I swung my feet, hoping to hear something, anything besides the sounds of my erratic heartbeats. The repetitive roars of taking-off and landing jets didn't cut through anymore. My eyes were watery. All of the waking hours started to show their effect. Weariness hit me like a megaton, and I was stuck in an insufferable loop.

"...What if he doesn't come? It's too risky anyway. Are you sure that we can trust him?..."

I let out a thorough yawn, watching Vince and Robert go back and forth on the same topic they had debated for almost half an hour.

"I don't know, Vince," Robert inhaled sharply with his phone stuck to his ear. "I don't know anything better than you do at this point, ok? Maybe we just don't have any other option." He raised his hand to stop Vince's questions. "Hi, Charlie," Robert's voice perked. "Yes... How far are you now?"

I knew Charlie. I had not seen the old man in ages, but I remembered him. He was someone who was hard to forget once you got to know him.  Always with funny, witty remarks. His disapproval of the Federation was subtle but enough to make its way into almost every casual conversation. It was that way back then, although I doubted that he changed. A leopard never changed its spots. Charlie didn't care or worry about who might have heard what he said. As a matter of fact, I thought he wanted the whole world to know.

According to Charlie, the Federation was the biggest fraud that directly caused the Fall of Vrago State. He was a paranoid old man, a conspiracist, but at the moment, I couldn't help but think about many things he had said back then. Many of them had become true. It was surreal, but just by hearing Charlie's name, a thread of certainty found its way back into my heart.

Robert turned to me with one of his unreadable expressions before reluctantly looking away. I couldn't help but frown. The faster we got out of here, the better. After this, if we all made it, we could go back to our old arrangement of not seeing each other again.

"Thank you, Charlie, I owe you big time," Robert concluded the conversation and hung up the phone.

"Are you ok, Lou?" Vince put his hand on my shoulder.

I appreciated my brother's concern, but what could I tell him?

"Well, you know... It could've been worse."

The most ensuring smile flashed across my face, failing to convince anyone.

***
Level 05 was as empty as ever. The everlasting symphony of buzzing equipment in the background put us all in hyper-consciousness. We scanned the series of dark, empty rooms as my mind started to wander again.

"You're back?"

A familiar voice rose behind us, snapping me out of my trance. Lieutenant Owens stood in a corner with his clipboard and pen. His glasses hung on the very tip of his nose.

"General Haynes is resting. He shouldn't be disturbed."

Like a gatekeeper, the lieutenant announced while giving us a long, scrutinizing look. I didn't want to get upset. The man was just doing his job, but it was hard.

"We know. We will sit quietly with him for a moment. I dont think it would do any harm, doc."

I emphasized the word in the most annoying way, hoping to get on his nerves. Lieutenant Owens grumbled something and stepped into one of the rooms. He shut the door behind him, but I had the feeling that he would continue watching us through one of the tiny route holes on the blinds. I shook my head and walked to my dad's room.

The sight of him attached to the machine with multiple wires and tubes broke my heart no matter how many times I saw it. I approached his bed and touched his hand. It was a big possibility that the alarm would sound as soon as we moved him, but we had to do it.

"Who?"

My dad's eyes flashed open as he grabbed my wrist with a bone-crushing force.

"Dad, it's me," I winced, trying to smile through the pain.

"Lou...Not a good idea."

My dad slowly let go once he recognized who I was. I rubbed my wrist. It was a bad idea considering his habit of sleeping with his Beretta. At least, there was no Beretta now.

"Come on, Dad..."

"What's cooking?" He moved a little and bit his lower lip.

"Not much," Vince said. "How do you feel, dad? Care for a walk?"

I stared at them, worrying that my dad would bite his lip off and, at the same time, relieved that nothing but silence followed as Vince pulled the needles off my dad's arm. 

"No," he shook his head.

"What?"

"Vince, stop playing, I know what you're planning." His voice was stern. "Take a good look at me. Do you think we could escape with me like this? Come on, I can't even crawl if I wanted to... What is he doing here?"

My dad's voice sounded like two pieces of sandpapers rubbed together, but the anger got through loud and clear.

"Robert is here to help, Dad," Vince said.

I backed away and clicked my tongue. I could say something to ease the atmosphere. I could, but I didn't.

"General Haynes," Robert made sure the door was locked before pushing the wheelchair forward. "I know it's hard for you to trust me, but I swear, I will do everything to get us out of here. If I knew what Castillon planned in the first place, I would never bring Vince and Lou here. I would never want to put them in harm's way, but nonetheless, it's my fault..."

"I don't want to hear it," My dad waved him away.

"General Haynes..."

"I told you, I don't want to hear anything from you, Robert. I don't trust you. That's the bottom line. However," he looked at the ceiling, deflated. "We dont have any other choice. I don't. The situation is dire, and I need to get my kids out of here, even if it means I have to trust you. I just want to know if you can do it. If you can protect my kids. Take them to safety..."

"DAD!" I gasped, knowing this tone far too well. After what had happened, he would be out of his mind to think that we would leave him behind.

"Dad, we're leaving together!" Vince frowned.

"Keep your voice down!" My dad hissed and closed his eyes. The pain must be unbearable because it took him a long time to speak again. "Listen, kids," he stopped for another moment and looked at Robert. "Castillon needs me to sign that damn package. It has to be that way. Without my signature and a few more from the generals who wouldn't do a damn thing unless I say so, the package would look like a sham. No matter how powerful Castillon is, he still needs our support. He stretches thin, so there's hope for us. The security here is not what it seems. I know it for a fact. Most of the personnel are either stuck on the mainland or Mira Mar. Besides the crew, the people on this ship are mostly from Castillon's office in the Citadel. They're not soldiers. There's a small group of special agents around Castillon. They can't leave his side. If you can get past the cameras, you're pretty much home free. I think Robert could help you with that. Right, Robert?" His eyes pierced through the younger man.

"Of course, sir," Robert said.

Dad was obviously not convinced, but he continued, "After you two get out of here, there would be one less thing I have to worry about. No, there would be nothing Castillon could use to pressure me with. I've been through wars. I've been through situations that men like him, who sit in the Citadel for far too long, couldn't even begin to imagine. If Castillon thinks I would roll over after a few punches of his, he's awfully mistaken."

My dad coughed violently as he laughed. I thought he had lost his mind.

"How could you even suggest we leave you behind after everything that happened? Either you give Castillon what he wants or not, I just don't see him letting you go, Dad."

"He will. I know him."

Simple as that.

I refused to believe my dad was this naïve, so he must have thought I was the same five-year-old who he had pulled quarters out of her ear.

"He didn't hesitate to put you in this state, did he? Seems that you don't know him as well as you thought, Dad. If he won't kill you, then what's the rush of getting us out? We could all stay here and keep you company. Right, Vince?" I laughed. Angry tears oozed out of my eyes.

"Lou," my brother grabbed my hand. "Calm down. Think about it for a moment. Maybe there's another way. I'm not sure taking dad in this condition is a good idea. We may kill him faster..."

"There's no other way!" I yanked my hand away. "They will kill him if we leave him behind. Don't you understand? We don't have time. Either we all leave or no one leaves! Now, stay out of my way."

Vince raised both his hands. A soft chime cut through the explosive air between us.

"We've got to go," Robert said.