?”
“No. Doesn’t say. I think the Tower falling scrambled its ability to track. I’m gonna go inside.”
Callisto nodded, putting the ship to her back. “Be safe.”

He materialized in the cockpit. The windshield let in the only light, casting the controls in a pale blue.
“I recognize these,” He muttered, flitting around. “We did our first strike in a model like this. And all our training.”
The rest of the ship was dark, but not empty. Supplies were shoved in corners and lined the walls. Muddy, not dried footprints. Blankets thrown aside. A lantern and a box of City-made matches. Someone had been in here, and recently.
“Callisto!” He transmatted back outside. “They were here! They’re alive! The ship is a base! Oh, god. Cal? Cal?!”

She lay crumpled on the ground in the shadow of the ship.
--
When they’d approached, his initial reaction was combat. Natural protectiveness, he guessed, but not much he could do except scream. Argo rose from her body, making himself known to the approaching refugees.
“A ghost? Fuck. Another.” The woman leading sighed. Her voice lilted almost apologetically. “I’m sorry.”
“She's not dead.”
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Not that I don’t trust your judgement, but…”
Callisto was unmoving.
“Check her pulse. I promise it’s there.”
The woman, proximity unveiling her features, was familiar. He’d seen her before, maybe in passing. She didn’t show any sign of recognizing him. A dark scarf covered her head, darker from the rain, but now he could see her. She was a human, with red hair and pale skin. Light brown eyes followed his every move with an air of suspicion. Nonetheless, she waved someone forward to follow his instruction.
The refugee knelt down, swiping away Callisto’s wet hair and gently turning her head. When the pulse showed under his fingers, he nodded to the woman.
“Well. Fair enough. She’s still kickin. But for how long?”
Argo sighed. “We’ve been following your group’s footprints for a while now. She’s just exhausted. Will you help her?”
“What’s in it for us?”
He looked at her incredulously, as best a Ghost could. “What?”
“You heard me. Why should I bother with your corpse of a Guardian? You don’t have the Light. She can’t even stay awake. I’ve got other people to worry about. You look like a waste of resources.”
“You have to be kidding.” He scoffed. “She’s alive. That’s not enough for you to help?”
She shrugged. The people behind her looked nervous, fidgety. He looked directly to them.
“Do not a single one of you owe a Guardian anything? All that they’ve done, and you can’t step up to help when you’re needed? Even without the Light, she’s a LIFE! You can’t be bothered to save one life?”
None of them spoke. They looked at each other, and then to the ground. Never at him. Never at Callisto.
“Listen, little light.” The woman’s words were sharp. “The lives we’re saving are our own. Your Guardians were never the only thing holding up the world. If she can’t stay alive without the Light like we always have, that’s not on us.”
Argo seethed. 53 bpm. Callisto was alive. That was all he needed. What he would’ve done for friendly company. One familiar face. One good day. Anything.
“That ship. Where’d you get it?”
The woman’s mistrust shined in her eyes. “We had a Guardian in our group. He got killed. It was his.”
Argo sighed. He’d wished for a happier reason. “Do you know how to fly it?”

They were all silent. He felt his hope rise. “You don’t, do you?”

“No.” Her words leaked irritation.
“My Guardian can fly it. She’s flown home from Venus in critical condition in a ship exactly like that one. She can fly you anywhere you want. All you have to do is help keep her alive.”
“So that’s your barter? We help your Guardian, and she flys us anywhere? What do you do?”
“I’m a Ghost. The only thing I can’t do is shoot.”
She scoffed. “Fine. Deal. Once the other half of our group gets back, we’ll get her tended to. For now she stays where she is.”
He nodded, not wanting to even look at the people behind her. All he did was return to Callisto’s hood. “You know where I’ll be.”
--
She opened her eyes, breathing in quickly. Her lungs whined like she’d been drowning.
“Huh?”
The sky above her was clear and beautiful. Underneath her, fresh grass. The air smelled like flowers and metal. Metal? Her mask was nowhere to be felt.
“Where...Argo? I can’t move. Argo?”
“He is not here, Cali. I am sorry.” A hand brushed away her bangs. The red ribbons on his wrist confirmed her suspicion. “Do not worry. He is alright.”
It occurred to her that her head was in his lap. He sat in the meadow while she was straightened out like she was ready for burial. Anxiety built in frozen fingertips.
“...Lexi?” Her eyes flicked up to his face, and he smiled. “Is it- Are you? Am I dead?”
“No,” He laughed, the familiar reverb making her tear up. “You are okay.”
“I…” Her thoughts moved frustratingly slow. “Are you real?”
He shook his head.
“Am I asleep, or did you just lie about the dead part?”
He chuckled again. “Have I ever lied to you?”
She tried to respond, but all that came out was a sudden choked sob. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding it back.
“Oh no, do not cry, little sister.” He wiped her cheek. “I am not a liar. I promise.”
“I’m sorry. I just miss you so much.”
“I know. But you are strong. You can hold on until we see each other again.”
“I’m so tired, Lexi.”
“I know.” He hummed quietly, laughing under his breath. “That is why you are asleep.”
She gave a bittersweet smile. “Did you paralyze me to make me sleep?”
“Of course not. It is your dream. Get up if you want.”
She raised an eyebrow, and he leaned back. With as much effort as it took her to breathe, she sat up. He smiled.
“Why are you here?”
“Ask you. I am not real.”
“Where’s Argo?”
“With you, of course.”
“Where are you?”
“I do not know.”
She tilted her head in confusion.
“I know only what you know, Cali. And you do not know where I am.”
“But you knew where Argo was.”
“Because you know. He is yours.”
She groaned. “Why would I ask if-”
His smile turned amused.
One hand cupped around air in front of her, and dragged it to her chest. The faintest hint of a point resisted against her palm. She knew what it was without question.
“I don’t want to wake up yet.”
Alexi’s expression turned sagelike. Too much wisdom for the youngest of the family. “I know. But there will be other nights. And much nicer days.”
She frowned, crawling toward him. He accepted her hug with open familiarity. “I miss you.”
“Then come find me.”
--
She woke up slowly, the fatigue fading from her eyes. Argo’s voice cut through fog.
“Callisto! You’re awake, thank the Traveler. Are you okay?”
She groaned, sitting up. “I’m hungry. Cold. Not as tired, though.”
“You hugged me in your sleep.” He tapped against her forehead, the equivalent of a kiss. “I love those, but…”
“You let it freak you out.”
“I let it freak me out. I got scared you weren’t going to wake up. Convinced myself it was your way of saying goodbye.” He sighed. “I like awake hugs.”
She smiled, repeating the hug. “I’m awake.”
“I’m glad. You seem happier. Everything alright?”
“I had a good dream.”
Argo’s shell imitated a smile. “Good. Because I have a lot to catch you up on.”
It suddenly occurred to her to look at her surroundings. Supplies were on the ground. New footprints. There was a blanket on her lower half. She felt hope bubble in her throat.
“People?”
He nodded. “People.”