John parked the Versa, the Neosun high in the sky, ignoring the clouds. The rainfall was like a cold shower. As he turned the car off, his leg tingling and limp, Crosby put his hand on his shoulder.

  “I'll put it this way brother. You've been a moody shit since before you left. Now, you won't be able to do much good with only half of your legs working. Go see your lady friend. I'll let the boss know.”

  “You sure?” John replies, the cabin is cold yet his new jacket is warm. Crosby has gotten out by this point, giving the roof a firm tap as he replies.

  John takes that as a yes, fetching his crutch out the back seat.

  He opens the door, throws it closed, and swings himself towards the entrance. He pushes the entrance open, and leaves it open for the others.

  He is once again greeted by the inside of the obelisk.

  While the walls once felt fake to him, they feel more real than the Neosun ever can. While their sun on the wall doesn't glow, it is the yellowish-white John believes as true from the simulation.

  Man, that simulation feels like it's from a long time ago. As he enters the museum, he moves the thoughts aside.

  “Amy?” He asked into the wide wooden hall.

  He goes further into the hall and asks again. “Amy!?”

  “John!” He hears her say, her voice coming from the basement. He approaches the stairwell, but before he goes down, Amy has already ran up it to greet him on the ground floor.

  She rushes, giving him a big hug, almost knocking him over.

  “I missed you. It felt like forever.”

  “It has.” John replies, leaning in to the hug as an escape from recent events. A true reprieve is how it feels to him as he continues.

  “It's been a long day. Oh God, it's only been a day. It’s felt like a week.”

  “Only a day?!” Amy replies, tightening her hug. John chooses not to reply as they enjoy the moment of being in each other's embrace.

  “Okay, you can let go now.” John tells her, struggling to breathe.

  Amy lets go and steps back, watching him stumble as he adjusts his balance. “Oh God, are you okay? Did something happen back there?”

  “It's a long story. Very long. Exhausting. I'd love to hear what you've been doing?” John replies as he stands tall. He reaches out his free hand as he looks to the exhibits. “Who goes first, me or you?” He asks.

  “You please.” Amy replies with her signature smile and closed-eyes; taking his hand as they move to their favorite sleeping spot. John reads a sentence on the plaque, seeing these people are called ‘Indians’.

  The two stop holding hands as they take a seat next to their favorite figure. “So, I want it all from the beginning. How was the ride?” Amy asked.

  John lies on the floor, letting out a huge sigh as he closes his eyes.

  “Oh god where to begin.” He says.

  “Don't use the Lord's name in vain!” He hears Crosby yell from the other side of the hall, likely carrying some of the supplies. John raises a middle finger, unsure if Crosby saw it before he continues.

  “Anyway… where to begin. Ahh, yes, so… I wasn't in a very good mood as we left. Crosby was an annoying asshole which, usually I reciprocate but I just wasn't feeling it.”

  “You seemed like you were okay when we said goodbye?”

  Amy asked him, playing with something on the floor.

  John replies, not too sure how to justify.

  “Yeah… well… I don't know. After that I just wasn't quite right. Anyway, we got moving eventually and the drive really helped take my mind off of things. It felt good to take corners well. Or do make the perfect gear change. Just something to focus on I guess.”

  John opens his eyes, looking down at his leg.

  “It was also nice having two functioning legs I guess.”

  That reminds Amy of something. She can't help but interject.

  “Yeah, I really don't know why we do that. The idea is supposed to be so they don't track us but like… if they really wanted to, they could've found us by now honestly.”

  John's head snaps to her, something said so casually causing alarm bells in his head. “What?”

  “Well think about it John. We have enough supplies coming here to sustain thirty people. And remember that gunshot? If they could have tracked it, they would already be here.”

  Amy looks at him as she finishes, seeing questions still linger. Before he asks more, she tries to clarify further. “So what I'm saying is that they can't track us. If they could in the ways we've thought they can, the obelisks wouldn't be here.”

  “Shit…” John says, slowly lying back down to try and relax.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Well that would be kind of nice, assuming you're right. You should talk to Gary about it.”

  “I've spoken to Lou and he is on board. I don't think I could convince Gary.” Amy replies, going back to playing with the floor.

  Some thunder roars outside, the first John has heard in quite a while. In a weird way, it is comforting. As if things are going back to normalcy.

  “Actually, yeah. You should talk to Gary. I don't think he's doing too well to be honest.” John tells her, his eyes now closed.

  “I'm not sure what's off about him but… well… let's just say we had an encounter and that is the softest I've ever seen him.”

  “An encounter?” Amy asks, her eyes darting back up from the ground. John covers his tracks, changing the conversation.

  “Ahh don't worry about it. Let's just enjoy the moment for a change.”

