The Evos all wanted to learn Tessa’s plan, but she didn’t have one. Her only goal was to free them, and that was it, but they seemed disappointed there wasn’t more. Some asked where they should go or pointed out there was nowhere to go. She wasn’t sure she would make it this far so had thought little beyond the escape.
Finn pulled Tessa aside for a moment, “What is the plan now?”
“Go to the Appalachian Mountains like you said. The safe-haven for Evos.”
Finn shook his head, “I’m not sure that’s an option now. H.I.V.E will search there first. What are you going to do with them? Leave them here?”
“No. They are too close to H.I.V.E. They’ll get snatched up again.” It offended her he would suggest that as an option.
“Then Kansas City?” He was throwing out random ideas now.
“Absolutely not!” That answer was almost worse than leaving them here in the desert for H.I.V.E to snatch up again.
“I get it. I don’t want them to go there either. They aren’t safe anywhere, but they ARE safe with you.”
Tessa recognized that hope in his eye. He wanted her to form a group like the one in Kansas City. “Oh no, I’m not signing up for that mission.” She started turning back toward the ship, but Finn shuffled around in front of her.
“Wait. Wait. Wait. Just hear me out. You have something that Stonewell doesn’t have, and that’s a conscience. You would be the Evo leader; he’ll never be.”
Sam walked up to join Finn, “He might be right, Tess. These people need something to hold on to. Someone to protect them. There’s not a better person around than you.”
Tessa wasn’t crazy about this idea, but she didn’t want to abandon these people. “Maybe I can set them up somewhere until we can make sure that H.I.V.E doesn’t continue Project Genesis.”
Finn seemed excited by the idea, “Perfect; I’ve been researching potential locations.”
He ran back to his makeshift shaft he called his temporary headquarters, and Tessa shouted out to him, “You mean you’ve been planning this the whole time?”
Finn disappeared inside and returned with a mass of folded paper in his hands. “I’ve been trying to find a secure spot to set up a base of operations.”
Sam joined him in looking at the maps, and Tessa sighed in protest. “Where on earth are you suggesting we go?”
“Well, I figured we needed to be far enough from H.I.V.E and distanced from Stonewell.”
Tessa nodded, “Yes, I hate them both.” Finn held up a finger and pointed to a spot on the map. Sam nodded in approval, “Chicago?” Tessa wasn’t keen on the idea.
“Not just Chicago, but O’Hare Airport.” Finn clarified, “It’s an open space with plenty of room for refugees. The fences and control towers grant added security.”
“Seems like a decent choice,” Sam approved. Tessa felt like she wasn’t even there, Sam and Finn were planning for her.
Tessa interjected into their bromantic conversation, “Aren’t you guys forgetting a couple of things? Chicago is rogue Evo territory. There are pockets of Evo gangs all over Chicago.”
Tessa didn’t expect it was possible Finn could get any more excited, “Exactly! That makes it even more perfect. The Evo gangs hate H.I.V.E. They’re perfect recruits, and the danger will detour H.I.V.E from pursuing us.”
“Wait. Timeout. Who do you think I am? You want me to negotiate with Evo gangs and get them to unite under my cause. This plan is ludicrous.”
Sam shrugged his shoulders, “Evo gangs already have organization and firepower. It would be hard for H.I.V.E to come after you there.”
“That’s if the gangs don’t kill us as soon as we land.”
“They won’t.” Finn voiced his opinion.
“And why not?”
“Because you’re an Alpha, and none of them can beat you. They will try at first, but you’re a genuine person Tessa. If they see what you are trying to do for Evos, they’ll respect you. They will follow you.”
“Give me a minute; I need to think about this.” She walked away toward the hovel.
“Don’t wait too long daylight is burning, and as soon as H.I.V.E regroups, they’ll come after us. We need to be far from here when that happens.” Sam warned Tessa of the dangers of their location. She didn’t need a reminder.
Tessa stood alone in Finn’s hovel to contemplate the dilemma before her. She had given little consideration to what came next. Her only focus for the last few months was to free herself from H.I.V.E. In that process; she also wanted to free the others imprisoned there and destroy Project Genesis. Now with that done, she wasn’t sure what came next.
Part of her wanted to run away into the mountains and live out her life, but there was another part of her screaming for justice. There was so much wrong with this world, and she had great power, which she could use for good. But she didn’t want to end up like another Stonewell sending young Evos off to battle H.I.V.E to die for her cause. She wanted them all to believe in the cause and be part of the movement with their own voice.
This world wasn’t only about Evos. There were humans here too, and H.I.V.E was using them. The humans weren’t aware the government they trusted to take care of they would abandon here them. There was an injustice on both sides.
If Tessa did this, if she took this stand to fight, it would be for Evos and humans alike. She wanted to see what humanity might achieve if they worked together instead of opposing one another. There were many benefits both sides could bring to the cause. They might find their own way off this rock together and do it the right way.
Tessa didn’t want to leave Earth. It was her home. It was scary to image drifting through
