"We're both in danger being together." Blaine looked him straight in the eye. "We are willing to face what happens. Together."
Dobin returned his gaze, "it's not just you two. It's the rest of us as well. Do you think we can sit back, that I can sit back, while she's in danger? Do you know what it was like having her risking herself every day for my safety while I was too powerless to do anything?"
Blaine sighed, "Dobin…"
"Don't! I'm not useless anymore and I don't appreciate being treated as though I am!"
"That was never our intention. We don't want others to get hurt because of our feeling for each other."
"And the rest of us shouldn't care if you're in danger?"
"Let's discuss this portion later. We are safe here. Okay?"
Dobin sighed, "alright. I want breakfast anyway."
Dobin walked onto the branch outside the room with Blaine following him. The tree set them both down on the ground. Meanwhile, Lana heard everything because the tree shared it.
Before long, Lana served bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and oatmeal. Preparations were interrupted so she greatly apologized. As they sat at the table under the tree eating, they heard Star wake up and start screaming. Between the burns and the thorns of her bindings, she wasn't having a good day.
As the friends ate, Chekof asked, "what's the plan?"
Lana shrugged, "Karlen, Rene, Dobin, Alto, and Almin keep grinding. The rest of us need to take psycho to the shelter before she harms anyone as well as get some provisions."
Karlen nodded, liking the idea.
"Does anyone have anything they need or would like? I know I'd like a pillow. The built-in one isn't very good," Lana said.
Almin smiled, "is it possible to bring back some dessert? I won't say the makings because the longer we cook, the less we are hunting."
Lana nodded. She started compiling a list as a few people had some suggestions. Most of it was food related so they didn't need to worry about having to carry it back. They were right. Time cooking took away hunting time. If they wanted top scores, that needed to be reduced. It took more time to grow the food than to cook it. She would find the happy medium there.
Lana had Kattie get Star's gear from the room. It weighed a ton so Chekof chose to carry it. He had the empty meat bag as well as his own bag which he emptied to fill with meat as well. Lana informed the hunting team where to find beasts to satisfy them for a few hours then huddled up the four. They agreed no talking on the way back and Kattie would have her watch on record the whole time. If the prisoner tried anything, talking may be permitted to a degree.
By the time they went in to get her, Star was standing. She was covered in dirt because Blaine had loosened the dirt once again so she could grow food. The caked-on make-up looked horrendous with all the dirt mixed in. Lana had to resist the urge to take a picture. Where the hot water hit her, while it wasn't blistering, it was red and swollen. Rene had been ordered not to treat it. Save the MC for those in the party.
Chekof walked up behind her and pushed her out of the room and Blaine filled in the entrance once again. They lined up in the pre-determined formation: Kattie to the right front, Chekof to the left front. Blaine to the left rear and Lana to the right rear.
Star was screaming obscenities, I'll kill you's, and being all together obstinate. Chekof gave her bag to Blaine and threw her over his shoulder and off they went. She tried to wiggle off his shoulder and out of his grip but only exhausted herself.
It took an hour to get to the shelter because those hunting near the shelter had cleared most of the area so there were no impediments.
The shelter was large and bustling. There were at least 100,000 people living there of all walks of life. Levels 1-3 were relatively safe planets so people were attracted to the easy money of simple beasts. Eventually industry would build up and result in what they were walking into now. There were sentries with mechs at the entrances just in case something happened but it was highly unlikely. Walkers had not been seen since the ceasefire. Their home base was never even found but security was in place just in case.
The military presence was drowned out by the amount of civilians. There were signs pointing to underground shelters which were posted low enough they could not be seen over the 20-foot walls surrounding the city. Due to the war, the market was placed around the outside of the city with administrative and residential buildings closer to the center. The military had barracks at both entrances and that was where the teachers should be, monitoring the communications in case the students called for help.
They found Lana's teacher who called over Blaine's teacher, Sergeant Tabitha Rudy. All the video footage was turned over. The teachers reviewed it right there in front of the students. They had lived it but it looked much worse in the footage.
Sergeant Rudy looked straight at him, "due to her inappropriate touching," he then looked at Lana, "and the attempt on your life, this needs to be elevated to the general. She will be court-martialed. You shouldn't need to testify but are you willing if that becomes the case?"
Lana nodded, "of course."
"Without question, I'd testify," Blaine replied.
A military policeman was called to take the girl and the evidence against her. He placed a metal collar on her to prevent her from using her ability.
Sergent Rage looked at Lana, "now that issue is handled, where is the rest of your team and why didn't you come back to shelter last night?" Sergeant Rudy appeared to be awaiting the response with bated breath.
Lana took a deep breath, "we found shelter about an hour away. It will be better for hunting if we can find safety there and start hunting earlier. We are going to get some supplies and head back out. The others are already hunting."
"Who's idea was this?"
Blaine and Lana both said "mine" at the same time. She chuckled, "we discussed it beforehand. We want top scores for that bonus outing. Which means we are willing to work for it."
The teachers looked at each other. Sergeant Rage decided he would accompany them back to their shelter. He followed them to the market which was both open-air stalls and stores which you could enter. One of the stalls was where they bought the book on the beasts of this planet before they headed out upon arrival. Lana saw the spot they arrived on the way to the market area and shivered remembered the feeling in her stomach as she came through the teleporter. She felt lucky she could stand, she felt so ill.
Sergeant Rage watched as the students scattered to the various stores and stalls and made their selections. Chekof had to explain to the merchant he needed enough meat to fill both bags and he wasn't stealing, before he started shoving meat in them. He had to take it all back out to pay for it then had trouble putting it back in.
Blaine looked at the desert selections and bought a large variety. He also found some nice dresses he wanted to see Lana in and decided to surprise her. He was happy he could find top quality here and not have to order it on a computer.
Kattie looked for additional lighting for their rooms so they could hang the lights rather than using the ones clipped to their clothing. She also found a collapsible bird stand that would work great for Sven. Tossing in a six collapsible bowls that could hold water to wash themselves in the morning as well as give Sven a traveling water bowl and her shopping was done.
Lana bought some inflatable pillows, a few more blankets, knowing the meat bag would be empty when they went to leave, and a whole bunch of food supplies. She also decided to buy a rolling cart to carry it all back with. Lana bought the most but most of it was food and snacks. She would not need to cook lunch or dinner tonight.
"We are ready Sergeant Rage."
"Did you leave anything in the store, Cadet Plantwell?"
She chuckled, "most of this is food and will be used up before the week is out. I'm feeding six teenage boys!"
Sergeant Rage laughed, "lead on."
As they approached the shelter, Lana took the time to explain what he was getting ready to see. "I want to remind you that I am an original and I'd prefer if you not share what you are getting ready to see."
As they stepped into what once was a clearing, he let out a small gasp. Lana commanded the tree to open and return to lockdown after they had all entered. "Before you get concerned or anything, I want to show you something."
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