"It was incredible! He killed all of the remaining raiders, and when one of the reinforcement trucks showed up, he used a corpse as a shield and moved out of the way!"

  Mercy puffed her chest with pride, beaming under the harsh sun that painted everyone's skin in a sweaty golden sheen.

  "Oh come on, it was light work. Please, no more glazing..."

  Varryance joked, and laughter echoed from the group. They lounged on a terrace just outside the outpost's main building, drinks in hand, basking in rare peace. Vanesa smirked and glanced at Varryance.

  "As much as I'd love to sit here swapping stories like it's a damn campfire, we need to get into logistics," said the woman leading the group-at least, that's what it seemed.

  "Jax filled me in already. We don't need to make a plan-we already have one. All that's left is executing it. But let's get into the details of how we get inside."

  "This is how: We've already hijacked the schedule. According to their system, we're supposed to be there. We're transporting goods from-you guessed it-the Golden Complex."

  "Wait, you got the schedule and intel that fast?"

  Varryance huffed, shaking his head.

  "Yup. You really think Luci was serious saying we slack off? Give me a break. And yeah-it's that same complex. I got the intel myself."

  "Now, since Varryance, Vanesa, me, and Isabel are on the inside play, we'll have full access to the hijacked camera system. The transport rig is already on their schedule. They'll have no clue we're working against them-our inside men will guard the rig and make sure no one gets suspicious."

  "Seems...easy enough, no?"

  Isabel tilted her head, skeptical. Vanesa chimed in next.

  "Too easy, right? What if it's a red herring? What if the 'inside men' aren't really ours? How do we even trust 'em?"

  "You really questioning Luci's contacts right now?"

  someone snapped from the back, quite grumpy.

  Vanesa huffed. Isabel raised a brow. Never impossible, she thought.

  "If that rig's prepped and ready, when are we scheduled to move? I'm good to go even now."

  Varryance asked, locking eyes with the leader.

  "Tomorrow. So today's all ours. Maybe Jax'll swing by too. We've got time to breathe before we go charging into certain death."

  "Alright, fair enough-but you got food? I'm starving!"

  Isabel changed the subject instantly, earning a small laugh. The woman stood and gestured for everyone to follow.

  "Welcome to our humble abode-don't expect much. It is an outpost, after all,"

  she said confidently, guiding them into the main building.

  The main hall was cozy for a post-apocalyptic world-living room and kitchen combined. White concrete walls bore paintings and photos of missions past, the woman always centered in the frames. The wooden floor was clean enough to walk barefoot, the air warm and still.

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  "Kitchen's over there. Help yourselves." said the lady, pointing out the kitchen

  "For an outpost...more luxury than what i had before the flash.." murmured Varryance, Vanesa hearing it, giggling at his silent comment.

  "We got beer! Y'all up for some games?"

  one of the younger men grinned looking in the fridge as the group sat down at the couches, two facing a coffee table in the middle.

  "Games, like...board games?"

  Varryance raised an eyebrow. Vanesa leaned in, grinning.

  "They always do this-'calm the nerves before the heist' they say."

  "Let's see... oh shit, I forgot we had this!"

  another guy exclaimed, rummaging through a shelf while Isabel grabbed food. Most were already settling into couches facing each other with a ceiling fan spinning lazily above.

  "Shit... y'all actually got Monopoly?!"

  Varryance looked the old box like it was holy relic from the distance.

  "Monopoly... what's that?"

  Isabel asked, mouth half-full, eating in the kitchen all alone.

  "Only the best board game in human history. A true capitalist masterpiece!"

  the woman laughed, gesturing for the guy to bring the game over.

  "Hope we've got enough pieces..."

  she said, opening the box.

  "We do! Two extra in case Jax and Silas shows. Get over here!"

  "Silas? Who's Silas?" asked Varryance with curious eyes.

  "Well, he is the other one that saved you, what i said earlier this morning" said Vanesa leaning forward to reach past Isabel standing in the middle.

  Seven people total gathered: Vanesa, Isabel, Varryance among them included.

  "Alright, stupidly enough, Varryance is right, who the hell are we?-we haven't even introduced ourselves!"

  The woman grinned.

  "Name's Celene. Celene Vaskiir."

  "Troy Vann! I'm Celene's assistant for all things hacking, software-you name it!"

  chirped a sun-bright young man.

  "I'm Tanner, and this grump here is Mack. He's the driver. I'm co-driver of the big rig. Honestly, it's an honour standing with THE Varryance himself!"

  Tanner raised a hand, and Varryance slapped it with a grin.

  "My hand touched a legend. I'm worth billions now."

  Everyone laughed-except Mack, who stayed stone-faced, middle-aged and unimpressed. Tanner wasn't wrong.

  "Nice meeting you, Varryance. Heard a lot about what happened when you went missing."

  Mack extended a hand.

  "Ack, it's fine. They'll get what's coming-trust me on that."

  Varryance replied, voice serious. Vanesa and Isabel side-eyed him, curious.

  Celene dealt out game money while Vanesa sat beside Isabel, who was beside Varryance. She cleared her throat.

  "Alright, for the newbie-let's explain the rules of Monopoly. It's simple. You'll get it."

  Isabel stared at her curiously. Vanesa explained while the others leaned back, relaxed. Varryance scanned the room as she spoke.

  The outpost was shockingly modern: clean fridge, working stove, an actual TV. Smooth white walls, warm lighting. Vanesa glanced past Isabel and saw Varryance's wide-eyed curiosity-like a kid seeing the world for the first time. She giggled.

  He took a deep breath. The smell of microwaved steak still lingered-Isabel's dinner. It reminded him that some fragments of civilization still stood... despite the horror he'd endured.

  "So, all crystal?"

  Celene finished. Troy added:

  "Oh! And one rule we added-bribery and teaming? Totally allowed. Makes it more realistic, and whoever throws the dice with the highest number, starts!"

  Isabel nodded mid-bite.

  "Alright, I'll throw the dice first."

  Tanner declared.

  "You always throw them first!"

  Troy shot back, scoffing.

  "Cry about it, because guess what? Doesn't matter-I always win anyway!"

  Ironically, Tanner rolled the lowest score and went last.

  "You gotta be joking, bruh..."

  Tanner scoffed as the group cackled at his misery.

  "Looks like Mack starts us off,"

  Troy grinned, and the game began