The journey back is tense, silent. We don't talk much, both lost in our own thoughts, our own worries. The desert stretches out around us, a vast, empty expanse of sand and sky. The sun is high overhead, the heat relentless, but we push on, the hum of the transport a constant, steady presence.
We're both exhausted, our movements slow and sluggish as we load up the last of the supplies. It's a clumsy, haphazard process, our tired minds making mistakes, our bodies protesting every movement. I can see the frustration in Alistair's eyes, the tension in his jaw, but neither of us says anything. There's no point. We just need to get this done, to get back to the others.
Finally, we're ready. Alistair climbs onto the transport, settling into the driver's seat, such as it exists, which is really just sitting on the floor, his hands gripping the controls. I join him, sitting down beside him, my body sagging with exhaustion.
"Let's go," he says, his voice a low, tired rumble.
I nod, bracing myself as the transport lurches forward, the engine humming to life. We move slowly at first, picking up speed as we leave the cave behind, the desert opening up in front of us.
I'm sure the both of us would enjoy more communication. We have three days of travel ahead of us. But I can't bring myself to break the silence, my mind too foggy, my body too weary. I just sit there, watching the desert pass by, my thoughts drifting aimlessly.
"If you want to sleep, you might as well." Alistair rumbles from ahead of me.
"And leave you alone to pass out at the wheel...?"
He scoffs, and shakes his head. "Not gonna fall asleep any time soon. If you're worried about that, nap now so you can wake me up with sweet words when I'm passing out later."
"Sweet words?" I snort. "I'll smack you if you nod off." But my eyes are already feeling heavy. I yawn, a jaw cracking sound, and shake my head. "I don't know if I can sleep right now."
"Sure about that? You sound like you're about to drop."
I give him a look, but I don't argue. Instead, I just shift, trying to find a comfortable position. It's impossible with how packed the transport is. The best I can do is wedge myself between Alistair and the transport. One arm lightly wraps around him, mostly because it's uncomfortable to crush it between us, but ostensibly also to keep from falling off in my sleep.
"Don't pass out if I do..."
"Trust me." His voice is oddly clipped. "Sleep. Is the last thing. I'm doing right now." I don't know what that means. I guess I'll just have to take his word for it.
It takes a while for me to drift off. My mind is too active, too full of worries and fears. But eventually, the gentle hum of the transport, the warmth of the sun, and the solid presence of Alistair beside me, it all lulls me into a restless, uneasy sleep.
The next time I'm awake, it's night. I don't know how long I've been asleep, exactly, but I can't help the immediate guilt I feel when I see Alistair still awake, still driving us after all this time. Of course - our time would double or worse if we took breaks. But...
I touch his shoulder. "Hey. I can drive for a bit. Go ahead and sleep."
I can't read anything on the transport controls, but I don't need to. They're simple enough. I know how to go forward and steer well enough to handle empty clay desert. I can do this. Let him get some sleep. He's exhausted.
But his response is to shake his head and brush my hand off. "Nah. Stay put."
I frown. I don't want to let him keep doing this. "Just for a few hours..."
"It's fine. I'm not tired."
"That's a lie."
"No, it's not." He's defensive, his voice sharper. I don't understand why. Is it pride? I would hope that's not it. It seems too stupid.
"I can tell you're tired, Alistair. Just let me drive." I reach for the controls, and he slaps my hand away from it.
"I said I'm fine, Sarah. Just lay back down."
I narrow my eyes at him, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Why are you being so difficult? I'm just trying to help."
He doesn't respond, just keeps his eyes on the desert ahead, his jaw set in a firm line.
"Has anyone told you, you're an ass when you're tired?" I huff, moving my hand back to his waist.
"No one but you." He shoots back, though the edge of annoyance is gone from his voice. "And you're wrong. I'm an ass all the time."
That pulls a small smile to my lips. "That's true enough."
He chuckles, a low, tired sound. "See? You're already feeling better."
I roll my eyes. "Because I slept. It's great. You should try it." I settle my head against his back. "I'm not going to fall asleep again, though."
"Sure you won't." I can hear the smirk in his voice.
We fall into a more comfortable silence, the tension from earlier dissipating. I watch the desert pass by, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the landscape. It's peaceful, in a way. Calming. And it's not nearly as hot as the day. I like that, too. I don't want to sleep again, not yet. I want to enjoy this moment.
