I watched Xamber with concern as we arrived at our assigned location. I knew he hadn't slept well the night before and it showed. "Why aren't we going directly to the ventilation access? We have limited time to do this." 

Xamber waved the tablet he had been given. "We need to leave this here so they can't track us. Last thing we need are coordinators coming to investigate. Don't worry, Mae. We'll have plenty of time."

The tent that had been set up as our base of operations was barely large enough for all five of us and the surveying equipment that had been left for us. Kolyver and Anak had to duck through the entrance. Kol promptly smacked their head on a support bar so he stood in the corner with the most headspace. Ryka sat on a covered piece of equipment and Anak sat at their feet.

Xamber put the tablet into the console slot and our assignment flashed onto the screen. "Okay, says on here we need to head back to our pickup location by sundown." He paused for a moment. "Warning to all work crews: anyone not at the rendezvous point by the time the sun is extinguished for the night will be left behind."

Kolyver's eyes went wide. "Don't like the sound of that. I can handle the smoke smell while we're here, but I don't think I could sleep through it."

"I've found a small hitch in our plans, folx. Anyone have a watch?" I was met by blank stares. "That's what I thought. How do we keep from being stranded?"

Ryka raised their hand. "I have the ability to know what time it is without aid."

It was my turn to stare. "How? I'm not going to tell you that you don't possess a skill you stated you have, but it seems a bit far-fetched."

Ryka rubbed the back of their neck nervously now that we were all looking at them. "I actually don't really know how I do it. If you ask me the time and I concentrate for a moment, I can tell you the exact time."

"What time is it?" Kolyver sounded doubtful.

Ryka closed their eyes and inhaled slowly. When their eyes opened again they appeared to have a faint glow. "The time is 9:33 in the morning." They blinked and seemingly left a trance-like state, the glow fading.

Xamber looked at the time on the tablet with wide eyes. "They're right. That's amazing, Ryka. You're just all kinds of useful."

Ryka moved so they were slightly blocked by Anak to hide from the praise. "I try to help where I can."

Anak smiled up at Ryka. "You are never very good at taking compliments." The Shapeshifter turned his attention back to the rest of us, his adoring smile for Ryka replaced by his more serious expression. "So, our plan is to get into the ventilation system, navigate toward the actual disaster zone, gather evidence, and return, correct?"

I nodded with a sigh. "That is what we discussed. I still want to make it clear that I think this is a bad idea. We have no idea what is in there."

Xamber put a hand on my shoulder. "Your comments have been noted and I do respect your point of view. We have to do this, though."

I shook my head and glared at him with minimal heat. "Why, though? Why does it have to be us? Shouldn't, like, actual adults be trying to investigate this? What if we run into some of the people doing this legally?"

Xamber gave me that charming smile of his. "Then I'll just talk us out of trouble. I'll say I forced you to come along if you want. We're doing this because I honestly don't think it will get done by the adults. I think something rotten is happening here, something that could cost even more lives. I can't just sit safe in Alpha Sector while others die. I won't actually force you to come with us. I respect you more than that. If you want to stay here, you can, and none of us will judge you poorly for it. This is dangerous. This is illegal. Being hesitant is understandable."

I sighed heavily and placed my hand on the one he had rested on my shoulder. "I know you won't force me, but both of the people I love are going into this dangerous, illegal situation. If we go down, we go down together. I told you long ago you were stuck with me for better or worse." I lightly kissed Xamber and pulled him into my arms.

"Hate to break up the touchy-feely stuff, but that sunset is getting closer by the minute. Make out later." Kolyver had a smile the whole time they were talking.

Xamber smirked over my shoulder at Kolyver. "You're just jealous I'm getting all the attention right now."

I rolled my eyes when both of my partners laughed as they quickly dropped their jealousy game. "You two are incorrigible."

Kolyver grinned at us. "We're definitely encourageable."

The group of us shared a laugh. I tried not to think about the possibility of this being the last good laugh we would have together.