Aaimina leads us to a large apartment type area. It must be where hospital staff slept and ate for long shifts. There’s beds, a fridge, microwave, showers, just about everything but a kitchen. Counting Aaimina, there’s six survivors here. Marhsall and I receive a mixed welcome, there’s instantly arguing about what to do with us. I don’t get involved yet, I’d like to see how the group interacts and determine if there is a natural leader, even if they haven’t officially chosen anyone. It seems like they’ve just been doing everything democratically, but that doesn’t work with six people because you need a tie breaker. Unless, someone’s vote counts for more than the others. For now, I try to grab names as a I can to figure out who they are.

Calista is doing the most talking; she’s got green eyes, lopsided blonde bangs. Calista is petite to put it mildly and is leaning into her sex appeal with some eye catching makeup. It seems to be working, she’s keeping Enda and Tamara on her side. Enda is a man who looks to be slightly older than Marshall and I. He’s got thin eyebrows and very neatly taken care of hair, in contrast to the large bird tattooed on his forehead. Tamara has piercing blue eyes, not the attractive kind, but the scary kind, shoulder length brown hair tied up into two ponytails despite the fact that she looks old enough to be the mother of the teenage boy looking out the window who seems to be in a different world.

Everyone seems to be split into two factions. Aaimina is the default leader of the second faction. Thore is a large man, at least 6’5 and maybe 400 pounds, looking at him, he’s a monster. He’s fat, but not the kind of sloppy fat, but fat as in there’s a ton of muscle but he doesn’t count carbs and likes sugary drinks. Niko is the teenage boy, as tall as Thore but lacking in muscle and fat, but he makes up for it with acne and fidgeting.

“Maybe we should give them some time,” Marshall whispers to me.

“We could come back, we know where we are now. Let’s go check on Marki.”

“No, don’t go,” Aaimina grabs my hand tightly.

Calista’s team is insisting we go and lock the hospital back down. She makes it clear that she doesn’t trust us, which is fine, I don’t trust her either. I don’t even trust Marshall right now. Aaimina let’s go of my hand when Niko spots it and laughs. I don’t think it was anything romantic, just trying to keeps someone around to go up against Calista. Aaimina is clearly leading her faction, but Calista has a way of speaking that overpowers her and makes her seem unsure.

“Separating would be a bad idea. We’re better off as a group,” I speak up when Calista keeps pushing to lock us on the other side of the hospital.

“What do you bring to the table,” Tamara asks mockingly.

“For starters, we’ve got six guns, and the six of you have none,” I respond.

“Are you saying you’re going to kill us,” Calista asks feigning shock.

“They didn’t say that,” Enda finally speaks up. “I’m sure they’re saying they have better protection than we do. It takes a lot of energy to break the skull on those grubs,” he argues in our defense.

“If you don’t want us here, it doesn’t matter. We’re not staying long. We’re leaving soon, and taking our guns. We’ve got a mission to complete, and other survivors,” Marshall argues.

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We’re splitting up Calista’s faction. Tamara is strong but Enda has come around on us being here. But Marshall is right, we’re not staying long. We’ve got a lead on a possible way out of here. If the scientist who sent the beacon are still alive, they probably know a way off the planet.

“Fine, they can join my group since so many of you insist,” Calista surrenders.

The fact that she considers herself the leader of this group is troublesome. It’s clear that the entire group doesn’t feel that way but nobody speaks to shut her down is going to cause problems. Either someone is going to hurt her, or she’s going to get one of us hurt with her logic.

“If we’re all going to be a group, we need to decide what to do next,” Aaimina speaks up.

“We wait until we’re saved,” Tamara presents an option.

“We’re the rescue team, and we’re in need of rescue, I don’t think that’s an option,” I shoot down her idea before it can gain any traction.

“I say we fight, and join up with one of the groups that left the colony earlier,” Thore offers.

It’s not a terrible idea, but one that Marshall and I can’t abide by if there’re any sense of duty left within us. I give a glance to Marshall and he gives a knowing nod in response. He’s more military looking than I am and exudes commander energy. They’re more likely to listen to him, and we’re on the same page right now.

“We’ve got a lead that we need to chase down. I think we should all go, it’ll be safer, and if it doesn’t work out, we may run into one of the groups of people who escaped,” Marshall presents his plan.

“You want us to risk our lives? For what,” Calista asks.

“Because we have a chance at saving others, maybe getting a cure. We’re tracking scientists who were working on a cure. That’s worth checking into,” I argue.

She can’t argue against Marshall and I. It’s really crazy how we walked into this room and managed to start taking control. It wasn’t hard when we simultaneously realized that she was just talking louder than everyone else and luring them into meaningless arguments.

“Sounds like a great plan. You two,” Niko points back and forth at Marshal and I repeatedly, “are tag team champions of the world,” he laughs before staring out of the window again.

I’m sure that kid is on drugs, but nobody else wants to point it out. I can tell by the dilation of his pupils and occasional slurring of his speech. If he’s going to go with us, I need to get him through withdrawals as soon as possible. He’s going to be useless if we send him out there with a gun.

“I didn’t agree to that,” Calista speaks up.

“Neither did I Tamara argues.”

“Then we should take a vote,” Aaimina suggests.

“I’m in favor of leaving the hospital. If we die, then we die, then we were meant to. We’ll eventually need to leave this place. Might as well do it while we’re still in good shape,” Thore speaks in favor of our plan.

“I’m on board as well,” Aaimina brings the number to three.

“I’m not,” Calista is the first vote against.

“Me neither,” Tamara tosses one of her pigtails.

“I’m sorry, but I can not in good consciousness chase after people who may no longer be alive,” Enda speaks.

“So’re we’re tied, I guess that means we’re going nowhere,” Calista says smugly.

“We didn’t vote,” I remind her.

“Why would you get a vote,” she argues.

“Because we’re risking our lives as well,” Marshall says.

Nobody is surprised when Marshall and I vote to leave. Calista is determined to have her way. Now she’s in favor of leaving, but not to follow the beacon. She wants to leave the city and find a place with other survivors. She’s starting arguments for the sake of keeping everyone in the hospital. It’s as if she’s kept them locked in here like a specter of the hospital that doesn’t want to be alone. It doesn’t matter, the numbers are five to three now. We’ve taken any control she has in a democratic format, she’s arguing for the sake of control. She’s fighting a battle she can’t win and isn’t worth losing.

“How about we all eat dinner, and get to know each other better,” Aaimina suggests to calm tensions.

“I can always eat,” Thore laughs.