Chapter 16 #3
“Don’t be. I get it. The suit sucks. Thanks, Hayes,” Levi said as Tristian walked to the locker closest to the door.
He laid his helmet down before assisting Ingrid out of her suit.
Levi began working around me. More clicks sounded, followed by pressure being released all around my body.
Damien climbed onto the cots before he unceremoniously tugged down the red flag.
“Damien, what do you think you are doing?” Tristian drawled as Ingrid began removing his gear.
“Improving the décor,” Damien muttered.
“Put it back. We have enough on our plates without a fight with Kaleo’s Heathens.” Tristian stepped fully out of the suit. I clamped my mouth closed as Tristian stood in nothing but his thermals. The fabric hugged his muscular body, leaving little to the imagination.
“I hate that you’re a good person,” Damien groaned.
“If you’re done, I’d like out of the plastic wrap,” Levi whispered.
I jumped. “Shut up.”
“You’re being obvious,” Levi taunted.
“What are you two whispering about?” Damien demanded, pinning the red flag back up.
“Sasha doesn’t know how to get me out,” Levi told him without missing a beat.
“Here,” Tristian said, walking over. I moved out of the way. “You should stay and watch for next time.”
Levi’s eyes flashed before he turned around. Tristian hit a series of buttons, the suit hissing as it released. “These for the top half, and then these.” He reached down toward Levi’s hip for the left side.
“Don’t be gentle with me for Sasha’s sake, Hades,” Levi mocked.
Levi stumbled forward as Tristian shoved him, his gear half off. They both laughed. “Cadell can figure out the other side, ass,” Tristian said, leaving Levi bent over, gear hanging from him. “Missed you too.”
“I love a good bromance moment,” Damien said, hopping off the cots. The red flag was back on the wall—just upside down.
“Food’s ready,” Isla called to the group by the time I exited the shower.
Everyone interchanged between eating and bathing.
The food consisted of broth, an array of freeze-dried items, and more paste.
Exhaustion settled in, making conversation scarce; only Patrick seemed to maintain any semblance of protocol.
I helped Rumi clean the dishes as Damien dried them and Isla put them away.
Patrick enlisted Levi, Ingrid, and Tristian to organize everyone’s gear and exchange oxygen containers.
A door along the floor stood open, revealing a stash of narrow tubes that they inserted into the thick back of each suit.
Ten minutes later, the makeshift kitchen was clean and the suits were restocked.
Everyone climbed into their cots. There was no boys’ and girls’ side, as Rumi took the cot closest to the bathroom.
Patrick climbed in next to her, followed by Damien and Isla.
Ingrid next to Isla, leaving two empty cots as Levi clambered on the one closest to the wall.
It seemed partners did everything together on missions.
Levi stretched out, eating up the entire cot. If Levi took up the whole cot, Tristian wouldn’t fit on just his cot. I glanced between the two touching cots. There would be no space. Even as exhaustion lay heavy on me, something twisted deep in my gut.
Levi tucked his right arm behind his head, his brows raised at me. My tired body demanded I lie down.
Behind me, Tristian said, “I’ve got—”
“First watch,” the unit responded sleepily.
I turned to find Tristian climbing the stairs, his dark curls unbound.
A soft thud filled the outpost. A small window to above was revealed as Tristian took a seat on the stairs, facing it.
For at least the first watch, I would have space.
I sighed as I climbed into my cot, my body rejoicing as I plummeted face-first.
“I have my question,” Rumi said to the quiet room. Groans and sighs punctured the sleepy haze. I rolled onto my back.
“Rums, seriously, right now?” Isla sighed.
“Better not be another scary one. I want to sleep tonight,” Damien bemoaned. “I hate nightmares.”
“Why must you do this every time?” Patrick groaned, but his tone was gentle, understanding.
Tristian remained quiet at his post as he observed above.
“Let’s hear it, Rums,” Levi said to the dark room.
“What is your biggest regret in your life?”
A single moment flickered before my eyes before shifting. Again and again. An unending reel. I had too many—but each regret ended with the view of my family. Their faces so clear—it was as if they were beside me.
“Damn it, Rumi. I’ll take the shift,” Isla grumbled.
“Why, Rums, why?” Patrick muttered.
“Queue the fucking nightmares,” Damien murmured.
Ingrid’s form shifted on the other side of Tristian’s empty cot. “Fear,” she admitted quietly. The others grew silent at her one-word answer. “Always letting it win.”
I swore I heard Rumi sigh from the other end of the room like the honesty soothed her. “Anyone else? Sasha?”
“Pass,” I whispered.
“Levi?”
I turned to see Levi staring at the ceiling, his eyes glazed over as if he saw something else. Tristian’s form shifted by the door.
“Not forgiving people when I had the chance. When they were alive to hear it,” Levi confessed.
I’m never going to forgive you for leaving. The last words I said to my father. I should have hugged him back, told him I didn’t mean it. Instead the regret festered, contaminating all my thoughts.
“Hayes,” Rumi asked.
“Not this time,” Tristian said, his back to us.
The room fell quiet again, the weight of the two members’ regrets heavy in the air.
“Letting us split up,” Rumi said. “Not sticking together. Not meeting the end by their side.”
Yeah, that was definitely one of mine.
That would always be one of mine.