text: The meeting location they were bound for was a plaza in the city centre. Madeline and Billie set out as soon as there was enough light to see by, but with Madeline’s injury, their progress was slow. By the time they arrived, it looked like the rest of the group had already gathered. The others all stood spaced out around the square. She and Billie slotted into one of the gaps they’d left. Madeline recognised most of the people from last time, but there were a few new faces, and a few of the old ones were missing. She tried not to think too hard about why that might be. A few greetings were exchanged, and the man Madeline remembered as the group’s leader, Kelvin, nodded at them as they took their place. After a quick look around, he raised a hand for silence. “Hello, all. It looks like most of us are here, so I’ll begin. Is that okay with everyone?” Madeline joined in with the nodding and murmurs of assent. “Good.” Kelvin paused, glancing in her direction. “First off, I want to say welcome back to our newest member. After the last meeting I wasn’t sure we’d see you again, so thank you for making the journey.” Unsure if she was meant to respond, Madeline smiled in reply. When the pause extended slightly longer than was comfortable, she hurriedly searched for something to say. “Err... Thanks for having me,” she ventured. Seemingly satisfied with that response, Kelvin continued with his greetings. As in the previous meeting, the group went through reports on Poiloog activity, human activity, and any other observations that might be of import, all led by Kelvin and Kate. Madeline tried to listen attentively. She knew that having access to this kind of information, collected by numerous people, could provide a strong tactical advantage in survival. But her mind wouldn’t settle in the moment. Standing still was impossible with her injuries. She would think she had found a comfortable position, only for some other aching or stinging to rear its head. The result was a continual shifting and shuffling, with a portion of her mind permanently occupied with seeking a way to minimise the pain. What little focus she had left was occupied rehearsing hers and Billie’s proposal. Every possible scenario played in her mind. The group's abject refusal. Their enthusiastic agreement. Even the eventuality of Poiloogs attacking just as Madeline started speaking. She knew that none of this would help her now, but still, she couldn’t stop. Eventually, the usual business of the meeting seemed to conclude. She forced her attention back to what was being said just in time to hear Kelvin ask, “Is there anything else anyone would like to put forward?” Madeline glanced over at Billie to find their eyes already resting on her. She nodded, and they turned back to the group. “I-- I mean, *we* have something,” they said. “Go right ahead,” Kelvin replied with a wave of his arm. “Thanks,” Billie said. “Mads and I have been thinking, it looks like our people were taken by the Poiloogs. Her friend, Liam. And my brother, Joe. And I’m sure the rest of you have lost someone too.” A few members of the group exchanged sidelong glances, but most nodded along. Billie looked over to Madeline and gestured for her to continue. “Well,” she said, “we were thinking that, seeing as the Poiloogs seem to take them somewhere, there’s a good chance they might all still be alive. So... we want to try and rescue them.” A buzz passed through the assembled crowd. Neighbours whispered to each other. Some voiced concern or dissent. Others simply stared on in shock. “We tried that,” Kate said from across the circle. “And it's not like we gave up on it. We continually observe the Poiloogs' activities in the hopes of discovering more.” Kelvin nodded at Kate’s words. “Billie, you know why--” “Please just listen,” Billie said firmly, raising a hand for silence. “You can at least hear us out.” There was a brief pause, where Kelvin looked on the brink of saying something. But then, he closed his mouth and nodded for them to continue. “Thank you,” Billie said. “We do understand that this has been tried before.” They turned to face Kate. “And we appreciate all of your ongoing work.” At a nod from her friend, Madeline took over. “But we just *can’t* wait any longer. I don’t know about you, but the person I lost... He’s just a child. I hadn’t known him long, but he was already like family to me. I looked after him. I took responsibility. I *have* to try and help him. Otherwise, I don’t see how I can--” Her voice cracked slightly, and she swallowed hard, fighting back the burn of tears rising behind her eyes. With a deep breath, she used the forced pause to glance around, noticing some of the affronted glares softening -- wrinkled brows smoothing out, tensed jawlines relaxing. She opened her mouth to continue, but the lump in her throat caught the words. Noticing her struggling, Billie resumed, “So we came up with a plan. Or at least the idea of one. All that we ask is that you hear us out and tell us what you think. If you don’t want to help, you’ll get no judgement or ill will from us.” They glanced over at Madeline, who shook her head, still struggling to hold back the flood. With a small, sympathetic smile, Billie turned their attention back to the group. “We can’t follow the Poiloogs when they're on their ships without drawing too much attention to ourselves. So the best way to find out where they take the people they capture...is to get captured.” Anticipating the reaction, Billie held up a hand to maintain silence. “We know that it’s a risk. And it’s not one we’re asking you to take. Only that you let me--” “Or me,” Madeline said quickly. “--take it. Whoever it is,” they glanced sidelong at Madeline with a wry smile, “will conceal a Bluetooth tracker on them. That will allow the rest of us to follow along at a safer distance. If we have enough of us in the approximate area, we should at least be able to get a sense of the trajectory they take.” Kate nodded approvingly. “A good idea. And I’m pleased you’ve given it some thought. But even if we could find enough trackers and receivers, the range on them is not that far. If we wanted to follow along it would still be tricky at the speeds their ships travel.” “Which is why the captured person would leave a trail of another kind as well, in case we lost them,” Billie said. “Yes,” Madeline jumped in. “We’re not sure exactly what yet. Perhaps they could trail oil behind them. Or drop lego bricks along the way. Or carry something that emits a signal we can track. Just something that the others can follow.” “And how will they do this without the Poiloogs noticing?” Kelvin asked. Billie nodded. “A good question. We figure that the Poiloogs rely on their mind control to keep prisoners in check. As long as the captured person can keep the Poiloogs out of their head, we doubt that they’ll have many problems dropping things off the side of the ship undetected.” “That’s a lot of guessing and figuring,” Kelvin said. “A lot of hoping.” “We know,” said Madeline. “But hope is all that we’ve got.” A long pause followed, leaving Madeline’s heart racing as she surveyed the assembled people, trying to judge what they were thinking from their faces. She glanced over at Billie, who seemed to be doing the same. Finally, Kelvin spoke. “It’s not a bad plan. In fact, it’s similar to one we’ve tried before. And for that reason, I cannot in good faith commit this group to its execution. We’ve lost too many to this endeavour already.” Madeline’s heart sank, taking with it the last of her resolve. The words left her weak and trembling, fighting the urge to sink to the floor and never get up again. “That said,” Kelvin continued. “I encourage everyone here to think for themselves whether this is something they would like to be a part of. And short of committing the group to assist you, I will offer any help that I can.” A modicum of strength crept back into Madeline’s limbs as she nodded in thanks to the leader. “Now if there’s nothing else...?” Kelvin said, turning back to the rest of the group. “I suggest those of you that would like to discuss anything further can do so before we disperse. And I’ll post the location and time of the next meeting. Thank you.” As the other members turned to discuss things with their neighbours, Billie shuffled closer to her. “Not a bad result then,” they said. “Could have been better,” Madeline replied. “Could have been worse.” “I suppose now we’ll just have to see how many people want to help.” Together, they turned to survey the people around them, watching and waiting to see who might volunteer.