I shuffle through the papers that held the list of truck shipments around the U.S. and their personnel information. A map on board held where Clancy had placed the raid groups he sent out.

"I know these guys." I mutter to Jamie, the boy who was in charge of all of these. I point out the group from the mall, "Didn't they get a shipment a few days ago?" I question, almost confirming it.

He glances up and nods, "Yeah they're annoying as hell." He scoffs, which I didn't disagree.

"Indeed they are." I agree quietly, before pointing to the group north of us. It was a group of blues and a yellow. "I don't see many yellows." I comment, silently requesting an explanation.

He takes a moment to look up at the board. "Not many are as good at controlling it as the blues are." He explains, "Also they are mainly used around the abandoned industrial areas. There isn't much heat there with all the cold machinery."

I nod before looking at a supply shipment with only a few guards. "A team could take this shipment, it's in the opposite direction of other raid and far enough away that it won't arise suspicion for the location of the camp." I show him before looking at the board for a group.

"If this group could meet up with another one on time, the first one can do the raid and the second one has the means for transportation and backup, it could work." I glance at the piles of papers for the groups as I rifle through them.

"The second group may have access to a truck if I'm correct, I believe I saw they were near a abandoned car lot?" I tell him, he double checks everything as quickly as I talk.

He looks through the papers I pile into his hands. "I'll look over it and talk to Clancy if I think it's good to go." He sighs, "For now put together a plan and make sure they have access to everything they need and if they can get there on time." He instructs me on what I need to do to perfect in the plan before it gets reviewed by Clancy.

By dinner the plan was halfway through with all the minuscule details that were necessary. The group of guys who were done with their guard shift for the border came in rowdy and loud.

I watch as Liam went in and out of the weapons room that was attached to the assignment room, where I worked.

There were four parts to the large camp like room. Mine, raid arrangements, work arrangements, the weapons room which was partially separate and always locked. Then there was the stock room for important supplies besides food.

I went back to work on my plans. I put my plans in a folder and set them in the locked cabinet where all the information was. "Hey." Liam's voice appears from behind me, I shove the folders into the cabinet before turning around.

I give him a smile "Hey. How was your shift?" I inquire as I lock the cabinet, turned sideways so I could also talk to him.

I finally turned fully towards him as soon as it was locked. James had gone to go talk to Olivia about what we needed in the stock room as they did inventory.

"It was good. Boring just standing there and watching the forest but good." He slightly rambled, which I silently chuckled at, "How about you? I didn't know you'd be working over here."

Neither did I, apparently Olivia wanted me to work with James on the raids because Clancy requested it. James had had assistants and everything but usually he prepared the raids himself.

"Apparently Clancy wanted someone fresh to prepare the raids." I smile, gesturing to the small office "I would love to tell you about it but it's confidential.". This makes us both laugh.

"Okay wanna go eat?" He offers finally, "I hear something about lasagna." He tells me, as if it's a secret.

"Yeah you know I love garlic bread. I won't be upset if I never see a Twinkie again." I admit, I loved dinner time when we were on the road and we did get a lot of food but Zu loved twinkies.

"Don't tell Zu that." He joked, nudging me as we headed toward the line of people heading for the food.

My stomach churned as I smelt the food, "I haven't even seen her today." I admit, pulling to a stop at the end of the line, though people quickly piled on behind us.

This would remind me of the camps if there hadn't been so much chatter, laughter and light. The breeze was amazing as the sun began to lower.

"I haven't seen anyone." He tells me, grabbing each of us a tray. "I literally just have to stand there and watch for anyone."

That didn't exactly sound fun. "Bring a book?" I suggested, he shook his head.

"Nah I'll be fine. Better to stay on my toes." He grinned, "At least I'm not on the night shift."

That was true, I'd probably fall asleep. "Yeah I sit in an office all day. These plans take as much work as they did back in-" I paused, not wanting to say it as people might hear. I mean we didn't raid for food but for people.

"Well at least it's for a good cause." He told me, "I don't think I know someone better for the job than you." He praised, a grin on his face.

"Yeah at least the only person I have to work with is James, his plans over the years, he told me a few, were really good." I admit, James was kind of brilliant.

He was a blue too, used to be going on the raids but after awhile his group came back, and another was sent out.

That way it's not just some kids sacrificing themselves for everyone else. Everyone does their share of the work. Anyway since he was the leader of his group, he got to become the new raid organizer.

"Who's James?" He questions, I totally didn't realize that he had no idea who James was. It's went right over my head, I forgot we weren't a little group anymore who knew all the same people.

I guess James was like my boss? "Oh he's my supervisor in a way. He's the raid organizer. He's showing me the ropes." I try to explain as I ramble it, blurting out words. James wasn't my boss but he had been there longer, so for now he was my boss.

He nods, notifying he understood me as he laughed slightly. "Do you like him?" He questions as we reach the counter and start piling on food.

