The Constant Star (30)

THE STORY SO FAR

Karl points out possible points of entry. There are a lot of them. From the floors, to the walls, to the ceiling, Karl knows every detail of the layout. Siff is given the elevator and surrounding paneling to watch over. Any sign of movement or sound or smell and she has to call it immediately. The others are given similar assignments in the surrounding area. There is a lot more open space than Siff imagined; a lot more ground to watch over than she feels comfortable with. She leans against a couple of crates and stares over the ground she has been given. How am I going to get to the Chosen Ones from here? There’s so few of us to cover this much space, maybe they do need me after all? How is Macy going to make this work?

Siff reaches inside her jacket and pulls out the headset Macy gave her. Checking to see that no-one is watching she removes her helmet and puts on the device. Immediately she hears her friend, “Ah, there you are. How goes the mission?”

“I don’t know Macy, are you sure they don’t need me here. We’re spread really thin.”

“So you want to stay after all? Because you still have that option.”

“I don’t know…I just want them to be safe.”

“None of us are safe, Siff. We’re at war. If you leave, we’ll manage. But it would be great if you stayed.”

Siff looks around at her new friends spread out across the gigantic hall, they are all so eager to fight for the freedom they’ve never had. And Siff wrestles once again with her conscience. They’ll fight for what they want in life, and so will I. I have dreams of my own. But what about their dreams, don’t I want to help them be free? I already have! I’ve sacrificed everything for them to have this chance. I want to have my own chance at a happy life-

“Siff? You there?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Soooooo…?”

“I still want to go.”

“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. After we’re done talking here you are going to return this headset to your jacket and put your helmet back on. You are going to wait a few minutes until the elevator doors open. Then you are going to run into the elevator and replace your helmet with this headset once again. After that I will guide you through step-by-step. Got that?”

Siff’s heart drops a beat, it’s actually going to happen. She swallows and nods her head, “Got it.”

“Right. Put the headset away and get ready.”

Siff takes it off and returns her helmet to her head. Communications restore to her teammates, and she goes back to staring at the walls, growing anticipation in her gut for the elevator doors to open any second. Any second now. Any second…now. Damn it, why is it taking so long?

23

Siff doesn’t hear the first shot, but the shouts that follow fill her with terror. Gunfire in the distance as she ducks behind cover coming to grips with her reality. She is now in a firefight. Her  comms wake up with Karl calling for their advance on the enemy: they have managed to break through in two different positions and Siff’s team is being organized close to where she is stationed by the elevator. The damn elevator that Macy hasn’t got working yet.

Siff stays put, still waiting for her chance to leave as her team begins to group near her. Their gunfire and shouts becoming more urgent, “Siff! Siff? Can you hear me? You need to get to our position now! We have to keep them inside the vents. We need you to help secure our position. Siff! Can you hear me?” She stays hidden behind the crates, staring toward the elevator, praying for Diana to get it open. Terrified of what might happen if she doesn’t.

“Siff? Are you okay? Answer your damn comm, Siff!” Karl’s voice is loud and clear, and greatly concerned, “Siff, I’m coming to you. Team, hold this position. Don’t let them gain a foothold.”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Siff, can you hear me? I’m coming to you.”

Oh skita. No. Don’t come here. Please don’t. Come on Macy! Get the damn door open!

As if her silent prayers were heard, the elevator doors slide open. The interior lit by a soft warm glow. Siff’s eyes open wide and she braces herself to run. She takes two quick breaths and on the third launches herself into the open space between her and her goal. Pure terror becomes adrenaline for her legs as she sprints forward. Gunfire around her as she closes the distance, and a familiar voice, “Siff! What are you doing? Siff! Get to the team! We need you on the line! Siff!”

She dives into the elevator and turns as the doors close: Karl’s betrayed face staring at her from where she was just hiding, “Siff. No. What are you doing?”

Siff takes her helmet off and begins to sob as she comes to terms with her decision. She falls against the door crying for her new friends and what they must now think of her. She feels the elevator begin to move upward and sits for a few seconds, lost in her grief. All she wanted was the freedom to dream. How could one desire bring so much pain? And now the promise is so close, she has to hold on to it. She can’t let it go now. Everyone down there is doing the exact same thing as her, aren’t they? If they had the chance like she did, they would have taken it as well. Hell, they’re in the process of taking it. This is the right decision. It has to be. It’s already been made.

Siff reaches into her jacket and pulls out the headset. She ponders it for a few seconds, not sure if she’s ready for Macy’s instructional voice just yet. She sighs and

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