Episode Three, Part 2: 

D e a d L a n d s

It was a contender for the longest night in the world, each of them curled up in their own space, the relentless cold winds beating down on their skin so that they couldn't sleep. Wynnlow was so tired that he had convinced himself that the sound of keys rattling was just his imagination, only turning when a figure standing above him obstructed the light. 

He looked up seeing Kodiak twisting a set of keys to his cell, Dreea keeping look out for any sign of the guards

"Kodiak?" Wynn asked, needing a second to remember everything that had happened as he fought away the exhaustion. "What's going on?" 

"You were right." Was all he said, moving on to MaReya's cell beside him once his was unlocked. He wasted no time in walking out, as if afraid his liberation had an expiry. 

"About what?" He continued his questions. 

Kodiak paused for a second, looking up at him as reached Elara's cell, carefully helping her out. "About Riverly being my people." He breathed out, passing the keys on to Dreea for her to finish the rest. 

He walked over to the door, peaking outside as if being careful to not be caught, opening after a glance around, letting someone inside. 

"Who's this?" 

"Joren Pilot." The stranger introduced himself, outstretching his hand. 

Wynnlow shook it, slightly confused about what he was doing here, and if he was even aware that he had just been locked up, a formal introduction feeling like the least important thing at the time. 

"We need her back." Kodiak admitted. He tugged on his shirt, exposing the skin of his shoulder to reveal Sol's initials tattooed onto him, as if what Wynnlow had told him had been what changed his mind about finding her. "I kinda owe her my life, too. Besides," he said, "nothing works without her. She holds us all together."  

Before Wynnlow could relax at Kodiak's commitment to help, a sudden thought struck him with worry. "Eyrx." It was as if that was all he could get out, afraid to say more like all the worries would come true if he did. 

"He won't find us." Kodiak assured him. "Atlantis is keeping him distracted until we get you all out of here." 

"Atlantis is helping?" He exclaimed. 

Kodiak nodded softly. 

"I thought you said that Sol hated her?" Wynnlow recalled from a previous conversation. 

"She does." Kodiak sighed, looking around to realize that Dreea had got everyone out of the cells. "But I don't think Atlantis is who River thinks she is. She doesn't want to take her place. She doesn't want to be a Sovereign at all. That's all her dad." 

Wynnlow acknowledged his words, trying to imagine how Sol would accept that when she came back, if she would even forgive Atlantis for her sole crime of simply existing. Still, in spite of how Sol felt about her, Wynn understood that they needed any help they could get, even if that did come from her. 

"So what are we going to do?" Wynnlow wandered over to stand beside the others, allowing them to be part of the conversation. 

"You're gonna come with me, Wynn, and some other people we gathered to help the search: Aeryn, Bianca, and a guard - Fenn. Everyone else is gonna go with Joren. There's an annex he knows within the camp that you can hide out in until we get back. It's not safe for you to go out of Basilisk, but its not safe either if we're not here and Eryx is." 

Wynn looked over at his family, realizing that he had no choice but to agree to let them stay behind. To allow the risk of him being apart. 

"I'll help, too." Ares spoke up, stepping forward towards Kodiak. "I want Elara and Harlow to go in the annex, but the more people you have looking, the higher your chances of finding Riverly, right?" 

Kodiak nodded, facing Wynnlow as if to see if he had any objections. He turned back to the others. "Anyone else?" 

Quill stepped forward. "I will." 

A small smile tugged at Kodiak's lips, the sight of hope reaching him. "Thank you." He said, nodding sincerely. "Okay then, you'll all take turns leaving with Joren. The annex can be opened from his room in the Sovereign's Quarters, and there's a small tunnel underground that you'll have to go through to reach it, but everything you'll need is in there, and there's a radio so you can have contact with Joren." 

"So a bit like a Bunker?" Fabian joked, chuckling a little. 

"Guess you could say that." Kodiak smiled. He was fighting off his nerves,  but he knew they wouldn't go away until everyone was where they needed to be. 

"I'll take the kid first." Dreea spoke up to move things along, nodding along to Joren as he took hold of Harlow's hand. The young boy looked to the others for confirmation, not understanding what was happening. 

 "We'll be right behind you, bud." Fabian smiled, bending down to his height to assure him. Harlow swallowed down a breath of courage, following behind the two strangers, unaware the a familiar fear resurfaced in Wynn's chest about ever seeing him again. 

three // part two

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