  Amy was about to say something, but John added a last comment.

  “I'd prefer I didn't talk about it. Really, I just want to enjoy your company. You're my best friend.”

  Amy considers his wishes, and chooses to oblige. It is very easy to tell that John has been through a lot today. She lies by his side, her body face his as his body faces the roof. Though with this new information, she’s got unresolved worries. She tries to get one of them off her chest.

  “John… I— you're my best friend too. But… what am I supposed to do if you never come back?”

  “Hmm?” John asks, his mind in a different place. “Oh don't worry. I'll always be back. Just might be dinged up is all.

  “John.” Amy replies, unsatisfied with his answer. “Don't make a girl a promise you can't keep. I do worry. It's been half of what I've done while you were gone.”

  John opens his eyes and leans towards her, a bit of offense taken at her comment. “Well, what the Hell do you think I’ve been doing while I was gone too?” Then, John realizes something. He'd just answered his own question. It was his absence from Amy that was driving him up the wall.

  Amy doesn't answer his question. She waits for him to correct himself, staring at his face. John rubs his eyes as he tries to follow up.

  “Look… I can't make any guarantees, okay? I wish I could. But this is all far bigger than us. I'll… I'll try my best.”

  Amy looks away as she forms a heavy reply. “Y’know… I was going to say how you wouldn't understand what it feels like to worry about losing someone close… but maybe you do…”

  Both of their eyes meet again, a deep stare into each other's souls following. It is a long ten seconds, a lot being said yet not as much being understood.

  Amy is the first to break it, lying down flat on the floor at the ceiling. John joins suit, extending his left hand to the side which Amy grabs.

  “Even if I never come back one day, you'll be okay.” John says.

  He leaves a small pause in his sentence. “Because at least you have something to fight for.”

  Amy processes his comment before she forms a reply.

  “Do you know what you fight for yet, John?”

  John thinks about it for a moment. He gives an unsure answer.

  “I… I don't— I don't really know yet. The… only thing I know for sure is that happiness has to be fought for.”

  He pulls her closer, the two now facing each other.

  “And you… you make me very happy.” John admits.

  A cute, emotional smile forms on Amy's face.

  “You make me happy too, John.”

  The two reach in for a hug. A nice, long, warm hug. John feels he is falling in too deep and tries to bring back some lightheartedness.

  “You like my jacket?” He asked her.

  “Yeah… I assume you found it at that depot?” She replies.

  John chuckles as he recalls the events. In hindsight, it doesn't seem that bad. Although it does make him weary.

  “Yeah… I guess you could say that.”

  His mind backtracks to Ridley and his wife. A pair that may as well be the gold standard of a modern relationship. He doesn't dare bring them up, his mind soon moving to the Neosun.

  “Have you seen what they've put in the sky?” John asked.

  “No?” Amy replies, slowly breaking the hug.

  As John tries to stand back up, he tells her something. “Oh man. I can't really explain it. It's better you see for yourself.”

  As he sits up and prepares to rise, Amy darts up and fetches his crutch for him. The gesture takes John off guard, but he takes it from her with a smile. Although Amy seems a bit awkward afterward.

  “Well. Follow me. It's pretty hard to miss.” He tells her.

  John swings himself out of the museum and into the obelisk. After which, he swings from the obelisk to the outside. Amy followed closely behind, the less-dim outside making itself immediately apparent.

  John steps just past the door, pointing into the sky. Amy follows, with her sight being raised to the Neosun at a high-noon. Her eyes linger on it for a couple seconds. “What do you think?” John asks her.

  Her sight remains fixed. “I… I don't know. It's fine I guess. It's nice it makes the world brighter but it isn't like the real thing.”

  “Huh.” John replies.

  Amy turns to ask him. “What do you think?”

  John actually takes the time to think about it for a change. He realizes he didn't form an option earlier.

  “I… I don't know. Yeah. Probably your opinion I think.”

  “Well, it's nice to be in agreement!” Amy tells him, snatching his hand to go back inside. “Now, want to know what I've been doing?”

  Amy answers for John as she pulls him along to go down to the basement. A lot of leg work for a time that is supposed to be restful.

  Letting him go at the bottom of the stairs; she gets his chair next to hers and sits at the computer.

  “Just a thought, Amy.” John says as he sits down. “How about I have a look on the computer while you go up and talk to Gary? I'd love to have guide me, I just think you should talk to him while the iron's still hot.”

  “Oh.” Amy replies, slightly disappointed by the idea. “Is he in his office?” John nods his head, not sure if he actually is. Amy is apprehensive, but does it to please John. “Alright then. Don't break anything. I'll let you know if anything happens.”

  As Amy gets back up, John tracks her from his seat.

  “Thank you. I really do appreciate it.”