Na'eem's head was low, the three of them crawled through the trenches. He kept his chest flat against the ground, breathing slowly. The sounds were sharper here and far louder. Every now and again, he'd hear a quiet shudder come from Yuxi.

  Towards the center of the military compound was the elevator. They'd make their way to the core through that, and from there it's just watching the fireworks. That's how Na'eem two had described it, except he had made it sound far more grandiose.

  Na'eem had never thought of himself serving a higher power. He just did what he was told, with no merit or credit taken to it. There was nothing more to it.

  'There!' Na'eem two shouted, and Na'eem looked up. The elevator was well guarded though the guards were clearly distracted. Not enough for the three of them to enter unnoticed.

  'Keep your head down, Yuxi' Na'eem said, before letting a thin wind carry drips of flame forward. The soldiers screamed, falling to the ground and rolling over. But it was over before they could.

  'Now move.' He instructed, standing up and running towards the elevator. He grabbed one of the soldiers' guns, tossing the other one to Yuxi, 'Here!'

  'Oh— Ah!' She caught it and dropped it, yelling as it fell on her foot.

  'Sorry,' Na'eem said, 'I didn't mean to...'

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  'We don't have time, keep moving,' Na'eem two said, he was already by the elevator slamming different buttons.

  'Move,' Yuxi said, breaking the keypad open, 'There's a faster way.'

  She shoved her fingers inside, snapped something and pulled her hand back quickly.

  The elevator dropped, flying freely down. Na'eem didn't hear it hit the ground.

  'I don't know how I'm going to get both of you down...' Yuxi said, taking a look at the drop. Na'eem two didn't look, he just nodded.

  'I'll be fine'

  And then he was gone, down right after the elevator.

  Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief. Na'eem glanced at her.

  'Hm?'

  'It's just, this is all a lot Na'eem,' Yuxi said, her hands shaking, 'Can't we step back just a little?'

  Gun shots rang out.

  Na'eem breathed. 'I'm sorry I dragged you into all this,' he looked down at the ground, 'You'd still be where you wanted to if it weren't for me.'

  'No, it's not that' she rolled her eyes, 'It's, it's this...' And she cupped her hands together and pressed it against her heart.

  'You're struggling to breathe?' Na'eem asked, moving closer to Yuxi.

  'No, no,' she laughed then choked, 'Okay, maybe just a little.' 'But what I'm saying is... well, I just don't know...'

  'You don't...?' Na'eem gave her a curious look.

  'I don't know what I'm doing here,' she made a few awkward hand movements, 'I don't know who I'm supposed to follow.'

  'Ah...! Me,' Na'eem answered, only half-jokingly.

  'Probably,' she shrugged, 'It's just so empty.'

  'Here' she pointed at herself.

  Na'eem took her hand; softly this time. She seemed taken aback but she didn't show it, he looked her in the eyes.

  'You know you've got me, right?'

  'I do, don't I?' she sighed heavily, looking back at the gap in the floor that led to the bottom of the military compound, 'Come on now...

  I guess we have a military base to blow up'