Page 34 of Lunar Bound
Gary jumped in excitement, as if this were a friendly meeting and they weren't on the run from Earth mercenaries. "There you are!"
Lunar leaned up to touch Poppy's shoulder. She shivered but put her hand over his.
"You are safe," Lunar assured her, speaking so only she could hear him.
She gave a slight nod and squeezed his hand.
"We've been searching everywhere for you," Gary announced as he reached the jeep. "The extraction coordinates have been compromised. Milano has the entire area under surveillance." He stopped to count the occupants. "Oh dear. We weren't expecting so many of you."
"The extraction is still proceeding?" Solar asked.
"Of course," Bob interjected. "Just relocated. And accelerated. As in, right now. Our window is closing rapidly."
"Weren't there three of you?" Gary frowned, looking from Solar to Lunar.
"We can't find Eclipse," Rowan said, her voice tense with worry. “Can you track him?”
"Eclipse, that's right," Gary said vaguely.
"Ignore him. He bumped his foot.” Bob slapped Gary's mouth.
Lunar glanced at the pod. It was too small and damaged. "Your pod cannot accommodate all of us."
"Well, no," Gary admitted, fidgeting. "It's really only designed for three passengers plus pilot. Four if everyone breathes in shifts."
"Then it's useless to us," Rowan said. "We're not leaving anyone behind."
"Actually," Bob insisted. "Milano's forces are converging on this location as we speak. They might have detected our landing."
"What?" Poppy demanded. "You led them straight to us?"
"Not intentionally," Gary protested. "But our stealth systems are, shall we say, somewhat compromised by the emergency repairs."
"How long until they reach us?" Solar asked.
"Twenty Earth minutes, perhaps less," Bob replied. "They're mobilizing from multiple directions."
Lunar quickly considered their options. Milano was closing in. Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides offered a limited escape. The damaged pod would be tracked easily. Then again, they weren't exactly stealth driving on the ground either.
"We need to split up," Lunar stated. "Increase survival probability through diversification of targets."
"Precisely what we were thinking," Gary exclaimed, too loudly. "Inverse targets."
"No," Rowan said immediately. "We stay together until we find Eclipse."
"The pod can transport the two of you to the new extraction coordinates,” Bob said, sounding very much like he'd decided this as their leader. "The humans can continue by ground as decoys."
"Eclipse can take care of himself," Lunar stated, though he knew the twilight-dweller's chances weren't good against Milano's weapons.
"The cabin I was telling you about is still the safest immediate option," Poppy insisted. "We should all go there and regroup."
"The others can continue to the cabin location in the Earth vehicle, where we can arrange secondary extraction once the heat is off," Bob persisted.
Lunar exchanged a glance with Solar. For once, they agreed. Splitting up was their best chance.
"Solar and Dani should go with them," Lunar said, surprising everyone. "Solar's energy signature is the most detectable, especially now as we face darkness. He is the most likely to draw Milano to all of us. And Dani requires medical attention that the extraction vessel can provide."
"What? No," Dani protested, turning to him with dismay. "My ankle is fine. We're not leaving you guys to face Milano alone."
