Shadick and Zack watched the shuttle leave the planet and out of Earth's view. Xant had left his mate behind. They had brought the group of hiding humans food and supplies. This shocked both Shadick and Zack. They had watched the entire process.

When the three patrol officers had left, Zack and Shadick had followed them, keeping a safe distance. They didn't want to be seen. They had seen everything that had happened.

"I guess they weren't lying," Zack stated, watching as the small group went back down into the tunnels. "We need to let everyone else know what just happened." His eyes were still fixed on the area where the shuttle had disappeared.

Shadick nodded in agreement, his thoughts wandering to what they had just seen. He then followed Zack back down into their own tunnel toward their hidden bunker.

Reaching the large metal door, Carrie burst out, jumping into Shadick's arms. "We heard a shuttle. We were afraid something had happened to you two," she said before attacking him with kisses. Relief was evident.

Shadick picked her up gently, carrying her back into the bunker. Zack stepped through the door and then closed it behind Shadick and his sister.

"Everyone, meet in the control room!" Zack called down the hall. His voice echoed throughout the bunker for everyone to hear. After calling his order, he headed into the control room. Shadick and Carrie followed after him.

Shadick, Carrie, and Zack waited in the control room for everyone else to enter. Shortly after, the rest of the bunker's residents filed in and sat on the sofas that were lining the walls. Once everyone was present, Joe looked over at Zack, then Shadick.

"What happened out there?" Joe asked. His eyes pierced Zack and Shadick as he waited for a response. He was anxious about what had happened. They all heard the shuttle land, then shortly after, leave. He was sitting on one of the sofas, his hand resting lightly on Nisa's knee.

Jamie and Alice sat on the next sofa; she was sitting next to him. It was normal for her to snuggle up to him, but today she wasn't; it was noticeable that she was keeping her distance from him. Her body was leaning away from him. The tension between them was palpable.

Shelia stood next to Zack. He wrapped an arm around her, kissing her gently before starting his speech to the rest of the group. His eyes briefly landed on Jamie and Alice, not speaking about their demeanor.

Shadick and Carrie were standing next to Zack and Shelia, wrapped in each other's arms.

Zack scanned his friends. Taking a deep breath, he began to report what he and Shadick had witnessed only moments ago. "The three that came here this morning had left, and as you know, we followed them. We watched them leave and begin their patrol. They had come across a small group of humans hiding in the city's tunnel system. There were 13 people in that group. One of them tried to attack Keirn. He didn't hurt her; he just disarmed her and held her so she couldn't get away as he tried to talk her down. Her demeanor changed when she saw Xant. As soon as she made eye contact with him, she calmed down. She is his mate. Xant ended up calling a shuttle to bring them food and supplies. The shuttle showed up and unloaded a large pallet of food and supplies for Xant's mate's group. Xant asked if she would come with him. His mate didn't want to leave the people she was with. She is their leader. He didn't force her," he continued. "The men in the shuttle talked to her. They even made sure that where they were staying was secure to keep them safe from marauders and zombies," he said. "They weren't lying; they are protecting humans now."

"Sounds to me like the tide is turning," Jamie stated, after listening to Zack's explanation. "This is really good. Maybe we can all actually survive this."

Everyone nodded in agreement. A touch of relief could be felt through the tension in the room. The only one sulking was Alice.

"So what do we do?" Joe asked Zack. He was unsure how they could help. "There has to be something we can do to speed this transition along."

Zack sighed. "That's what we need to discuss. That's the main purpose of my calling you all here. All of you needed to know what Shadick and I witnessed. Now that it's been confirmed that what the three patrol officers said was not a trap. We can proceed. We can agree to help them."

There was silence in the control while everyone thought about it.

Joe fixed his eyes on Shadick. "If your people are helping us now, that's one thing, but will you, Shelia, and Nisa be in danger?" Joe asked Shadick. "You destroyed your com units and left your people."

Carrie noticed Joe's grip tighten on Nisa's knee. He was worried about her for deserting her squad to come with him. In the short time they had known each other, he had become very protective of his mate.

Shadick pulled Carrie closer. "I don't know," he stated. "We could be charged and executed for desertion," he explained. "Or our superiors will understand because of our laws regarding our fated mates. It's hard to say. I just don't know."

Joe absently grabbed Nisa's hand, worry washing over his features. "Then we should wait to reveal any of us until we know for sure. I don't want to risk it. I want to know for sure before doing anything."

Alice snickered. It was clear she hated all of the aliens. She was always making rude comments or gestures of disgust toward the three with them. It was causing a lot of tension in the small bunker.

Carrie, having had enough of Alice's attitude, glared. "If you don't want to be here, Alice. I'm sure you can join the group in the tunnel system," she suggested, her voice like steel, eyes hard.

"Maybe I will!" She spat back, glaring back at Carrie.

Zack looked over at her. "Their leader is mated to an alien," he told her, smiling. "It wouldn't help you much. I'll help you pack if you'd like, though." Zack was sick of her attitude as well. The bunker was too small. The bunker was too small an area for the tension to be released.

Alice got up and stomped out of the control room and into her and Jamie's room, leaving Jamie gritting his teeth and watching her disappear. He wasn't sure what to do with her. Each day, she was getting worse.

"Perhaps tomorrow you can talk with the three patrols that were here earlier and have them introduce Alice and me to the other group," Jamie stated. "You're my friends, but every day she gets worse. The only way to appease her is to get her out of here," he stated, his eyes kept looking toward the door. After a long pause, he added, "Even if their leader is mated to an alien. It will move the tension out of here for a little while, and it might calm her down a little."

"No one is forced to stay here, Jamie. Not even her. If she wants to leave, we will see what we can figure out. Tomorrow we'll watch for the patrol and talk to them about introducing you two to the group in the tunnels. They may take you in or not. I don't know, but if that's what you want, we will do that," Zack told him. He suddenly smiled. "Besides, it's a very short distance between this bunker and their tunnels. You won't be gone, just a little farther away."

"Thanks," he said, relieved, before getting up and leaving to find Alice.

Zack looked over at Joe. "He's your brother. You should probably talk to him. Family is important. Not many have any family anymore. Maybe you should remind him of that. I don't want him to forget that there aren't many in this world that still have family alive."

Joe nodded, agreeing. He kissed Nisa's hand before releasing her and then walked out to talk to his little brother. He had a determined look on his pale face.

Shadick looked over at Zack. "We can go in the morning and find Keirn, Xant, and Vernisa. If this is their patrol, they should be easy to find. We can talk to them about adding Jamie and Alice to Xant's mates' group. We can also ask about what they're doing to those they find who left their squad for their mates," he finished. "If Jamie and Alice join the other group, others may find out about Shelia, Nisa, and me. We still don't know if we will be charged with treason or desertion yet. It could put us in danger. We need to let the patrol know that. If anything, they can do some digging and let us know what they find out."

Zack looked between the remaining friends in the control room. Everyone nodded in approval. "Agreed."

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