Chapter 13
Edna
Everybody alighted.
"Who is your leader?" Kain walked over to the humans huddled in a loose group.
I exchanged gazes with the members of the exploration team.
There was no designated leader so nobody replied Kain.
His brows furrowed.
"Troublesome. Since there is no leader among you, I will have to just choose someone at random." He sighed before pointing, "You, take this."
He was with a black bag.
He brought a cute metal cube out of the bag.
I didn't move and nobody moved either.
I glanced at every human present.
I don't know why the person he referred to remained still.
Then, everyone turned to me.
I suddenly became self-conscious.
"Hey, girl with black hair and green eyes, I am talking to you. You said your name is Edna or something. Take this and set up the camp for your group." Exasperation was as clear as day in Kain's voice. I rubbed my nose and cleared my throat.
Oh, I was the one he was pointing to.
I didn't even notice.
Kain was very close to shoving the box he was holding into my face.
I received the box he held out to me.
"Uhm, how will I set this up?" I asked as I clenched my fingers around the miniature box.
"Just press the button on it and follow the instructions there. I am sure you guys have something to eat. Don't disturb us if it isn't necessary." Kain said before he walked to the other side of the car. Tekita had already gone over to that side when Kain approached us.
The area the vehicle stopped at had less vegetation and more sand.
There was a few broken structures in the distance.
The structures looked like weather-beaten houses and buildings.
We were getting closer to a desert so the ground had more sand than usual.
The other three aliens didn't follow Kain to the other side of the vehicle.
One of them had a box that was similar to the one Kain gave me.
Occasionally, their eyes would stray to us.
They were here to watch us
My finger wandered around the surface of the box until I found a raised surface. The button was circular.
I pressed the button.
The button didn't bounce back to the former position. It blended in with the smooth surface of the metal box.
A light screen appeared.
There was text on the screen.
[Customize the interior of the tent. After making a decision, press the 'Create' button.]
Eleven humans were present, including me.
I followed the instructions on the blue light screen and customized an area with eleven rooms. The option to add a bathroom wasn't available.
The only thing I could change was the number of rooms.
After I finished my task, I clicked the 'Create' button.
The box flew out of my hand the moment I finished pressing the button.
Muted sounds came out of the box as it flashed with blue lights.
The box expanded and multiplied its former size by 1000.
Clicking noises came from the box's interior.
After a few minutes, the phenomenon stopped and a square building made from metal took the box's place.
There was a door at the entrance of the building.
The same sounds that appeared a few minutes ago made an appearance again.
I glanced at the area the three aliens were standing at.
A smaller building was taking shape.
I stopped looking at them and walked over to our tent for the night.
I pushed the door open and strode in.
The other humans walked in too.
The interior of the metal building was simple and straightforward.
It was divided into eleven spaces with a thin metal door.
White numbers was on each door. The numbers started from one and ended at eleven.
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The thoughts of escape came into my mind again.
I could not get rid of it even if I tried.
This was the best time to realize any escape plans in my opinion.
The security was lax and we had more options. If we get to the destination Tekita intended to bring us to, escaping would be in hell mode.
Still, one part of my heart was skeptical.
Did Tekita and his group really believe that we would stay put?
His threats came to mind.
I knew the threats he said to us wouldn't include death though. Tekita wouldn't want to harm his precious goods severely.
Where there is life, there is abundant hope.
I can work with his threats of punishment. What I would regret for life is letting this opportunity go.
If he didn't believe we would stay still, did he make any preparations to thwart our plans?
I don't know.
I won't lie, I didn't put the three guards outside the tent in my eyes at all.
Although the three minions outside might have superpowers, there was room for us to act. If we catch them by surprise, we would still be able to knock them out.
I was debating within myself.
One part of me wanted to bring everyone along. Doing this would make dealing with the three watchdogs an easy task. If I operated alone, I would find it hard to succeed in my escape.
On the other hand, acting alone had its own benefits too. I would not be obligated to take care of any liabilities.
Finally, I decided.
It was better to act as a group. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Escaping would be easier and it would make surviving in the midst of unknown aliens less suffocating.
I opened my mouth to talk but someone beat me to it.
"Everyone, wait. I have something to say." The only woman in the military trio, Yulia spoke aloud.
The other humans that was about to pick a room stopped.
My eyes focused on Yulia.
The other humans looked at her too.
Yulia handled the inquisitive gazes with ease.
I closed my mouth.
"I know each of us haven't forgotten the reason we are here. The aliens are not as friendly as we thought. We need to escape this place and find a way to communicate with the battleship. The higher-ups should send another spaceship to bring us away. Anything after that is out of our hands." Yulia explained her view.
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I nodded.
Her words were feasible.
"But, Tekita said we shouldn't escape. He will punish us!" Habiba whispered in a tone everyone could hear.
Yulia glared at her.
"Please, if you don't have any encouraging things to say, keep quiet. Habiba, do you want to be whatever he instructs you to become? He is going to sell you as a slave for Caesar's sake! So you just want to passively accept everything that's happening? Just because of a flimsy threat, you are going to become a coward?" Yulia grunted, "You are one of the reasons some men look down on women."
"I am just saying my opinions. You are the one bringing insults to a civilized conversation." Habiba argued.
Their argument was annoying.
My forehead throbbed.
"That is enough. We should be thinking of how to get away from our captors successfully, not arguing like little kids." I sighed.
"You are right, Edna. I lost myself for a second." Yulia apologized, "Are you guys in or out? Actually, everyone has to be on board. We don't want any snitch. Being part of the plan would kill the urge to be a snitch. Joining this plan is either a yes or a yes, no third option."
She was right.
"I'm in." I said, "We have to make plans to leave soon. The best opportunity to leave this place is this very hour. Yulia, what do you think?"
Yulia nodded, "You are on point. This night is the best time to make our getaway. There would not be another great opportunity after this night."
"There would be no sleep tonight." Griffin said, "The male aliens keeping us under surveillance has a higher chance of watching us in shifts. We can take the chance to knock them out and make our escape."
Griffin's words followed my initial thought process.
"One of us has to go outside the tent under the pretense of using the bathroom. We would be able to get the structure of the shifts those watchdogs are following." The scar across Joey's left brow moved as he spoke, "We are going to move as a group. I hope we would have gotten far enough before Tekita discovers we are gone."
"Good idea." Tobias said.
The other civilians echoed his words.
The plan we agreed on was okay.
If a plan is too complicated, it would be a hassle to act it out. Besides, I don't really trust the civilians in the exploration team.
It was not like I am doubtful of their integrity. No. I was just doubtful of their personal abilities.
Although every human in this apocalyptic era knows some kinds of self defense and martial act, the level of the skill would make a big difference
A simple plan was the best.
"Griffin, you will be the scout. While you are outside, survey the surroundings too. If you notice anything wrong, bring the information back." Yulia said. Griffin nodded and left the tent.
I clenched the bags in my hand and breathed slowly.
The moment of truth would soon arrive.