When Hilargi was getting ready for bed that night, she nervously set her alarm for midnight. She sat on her bed afterwards, her fingers gripped her mattress so firmly that it turned the tips of her fingers red. Yesterday, while she had down time, she had searched through her books, her memories, and even her data files in an attempt to find a clue as to why no male children were being born. She didn’t know why it had struck her so much to try and find the reason—something about talking about it with the Last Man the other day made it an impulse she couldn’t shake.

While she couldn’t find any particularly meaningful information about the lack of male children through data files or through physical books, she did have her own memories to go on. Her memories of her mother leaving with other scientists to go find a scientist who could help them solve the problem of the lack of male children haunted her. This was where she wanted the Last Man’s opinion, and perhaps, his help.

She kept looking at the clock hanging above her bed. The ticking of its hours and minute hands were so loud they were deafening. It was midnight, and the Last Man still hadn’t shown up. It was five minutes past midnight, and he still hadn’t shown up. Hilargi was disappointed, but she figured that he wasn’t coming, so she began to crawl under her covers when, finally, there was a knock at her door.

She launched herself off her bed in excitement, flinging the door open. There was the Last Man, his hands clasped behind his back. Hilargi ushered him in and then shut the door behind him as quietly as possible.

“Have a seat.” Hilargi suggested, being a hospitable as possible.

The Last Man surveyed her room, barely hiding an upturned lip at how dirty it was. He cleared his throat and asked as politely as possible, “…where?”

Hilargi was thoroughly embarrassed about the state of her room. She twiddled her fingers and replied, “Oh… anywhere. How about the bed?”

Nikodemus nodded and headed over to the bed. Hilargi sat in the chair next to her desk. For a moment, things were quiet. Nikodemus folded his hands in his lap and looked around her room curiously. He said, “Well… this isn’t what I expected. I noticed there’s a lot of wood in here. Did Ellia let you have that?”

Hilargi nodded. “She sure did. So anyway, the reason I called you here has to do with your comment about me researching the lack of male children the other day.”

Nikodemus was smiling at the fact that Ellia let her have wooden things. He was still focused on the point. “That sure was nice of her…”

Hilargi pursed her lips. He’s not focusing at all. Wait, I wonder if they have genuine feelings for each other? That’s kind of sweet. Hilargi’s thoughts were errant and unfocused as well, but she managed to bring them back to the topic at hand. “Anyway, about the male children…”

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Nikodemus, who looked like he had retreated into a fantasy realm for a moment, came back to reality. “Yes. What about them?”

Hilargi took a deep breath. She knew what she was about to suggest was ridiculous, but she was going to do it anyway. She said it very fast, “My mother and some of her mutant friends traveled south when I was a child in search of a mutant scientist who might have had the answer as to why male children aren’t being born.”

Nikodemus leaned forward--listening to her intently with a neutral expression, waiting for her to continue. His lack of expression didn’t make it any more relaxing for her to tell him what she was planning. She tripped over her words as she said, “A-anyway. I was thinking that… since we both want this problem solved, and since it’s the most important problem for us to solve… we should set out together with Yair and go find this scientist.”

Nikodemus was quiet. His face was pensive as he evaluated her argument. Eventually, he said, “Do you have any proof that this person exists? Or the exact location of this person?”

Hilargi was already getting the feeling that Nikodemus was not going to help her, and she felt her heart sinking. Hilargi grabbed a piece of paper from her drawer and showed it to Nikodemus. “I have some of my mother’s notes.”

It was a single piece of paper with broad information about where the mutant scientist might be “It says he was about three days south from your mother’s position and was located in a cave…”

Hilargi nodded. “Yes. A distinct cave by my mother’s words.”

Nikodemus lifted his eyes briefly to look at Hilargi, and then looked back at the paper. “It says that the scientist was a biologist who specifically studied babies while they were in the womb right under the noses of the Zironist church… this is promising.”

Hilargi hopped excitedly. “So? Should we go?”

Nikodemus frowned, handing Hilargi the piece of paper and clasping his hands in his lap. “I think it’s a little too much to risk. We have so little information to go on. Do you even know the exact location of where you and your mother used to live?”

Hilargi looked down at her feet. “No, but Ellia does. Maybe you can ask her?”

Nikodemus sighed softly. “I don't think she would tell me… not only that, but we don’t even know the location of the scientist, either. A distinct cave is somewhat good information, but it sounds like a fool’s errand to me—it might be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Not only that, but I’m a little bit too much to risk. If I die, it’s all over for humanity.”

Hilargi was so disappointed. She knew he would most likely say no, but she nonetheless had an exciting vision in her mind of going on an adventure with the Last Man, finding this mutant who could solve all their problems, and ending the conflict between the tribes by doing so. She had been soaring with the adventurous feeling of it all, but now, her wings were clipped. She nodded despondently. “I understand. I just… it might be worth it since you’re going to die one day, and unless we get this figured out…”

Nikodemus nodded. “I know, but… we might just hasten the death of the human species if I go. Maybe if we could convince Ellia to send some scouts out to look for him…”

Hilargi’s face lit up. “That might work! But I don’t know how we would convince her…”

Hilargi and Nikodemus went quiet. This new possibility held them captivated—they felt like it was the key to solving their problems. Nikodemus crossed her arms thoughtfully. He told her, “You know, she actually likes you quite a bit, and she likes me quite a bit, too."