We follow Aaimina, not saying much. Marshall and I discuss Marki, we only get suspicious when it feels as if she’s leading us in circles. I’m not sure Marshall notices, he’s too busy finally eating a filling meal. I never could walk and eat at the same time, but he doesn’t have an issue with it.

“You’re probably wondering who we are,” I break the silence.

“Another gang attempting to take supplies from those who are surviving,” Aaimina answers coldly.

“We’re from The Galactic Federation you dolt,” Marshall answers.

“Oh wow, The Galactic Federation, they sent the big shots,” Aaimina responds coldly.

“We came here because the colony stopped sending and responding to contact,” I try to shift the conversation. “We got attacked, so we’ve only been here a few days. I was hoping you could tell us what it was like when all this started.”

“How it started doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters now is what happens next.”

“I find that history is cyclical, if we can understand what happened, we can figure out what do next. Find a way to save more lives.”

“How many lives have you saved so far?”

“Absolutely none,” Marshall chimes in. “Pretty sure this guy lost some lives.”

“Then why should I take you to see my people,” Aaimina stops walking.

“Because if we work together, we may be able to get out of here. It doesn’t really matter if you don’t like us, none of us want to be here. As soon as we’re free of this place, we never have to speak again.”

“You really want to know what happened,” Aaimina asks, almost taunting me.

“Yes, I’d like if you could tell me what you know.”

“The easiest way to describe it is that people just didn’t care. Nobody was trying to stop the illness. Nobody was looking for solutions. Everyone was just going about their lives as if it was no big deal. We should have been isolating those with symptoms until a cure could be developed or at least making an attempt to slow it down.”

Aaimina rants more than she gives me details about what happened around here. Still, it’s a good confirmation of what I thought happened. There were no attempts to do anything until it was too late and things were already out of hand. Every few decades, a pandemic seems to grip a planet, colony or even planetary system. The Revrell never have this problem because their entire society is built on science and the good of the group. The rest of us are too individualistic, thinking about our feelings over the greater good. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Galactic Federation or Draconian Empire, we keep falling victim to the spread of some deadly illness.

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“Is this the flu part or the grub part,” I ask.

“The flu, the damned flu,” I sense the anger in her voice. “They should have saw it coming. The rest of us aren’t scientist, we trusted them. They kept saying it was a common cold spreading around but we should have known something was up when they started isolating themselves.” I’ve got her going now.

“When it got really bad, that’s when the government decided to step in. They didn’t step in to call for help, or take care of the sick. They made sure we couldn’t leave the planet. They would rather keep this all a big secret than go to someone more knowledgeable for help. It started when they cut off communication with the outside world. We weren’t able to contact our friends and family off planet. Then they wanted to keep us all in our homes, but people need to eat to live, and they weren’t rationing the food fairly so people got upset and took to the street. They turned their guns on regular civilians,” she starts to tear up.

“Hey, you don’t need to tell us anything else,” I place a hand on her shoulder, and try to comfort her as best I can while we’re holding her hostage.

“People started to flee, start their own towns out in the wilderness. Others formed gangs and took territory as their own. That’s how we ended up here, hiding in the hospital.”

“How many of you are there,” I try to gain some information in the most gentle way.

“There’s six of us staying here. We fight, but we stick together.”

I can see the wheels spinning in Marshall’s head. I don’t know what he’s planning but hearing there’s half a dozen people here with no real leader made him pay attention to something besides the food. Aaimina is still leading us in circles, but I think we’re gaining her trust.

“Is there anything you want to know about us before we meet your friends,” I ask once she’s regained her composure.

“How many of you are there,” she asks.

“Just the two of us,” I answer.

“You’re forgetting Marki,” Marshall responds.

“You’re right,” I’ve written Marki off in my head already.

“Who’s Marki,” she asks.

“Our teammate, but she’s sick. She’s in a room on the other side of the hospital,” I explain.

“Is she bitten,” Aaimina asks in a series tone.

“No, she’s just been off ever since we got here.”

“I can’t believe the federation only sent three people,” she shakes her head.

“There were more of us, we got overrun. We’re the only survivors,” Marshall says.

“Then I’m sorry about your friends. I hope they don’t rise,” Aaimina seems sincere as she says the words.

Giving her information about us seems to be working. She’s stopped leading us in circles, we should meet the other soon. I share a glance with Marshall, and decide to follow his lead. He’s got something planned, and I’m just along for the ride right now.

“How long do you plan to stay here,” Aaimina asks as we head down a long corridor.

“We don’t,” Marshall responds before I can speak. “There’s a help beacon, we’re going to respond then get the hell off this planet.”

“Could I come,” she asks.

“Of course,” I respond, as the two of us share an honest glance.