Then Brice reached for the torch. Ryann passed it over, intrigued where he was going with this. He turned the torch over in his hands a few times, then pulled at the sleeve near the glass. It slid down, and the torch became a lantern, spreading light in all directions.
He placed it carefully on the floor, watching Cathal. Ryann saw no movement.
“If they stay away from this sol setting, we’re safe,” he said, choosing his words with care. “We keep Cathal covered.”
It made sense, but Ryann didn’t like not seeing Cathal. It seemed too final, like a reminder of what would—could—eventually happen. And he was still changing, even if he was hidden from view.
“But we need to get out,” she said, and there was a murmur of assent from both Keelin and Tris. “We need to call Haven.”
“Maybe we can.”
Tris huffed, but Ryann raised a hand. “Go on,” she said to Brice. “Work through it.”
She didn’t allow hope to rise. Not yet. But she felt a surge of something like pride. Brice had the start of an idea, and even if it turned out to be impractical, it might trigger more ideas. And Tris was staying calm. That would be Keelin’s influence, true, but it meant they were calm enough to work together. Like a team. Like a crew.
And maybe this was how they would survive—not through a leader telling them what to do, but through working together.
“The other landing pad’s a half-k away, right? And we have relays and boosters, and whatever else we need.” He waved a hand at the lantern. “And now we have something that keeps the creatures away.”
“It’ll never work,” Tris said, but it wasn’t an accusation or a threat. His words came from doubt and fear.
“Maybe not,” Ryann said. “But don’t give up too easily. Brice, carry on.”
He nodded. “Tris, what equipment would we need to reach Haven from that landing pad?”
Tris seemed about to make some comment, but he bit his lip, and closed his eyes. “Relay, and maybe ten boosters.”
“Then what? They pick up a message straight away?”
“Possibly. Might get an instant response.”
“But might take time.”
“And if you think I’m staying outside, with those things around, you’re out of your head.”
Brice nodded. “Fair enough.” He smiled. “Maybe I am.” But he said that too quietly for it to be in jest.
“We have enough equipment in here, Tris?” she asked, giving Brice time to collect his thoughts and focus his mind.
“Sure. More than enough. Just don’t see how practical it would be, though. Even if we set up a system, we’d have to monitor it. Too much trouble to go to just to send off a random message and hope it hits home.”
“But we can monitor remotely.” Ryann might not have his tech training, but she had some understanding of how these things worked.
“Without power, can’t monitor from inside the hold-out. Concrete’s treated.”
“But can we set up a closer boost?”
“Give me a moment.” Tris turned to the storage units and opened drawers. Meanwhile, Brice bent down to study the torch/lattice. His shadow loomed large on the wall, hovering over Cathal.
“Brice?” Ryann said, and he looked up.
“Just a thought. If we leave stuff out in the open, it’s vulnerable. We need to protect it.”
She looked to the torch, understanding. “Leave a torch with the equipment, and the creatures don’t come near.” She gave Brice a smile. “Good thinking.”
“We’d need a second one, on our roof.” This came from Tris. He held a couple of boosters in his hands, and his shadow stretched out onto the open stores.
“What have you worked out?”
“Still don’t think much of our chances out there, so this is theoretical only. Main group of boosters and a relay at the pad. Then we put another relay and booster on the roof of this hold-out, with another lantern. A third relay in here, and we’d be able to talk to Haven without going out there.”
“Delayed signal, or instant communication?” Ryann liked where this was going.
“Pretty much instant. Storm might introduce a short delay, but nothing more than a couple of seconds.” Tris smiled.
“But we still need someone to set up the stuff outside,” Keelin said.
Tris’ face fell. “Like I said, it’s only theoretical. Yes, someone would have to go out there. And get ripped to shreds by those things.”
“Unless we used torches,” Brice said, nudging the lantern with his foot. The shadows on the walls jerked, and Keelin flinched away from them.
Tris laughed. “What, we go out there waving torches around, and hope that works?”
“Better than waving lashes around. At least we know the torches do something.”
“No. You just think that.”
“What? You saw what happened to Cathal!”
“And he’s not one of them!”
“The creatures outside…”
“Moved away from the light, yeah. So you said. But maybe that was because they didn’t want to be seen. You think of that? They were hiding. They don’t know about lenses and filters. So they see light, and they hide.”
“But only on the sol setting.”
“Doesn’t mean sunlight kills them. They’re not some storybook monster, you bloody idiot. They’re real.”
“So, what, we sit in here and twiddle our thumbs while the air becomes toxic and we run out of food. We wait for a rescue that’s never going to come? Don’t know about you, Tris, but I don’t intend to die in this concrete tomb. I’m not going to hide away like some pathetic child. If I’m going to die, I’d prefer to be doing something useful. Anything more useful than being a bloody whingeing brat of a data-monkey!”
“Enough!” Ryann stepped between the two boys, and noticed that Keelin had done the same. She held out her hands, palm out, one towards Brice, the other facing Tris.
“Enough. Brice, cut the insults. They’re childish,” she added, using his own insult against him. “And Tris, I said to listen. You have anything