My brain freezes as I contemplate the question, "Yeah he's alright. It's nice working with someone who knows how to put a raid together."

I pile lasagna, asparagus and garlic bread onto my plate. I used to hate eating greens but now I will eat anything. "I wonder where Chubs is." Liam ponders for a second as we hit the end of the line and make our way to the tables.

I nudge Liam's arms as I spot Zu with kids her age. I smile, proud of her even though I hadn't known her for long. "There's Chubs." Liam points out a few seconds later.

We head over to the table that Chubs was grumpily eating at. "Hey." I greet, he nods in return, "Where's Ruby?"

"Probably eating with Clancy." Chubs shrugs, I nod as my eyes go to the direction his cabin was in.

"She'll come out eventually." Liam tells me and I finally look back to them. "How was your day Chubs?"

"This place is not exactly what I thought. Their gardening is not as organized as it needs to be and rules are a bit strict for a place that's supposed to be free," He began, I internally groan as I eat my food but listen.

I wanted to know but didn't want to listen to him ramble. "Did you know you need a request to leave?" Chubs questioned, particularly to me.

I paused at that. "Why would you need a request to leave?" He repeats smartly, pointing at me "Something's weird here."

"It's just new. Give it time." Liam said, his hand settling on my knee under the table and squeezing it before going back to eating.

Chubs settles down reluctantly and continues to grumpily eat his food. "I grew this food." He grumbles, making my shake my head but with a smile on my face as I struggle to hold back laughter.

Liam has a grin on his face too. This didn't seem as bad as I thought but it does seem like I have some investigating to do.

As days went by, we had been here for a week. "What do you mean I'm being sent out?" I question James, crossing the room to him.

He hands a folder, "You are going to check out a squad that hasn't been heard from in two weeks." That's a death trap, it's probably been raided by PSF's.

"Okay if they get caught, they're hideout is gonna be under surveillance." I tell him, as if he was dumb because he honestly might be.

"Clancy thinks you're good enough to not be caught. You'll have a couple of weeks of rations and he got a car for you." He shrugs, "You can leave tonight when there are no PSF's on the road."

First you had to get permission to leave but now he can just kick me out? It's bullshit. I clutch the folder in my hands before leaving, slamming the door as I stormed to the cabin.

I shoved the folder under my pillowcase. It was still midday and I had nothing to do until dinner when I met up with Liam, Chubs and sometimes Zu or Ruby. The two girls rarely made an appearance.

I pulled my bag into my bed, folding my clothes and stuffing them in. I made some room for food and then left to go see Olivia.

"Hey Liv, I heard you've got some grub for me." I say thickly, my mouth dry.

She gives me a pitiful look that I ignored. "Yeah it's just a week or so. You'll have to find a bit more. But I'm sure since you're stopping to see one other group that they can help." She suggests, I hadn't read the folder so I hadn't known I was visiting one surviving group and the remnants of another.

"Maybe." I shrug, taking the rations she held out in a small tattered grocery bag.

"Well good luck. I'll see you when you get back, okay?" She tells me, as if assuring me. Obviously she had done this before.

I nod, leaving the way I had come. I head back to the tent and finish packing my bag and changing. I shove it under my bed on the ground.

I sit in my bed for awhile and just sit. How was I gonna tell them? How was I gonna tell Liam? This is exactly what I was scared of. Well almost.

I figure I'll leave early and I might as well take a nap. Hopefully I'll wake up in time for dinner.

I did not wake up in time for dinner but Chubs woke me up after, when he had arrived back at the cabin. "And here I thought you were working late but instead you're taking a damn nap." He shakes his head, pissed I wasn't working.

"Well seeing as I got sent to pack, I didn't have a lot of work to do. I don't have a lot of stuff." I shrug, his eyes light up green.

"You're being shipped out?" He partially asks but I know he knows I am.

I nod, sitting up and letting my feet hit the ground. I rest my elbows on my knees as I look at him. He chooses to sit next to me. "When do you leave, when are you coming back?" His questions come out quickly.

But I was so frozen in place I could hear every word clearly. They practically echoed in my head, bouncing off all the walls. My eyes started to well "I'm going to talk to Clancy." I stumble forward, ignoring Chubs calling my name. I grab my black jacket to protect me from the mosquitoes.

I walk around, contemplating what I was gonna ask. Finally I stride up confidently before shrinking as I knock on the door. "Clancy? Do you have a moment to talk?" I call in, he appears at the door a moment later.

"Emma?" He questions, apparently confused. "What can I help you with?" I began to get a headache.

"Is there anyone you can find to send out instead of me?" I plead, he pauses for a moment.

He widens his door and gestures inside "I'm sure we can work something out." He gives me a smile, I pause dread filling me but I wanted to stay and be with Liam.

So I went in, ready to rest my case with the man who controlled my future.