Autumn was on her assignment in the med bay when Cass called her away from the patient she was working on.

"Excuse me" she whispered to the young lady. She met Cass in the hallway.

"I've got an assignment for you" she said coolly.

"Well, hello to you too." She said sarcastically. "What's the assignment?" Autumn stood with her arms crossed.

"You're going to investigate that colony your sister found. You're being taken off med bay for the next 4 days, and during the day, I want as much intel as you can gather. Be back here by sunset. If you have to interact, use your best judgment. But I want a full report nightly. The details you give determine next steps."

"Why just me? Aeris spotted them first." Autumn asked, stance relaxing.

"Because if things get touchy, your sister is known to lash out. You have a cooler head, and you're a better negotiator with the finer details."

Autumn couldn't argue with that. While yes, Aeris had a way of getting what she wanted when she wanted it, she was more domineering in a way that Autumn just... wasn't.

"Ok, I'll ask her for the details later. Anything else?" she asked.

Cass simply shook her head no. "You can go back to your assignment. Check in with me at sunrise tomorrow before you go out."

After another 3 or so hours Autumn was relieved of her duties and went to the galley to talk with her sister.

"Hey Autumn." Aeris said offhandedly as she ate her food.

"'Sup? How was the garden today?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started. Mitch the Bitch was with me." She shuddered involuntarily.

"Ewww." Autumn said disgustedly. "WHY?"

"Because with him having an air working he can help with making sure the plants are getting enough air in the soil. Supposedly. The man can't even breathe properly!" Aeris ate another bite of her rice.
"I guess." Autumn said with a roll of her eyes. "You know what I wish I could understand?"

Aeris raised a brow as she took a sip of some water.

"How two people with the same workings can't do the same things. Like me and you, both earth signs, but mine shows itself in refining the soil and rocks and shit and you can make plants grow. Or Bruce. He's an earth sign but his thing is sensing vibrations in the ground. Neither one of us can do that."

Aeris just shrugged. "One of God's greatest plot holes, I guess."

"Yup. Now question for you. Apparently I'm being sent on recon for the next 4 days and Cass wants you to give me the details about the river colony you found yesterday."

Aeris' eyes grew wide. "Well, there's not much in the way of details. Go 5 miles southward, through the main square of the old town and down to the riverbank. The marina is right there, though if you stay at the top of the hill, you probably won't get noticed, and be able to observe for a bit."

"Cool beans. It's been a while since I've gone solo." Autumn said.

"Woah woah woah, she's sending you solo? What about the nighttime risks?" Aeris asked, hoping her fear wasn't too noticeable.

"She doesn't want me making unnecessary contact so I should be back by sundown daily unless something goes left. And you already know I'm more than capable of handling myself, sis."

"You don't know what I know!" Aeris said playfully. Autumn just rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Seriously though, are you sure you don't want to ask Cass for backup? Even if it's just Bruce?" Her sister asked.

"I'll be fine, Izzy. I'm just gonna observe for now. Nothing major." Autumn said reassuringly.

"You once told me that when we were kids and you almost fucking ended up in the hospital, short ass." Aeris teased.

"Listen, I didn't realize that the stove was gonna do that!" Autumn exclaimed with her hands in the air.

Aeris was fighting tears of laughter at this point. "Chile, you had no eyebrows for WEEKS!"

Autumn was fully laughing with her sister. "I was like 7! I didn't realize grease popped like that when you fried chicken and I certainly wasn't expecting a grease fire with Nana in charge!"

Finally their laughs settled down and they took in the quiet din of others eating and chatting.

"I really am worried about you though. I know you can handle yourself, but it's still scary to think about. Promise you'll make it back in one piece?" Aeris asked.

"I'll do my best." Autumn said jokingly. "No, but seriously. I'll be fine. Promise."

Aeris simply nodded. "If you tell anyone I showed any emotion, I'll hunt you down."

Autumn simply smiled as she took another bite of her food. "No promises on that one."

The next morning rolled around all too quickly. Autumn groggily rolled out of her cot, grabbed her pack and a thermos full of coffee and went to meet Cass at the entrance of the compound.

"Alright Autumn. You know the drill: take notes, back in by sundown." Cass said sternly.

"Good fucking morning to you too, Cass." Autumn mumbled before taking a sip of her drink. "I get my assignment. Anything else you need?"

Cass simply shook her head. Her hair was in 2 long cornrows, silver streaking the dark coils.

"I'll be back, then." Autumn waved goodbye and headed out toward the abandoned town.

After about 2 hours, Autumn found herself on the crest of a small hill that was once an old park on the outskirts of the town, and sure enough, as she looked over, she could see a small cluster of people on the boats at the marina. They seemed to just be minding their business, so Autumn made herself as comfortable as she could on the grass and pulled out her notebook to take notes.