Ch 19: Campfire Plans

The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a streak of crimson and gold that slowly faded into the muted grays of the wasteland night. Mira sat by a small campfire she'd built, the flickering flames casting long shadows over the barren terrain. Her bike rested nearby, its frame propped up with a makeshift stand, while Kael's crawler loomed a few meters away.

Kael, as always, had chosen the solitude of his vehicle over the fire's warmth. He rarely left its confines unless absolutely necessary, preferring the protection and privacy it afforded. The faint clinking of tools from within suggested he was tinkering with something—or perhaps just pretending to, as a way to avoid conversation.

After a while, the noise stopped, and the door creaked open. Kael stepped out, shotgun slung over his shoulder, and walked toward the campfire with his usual cautious stride.

"You've got enough light here to blind every nocturnal creature for miles," he muttered, gesturing to the fire as he sat down on a rock opposite Mira.

Mira smirked, poking at the embers with a stick. "And you've got enough paranoia to fill a Consortium archive. Relax, Kael. We're in the middle of nowhere. No one's watching us."

Kael didn't respond, his eyes scanning the horizon out of habit. After a moment, he sighed and leaned back, the firelight reflecting off his tired features. "So," he said, breaking the silence, "tell me what plan you have. You said you wanted me to join you. What's the big idea?"

Mira leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Alright, here's the deal," she began, her tone serious. "You've got the skills to build things—machines, weapons, whatever we need. I've got the experience to navigate this hellscape and keep us out of trouble. Together, we could make a name for ourselves. Find a settlement, take on jobs, barter for better equipment. Eventually, we could leave this wasteland behind and carve out something better."

Kael raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That's not a plan. That's a vague fantasy. Where's the strategy? The specifics? You can't just 'make a name for yourself' and hope everything falls into place."

Mira rolled her eyes. "You're missing the point, Kael. The details can change depending on what opportunities come our way. The goal is what matters—getting out of here."

Kael leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "And what exactly are we 'getting out' to, Mira? Another blank city? A Consortium-controlled settlement? A place where we're hunted like rats because we don't belong? You think it's so easy to just pack up and leave?"

Mira frowned, her confidence faltering for a moment. "I'm not saying it'll be easy. But staying here isn't an option either. You know that as well as I do."

Kael sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What makes you think I care about leaving? I've survived just fine on my own. I don't need some grand escape plan. All I need is time, space, and enough resources to keep moving."

"Survived?" Mira shot back, her voice tinged with frustration. "That's all you're doing, Kael—surviving. Barely scraping by, moving from one crisis to the next. Don't you want more than that? A life where you're not constantly looking over your shoulder, waiting for the next disaster?"

Kael's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. The fire crackled between them, filling the silence. Finally, he spoke, his voice low.

"Wanting more gets you killed out here," he said. "Hope is a liability. The moment you start dreaming about a better life, you let your guard down. And then someone—something—takes it all away."

Mira stared at him, her expression softening. "Is that what happened to you?"

Kael's eyes flicked toward her, narrowing slightly. "Don't dig where you don't belong, Mira."

She held up her hands in mock surrender. "Fine. I'm just saying, you can't live like this forever. Eventually, something's going to give."

"Maybe," Kael admitted, leaning back again. "But I'll deal with that when it happens. For now, I'll stick to what I know works."

Mira shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that."

"And you're too optimistic for your own good," Kael retorted.

They fell into silence again, the fire crackling softly as the night deepened. Above them, the stars began to emerge, scattered across the sky like shards of broken glass. The wasteland stretched out in every direction, vast and empty.

After a while, Mira spoke again, her tone quieter. "You're right about one thing, though. I don't have a detailed plan yet. But I'll come up with one. Something that works for both of us. Just… don't shut the door on this idea completely, alright?"

Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We'll see."

It wasn't a commitment, but it wasn't outright rejection either. For Mira, it was enough—for now.

As the fire burned lower, Kael stood and stretched, his shotgun slung across his back. "I'm heading to the crawler. Don't let this fire burn too long. It'll attract attention."

Mira watched him walk away, a thoughtful look on her face. "Goodnight, Kael."

He didn't respond, disappearing into the shadows as the crawler's door creaked open and shut.

Mira leaned back against a rock, staring up at the stars. The wasteland was a harsh, unforgiving place, but she wasn't ready to give up on her vision—not yet.