“Time to rise and shine princess.” A familiar voice crackled through the short range walkie talkie on the nightstand. I didn’t sleep much anyway, but the voice stirred Steph who slept fitfully next to me.

I reached for the worn but critically important device then left the bedroom quickly. “Okay, okay Stu, I hear you.”

“We have work to do, can you rally Ed and meet me at the south stairwell on 20?”

“Yes. Bring the new cart too, we’ll have a lot to carry today.” I replied.

“Ten four good buddy! Out.” Stu was a free spirit, always making a game out of our situation. Was he delusional? Immature to an extreme, or just plain insane? I was not sure and not qualified to judge. I knew he was a key part of The Council and most of us would be dead without him.

“Daddy, can we go outside today?” My 5 year old boy met me in the hall.

“Oh, Jesse, good morning my lovely boy.” I tried not to answer.

“Da-dee, can we? Can we? Can we?” He was fidgeting and waving his hands toward the window.

“Buddy, we can’t. Sorry.”