Besides that, Alistair has to eventually give up and admit he can't drive the whole way, so I'll be ready to take over then. I won't miss it.
"You know..." Alistair's voice breaks the silence, his tone contemplative. "I've been thinking."
"About what?" I ask, curious.
"About... what we're going to do when we get back." He pauses, as if considering his words. "We can't just keep running, Sarah. Sooner or later, they're going to find us. We need a plan. A real plan."
"I know." I sigh, my mood souring. "I just... don't know what that plan is. And I'm not the leader."
"No. But you're the one who made the decision to leave, to go back to that damn supply depot." He glances over his shoulder at me. "You're the one who decided to burn it down."
"Not sure burning down our only source of supplies is a good mark of leadership..." I mutter, but it feels hollow.
He chuckles. "I'd beg to differ."
I don't respond, just tighten my grip on his shirt. His hand settles over mine. "I'm not saying I know what to do, either. But I think we need to do something. We need to make them hurt, Sarah. I don't want to just scurry from mouse hole to mouse hole." His hand grips mine tightly. "I want to fight."
I close my eyes, feeling the anger, the determination, the fear, all swirling inside me. He's right. We can't just keep hiding. We need to fight back, to show them that we're not just cattle, not just pests. But how? How do we fight against an empire, against a civilization that's so far beyond us?
"I don't know where to start..."
Even for the kind of 'victory' he'd suggested before.
"I like the idea of burning things."
"Pyromaniac..." I can't help but laugh.
"Shut up." He grumbles, but I hear the smile in his voice. "I mean it, though. It's not... complex. Maybe it doesn't accomplish any greater goal. But it does destroy their things. It bites back."
"I guess... that's something."
"Yeah. It's something." He agrees, quiet, "And something is better than nothing."
That's true, at least.
We travel through the night, the conversation turning to lighter topics, small talk that keeps our minds occupied. It's nice, in a way. Comforting. It makes the journey feel less daunting, less endless. But as the second sun starts to rise, the heat of the day returns, and the exhaustion settles back in.
Alistair's movements become sluggish, his responses slower. I can see the strain in his eyes, the tension in his posture. He's pushing himself too hard, trying to stay awake, to keep going. But he's only human, just like me. He has his limits.
"Alistair," I say, my voice soft but firm. "You need to rest."
"I'm fine." He insists, but his words are slurred, his focus wavering.
"You're not. Stop the transport. Let me take over."
He hesitates, his hands gripping the controls tighter. "I... I can do it."
"Alistair, I will smother you."
"Wh-wha-" He blinks, as if that wasn't the response he was expecting. "What the hell?"
I. Was trying to hearken back to him forcing me to drink the last time we made this trip. But I'm also... pretty tired. I blame my poor handling of the English language on that, and not on... me. "Just. Pull over."
He sighs, a long, slow exhale of defeat. "Alright. Just... give me a second."
I wait as he slows the transport, bringing it to a stop in the middle of the desert. The sudden silence is deafening, the only sound the distant whistle of the wind. He slumps forward, his head resting on the controls, his body sagging with exhaustion.
Stopping immediately spikes my anxiety. It's unreasonable, but I can't help but feel that fear, and the urgency shows in my voice. "Alright, move." I shove him over. "I'll start driving."
He groans, shifting over to make room for me. I take the controls, my hands gripping them tightly, my eyes scanning the desert ahead. I can do this. I can get us back. I have to.
"Good...luck." He murmurs, his voice already fading as sleep claims him.
I glance at him, a small smile tugging at my lips. He's out like a light, his breathing deep and even. I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, of accomplishment. I got him to rest. That's a win in my book.
We settle into a comfortable rhythm, when one of us is too tired, the other drives. The days blur together, the desert stretching out endlessly around us. But we push on, driven by the need to get back, to reunite with the others.
On the last day, I'm driving, the suns high overhead, the heat oppressive. Alistair is asleep beside me, his head resting on my shoulder. I'm tired, so tired, but the end is in sight. I can feel it. Just a few more hours, and we'll be there. We'll be back with the others, back in the safety of the pumping station. I just have to keep going, keep pushing.
And then the world lurches. The transport hits a rough patch of ground, a jarring impact that sends everything tumbling. I hear a crash, a loud, metallic sound that makes my heart stop. I turn my head, just in time to see a metal drum tipping over, spilling its contents all over us.
The last thing I hear is Alistair's shout, his voice filled with alarm. Then everything goes dark.