It's been a full two months now, and Hades was growing restless, and his many breaks itched like hell.
While he was both grateful and happy to see that people have been surviving, he hated sitting inside the new apartment they had given them. They were in the pent house of a repurposed hotel, and though it was cool, it got old after week one. All he could do was sit, and since they managed to get power back up, play video games or watch movies, and while it was nice to get some rest he couldn't help but feel like he had failed. He still hasn't found the town they needed despite help from the militia and for all he knew the ship could have already been repaired and left by now, but he seriously doubted it since a) the ship was in at least four pieces last he knew, and b)it took twenty years just to build it's haul, let alone Chech and verify that ever last nut and bolt was in its place and that every last wire was working how it should. So in short, the ship was definitely still planet side, but the big question was "Is his crew still alive?", and to that he had no answer yet which was why he was now rolling his third ciggerett and with Larissa's help moved into his wheelchair go onto the back porch.
"This shit is taking too long," he muttered as he lit his smoke.
"I know love, but there's nothing else you can do besides let yourself heal", she replied before giving him a kiss.
The day was sunny and bright, and if you ignore the giant metal wall around the place then it was easy to think that they were on vacation, but the truth of the matter is hard to ignore, and while they were safe for now, Hades couldn't help but wonder how long till that changes.
"Any word on our men yet?", he asked casually.
"No, unfortunately. Just the same message on repeat. And we ran into another issue", Larrisa said with a hang of her head.
"Which is?".
"Jacob and I went over some maps from the year before the outbreak reached here. The town must have been abandoned before that cause the one I found in the RV shows roads that have been labeled as abandoned, and some aren't even there anymore. His men, along with Doc and Bolovara, are combing the area but so far haven't even found any debris. As of last night they decided to push the perimeter out another twenty miles".
This wasn't good news. If they couldn't at least find some debris, then the whole mission was a failure and all those people died for nothing, and on top of that they were now stuck here without a way home.
Hades sighed and decided it was time to get moving again, so after mustering all his strength he attempted to stand on his legs, but as soon as he got half way up a stabbing pain shot through his legs and back, forcing him back onto the floor. Larrisa came to his side but he held up his hand to show it was unnecessary, not to be rude but cause he could use his arms now that his left arm had healed. Cursing his weakness, he hefted his full 225lbs back into the chair he's grown to hate so much, but at least he wasn't alone. Petrov was still in a wheelchair as well, only he would be there for a lot longer since due to infections had to have his arm and legs amputated, but he still hasn't lost his positive attitude, even cracking jokes about it for the kids in the child's ward in the hospital.
"You shouldn't push yourself. You could make it worse", Larrisa said quietly.
Without thinking, Hades emmediatly snapped at her, "How could shit get any worse?!", and quickly realized his mistake.
"Baby, I-", he started but she stormed off to their room, slamming the door behind her which actually made him flinch a bit. He laid his head in his hands, gripping his hair tight as he mentally cursed himself for it cause he knew she hated, absolutely hated being yelled at, especially since she hadn't done anything wrong. He sighed deeply, then spun himself around and went to the bedroom door, knocking gently before entering to find Larrisa laying on her side, curled up into herself which only made him feel even shittier than a second ago.
He wheeled over to his side of the bed, then hefted himself up onto it and laying on his back since he couldn't be on either of his sides faced her, and could see the tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have snapped at you like that...I just, I don't know what to do now, and for me that's terrifying cause I usually always do. I feel like I've not only failed the GA, but you and the others too, cause since we've been planet side", he had to stop and breath a moment, feeling his anger rise again but not wanting to hurt her more,"since we've been planet side, two of you have been severely hurt, three counting myself, and on top of that I somehow managed to loose the biggest ship in human history along with damn near all it's crew. It doesn't make my outburst okay, I know that, and I'm sorry...".
She wiped her nose, sat up and moved onto his lap facing him, a small smile one her face.
"You men, so grouchy", she said as she leaned forward...