I have to take someone with me.

Scarlet grimaces and looks down. “No, Warren, I’m sorry. I’ve got a gut feeling, too. I can’t send you out there alone with a clear coincidence.”

“I hope you’re not saying you’re coming with me,” you sigh.

Scarlet looks offended, maybe even hurt. Her expression dulled as quickly as it sharpened, however. She shakes her head, but you’re unsure if that was her original intent. “No, I’ll send Hard Print and No Slack with you,” she deflates, confirming your suspicions about her thoughts about joining you herself.

“I’ll resupply then meet the others out here then,” Half-Gob says a little too quickly. Probably noticed her title wasn’t mentioned during Scarlet’s follow-up.

“No,” Scarlet narrows her gaze at Half-Gob. “You’re not going. However, if we are needed by Warren, I expect you to go with me. So, resupply and get some shut-eye.”

Half-Gob’s cheeks twitch as she considers what she could retort with but decides at the last moment to stay within the rank and file of the current command structure of Scarlet’s squad of contractors. “Understood,” she says. “Can I leave then? Or shall I stay until the meeting is finished?”

Scarlet scratches her eyebrow. “You’re free to go, Half-Gob. I’ll see you in a moment.”

Half-Gob bows her head slightly and takes her leave, which cuts the half-circle into a dainty 2 person conversation. Scarlet rakes her finger through her hair as she removes a few hidden hairpins. Her black and blonde hair cascades down, slightly damp by the accumulated sweat from her patrol. Once again, you find Scarlet looking out of place in this world of contracts and bloody gigs.

“So, what else did you want to talk about?” You ask Scarlet, your voice softer now than Half-Gob is gone.

“I don’t know,” she says; she pours the rest of her canteen overhead as she bends over and washes her hair out from the grime and sand. When she erects her back again, your eyes meet. “Stay safe out there, Warren, alright? Keep your radio on low, and check in every hour. Because as soon as you don’t-”

‘I get it,” you chuckle. “You’ll have to throw Half-Gob at them, and no one wants to report the aftermath of that.”

Both of you chuckle. Scarlet’s voice is so soft and youthful that you suddenly forget she is your boss. “Alright. Good luck. Keep me updated out there.”

Hard Print and No Slack met with you inside the Big Top. Inside, Scarlet was seen already talking to them. Meanwhile, Jennifer was addressing staff and performers alike. Keeping Jennifer company was the same blonde security guy with Scarlet. He seems invested on his side of the tent but still sees you enter. Scarlet saw you, too.

“Alright,” Scarlet sighs as you complete the circle. “Just telling these two what I told you when I returned.”

“Good,” you say. “I wasn’t sure if I remembered all the details.”

“Shut up,” Scarlet says, colder now that more contractors are around. “You got everything, or are there any last-moment gear you need to snag?”

You do a mental once-over in your head. “I have everything. Do you guys?”

No Slack nods, and Hard Print shrugs. You aren’t sure if these guys are going to be helpful. You figure you’ll have them do rear guard activities as you do all the vanguard operations. Scarlet, as if coming to the same conclusion as you, makes a subtle face as your eyes meet. “I’ll see you three an hour past midnight then.”

Scarlet looks at you and hands you a map with notes, timetables, and remarks. Some areas are circled, while other regions are crossed out. “DO NOT go beyond the lines marked here,” you unfold the map to eyeball it closer. Scarlet’s shoulder touches yours, and extends her pinky finger to some of the highlighted areas. “Right here is where we made contract. Might be an area of interest.”

You both look at the area, a growing sense of dread approaching you. Scarlet’s mouth makes a clicking noise as her lips part. You know she feels the same reason as you as she steps away. She looks at you and forces a smile. “See you an hour after midnight?”

“Yeah,” you say. “We’ll be back.”

She accompanies you to the front, where you’ll begin the journey to the exterior of the desert. It’s very dark, and nothing but vague shapes of Joshua trees and tall cacti stick out from the inky ground. You let Hard Print and No Slack go forward as you linger with Scarlet for the first few steps outside the town.

You’re about 20 yards behind them before you start speaking. “You should be going back,” you remark to her, interrupting the insect songs around you. “You’re not going on the patrol.”

“I know,” she says. “I’ll make it back.”

“Guilt eating you or what, Scarlet?”

She chuckles softly. “I like you, is all. I haven’t spoken to anyone in this field of work that I respect so much, so I wanted to talk to you.”

“Aw, does my boss have a crush on me? We should talk to HR if we take this any further.”

“Aw yeah,” she chuckles more, her eyes forward on the others. “You’re are very handsome for sure.”

You can’t tell if she’s being sarcastic or not. “You really think so?”

“Sure,” she sighs. “But I like you because you’re easy to talk to. It’s not the kind of chemistry you’re thinking of, though. You remind me a little bit of a…person I knew growing up is all.”

Behind you, the lights of the town dim, and the outlines of the desert become complicated as your eyes fail to adjust to the moonlight. In front of you, No Slack and Hard Print have stopped. It’s time for you to take the lead. You exhale and turn to Scarlet. There’s no lust or sensual desire in her dark eyes. Just respect.

“Good luck,” she extends her hand out. She’s cold. Really, really cold. It’s like you’re shaking hands with death itself. Your mind shifts, and you find difficulty focusing on this interaction. “God be with you if you run into anything out here.”

“Yeah,” you say, letting go of her hand. “Thanks.”

Scarlet tilts her head and begins walking back. You join the other two and overlook the vast desert. You wait a few seconds, letting your eyes adjust to moon lighting, painting the sands and flora of the desert. “Hard Print, take keep your distance. No Slack, take the middle and support Hard Print, I’ll take point.”

“Got it,” No Slack says. “Lead the way, Visser. We got your back.”