The common room has become a planning center. Labeled medical boxes line one wall, while the student radio, campus maps, and recovered supplies cover the tables.
Thomas Roberts
Come on, little radio. Give me Franklin, or at least something more useful than static.
Thomas turns the dial slowly, one hand marking roads toward Franklin with a pencil. Maya organizes watch rotations nearby, close enough to help but careful not to intrude.
Thomas Roberts
My family is out there. I know we cannot just drive straight in, but maybe one of these routes is survivable.
Thomas Roberts
Could you help me judge them? You notice the things I miss, especially roads, bottlenecks, and places where a car would become a trap.
He slides the Franklin map across the table toward Charlie. Several routes are circled in blue, while red marks identify bridges, crowded intersections, and stretches without obvious shelter.
Maya Rodriguez
Take the time you need. I can adjust the watch schedule around whatever route you think gives Thomas the best chance.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish a viable route to Thomas's family
“Charlie agrees and looks over the maps, but he tells Thomas they need to find a car before they go on a rescue mission. Franklin is way to far to walk there and back in one day.”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled +0)
Charlie Moore
I’ll help judge them, but we need a car before attempting a rescue. Franklin is too far to walk there and back in one day.
Charlie studies the marked roads, comparing bridges, intersections, shelter points, and likely fuel stops. The safest route bends through quieter streets but still requires reliable transportation.
Thomas Roberts
You’re right. Even the best route becomes a terrible plan on foot, especially carrying supplies and trying to bring people back.
Charlie traces a route avoiding the largest intersections and identifies two useful vehicle searches: the campus maintenance lot and Jerry’s Garage, both offering shelter and potential tools.
Charlie Moore
We should search the campus vehicles first, then Jerry’s Garage if we need repairs or a better option. We need fuel, keys, and room for passengers.
Maya Rodriguez
That gives us a practical order. I’ll adjust the watch schedule and add fuel cans, spare keys, and vehicle tools to the mission list.
Thomas Roberts
Then the rescue plan starts with finding a car. Thanks, Charlie. I wanted hope, but you gave me something we can actually execute.
✓ Quest Accepted
Finalize the rescue plan with Thomas
Quest Complete
Establish a viable route to Thomas's family
“Charlie puts a reassuring hand on Thomas's shoulder. "I'm sure they're ok. We'll find them. And you won't do it alone."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Charlie places a reassuring hand on Thomas’s shoulder. The radio shifts beneath Thomas’s elbow, and its speaker crackles loudly before he catches it.
Charlie Moore
I'm sure they're okay. We'll find them. And you won't do it alone.
Thomas Roberts
Okay. I believe you. We find a car, reach Franklin, and bring them back together.
The radio’s battery indicator drops a bar after the burst of static. Maya turns down the volume and adds replacement batteries to the mission list.
Maya Rodriguez
That promise gives us a clear objective, but the radio just spent power we cannot replace yet. Keep transmissions brief.
Thomas Roberts
Then we conserve every word. I want my family found, and I want you beside me when we do it.
Thomas steadies the map beneath Charlie’s hand and circles the maintenance lot first, while Maya marks Jerry’s Garage as the fallback search.
Quest Complete
Finalize the rescue plan with Thomas
“Once they finish making plans, Charlie pulls Thomas aside to talk in private. "Hey, are you ok Thomas?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -3)
When Maya turns to revise the watch schedule, Charlie gently draws Thomas into the adjoining hallway. The common room’s voices fade behind the partly closed door.
Charlie Moore
Hey, are you okay, Thomas?
Thomas starts to answer, then glances toward the radio. His elbow catches the table edge in the common room, knocking a pencil cup onto the floor with a sharp clatter.
Thomas Roberts
Honestly? Not really. I’m trying to act like a rescue plan makes this manageable, but I have no idea what we’ll find in Franklin.
Thomas Roberts
Charlie noticed. I do not have to keep pretending everything is fine around him.
Thomas lowers his voice as Maya pauses near the doorway, briefly watching them before returning to the maps. The spilled pencils roll beneath the table, adding an awkward interruption to the privacy.
Thomas Roberts
I’m scared, Charlie. But having you beside me makes the fear feel like something I can actually face.
“Charlie hugs him reassuringly and says, "For better or worse, we'll find them. I promise."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Charlie Moore
For better or worse, we'll find them. I promise.
Charlie pulls Thomas into a reassuring hug. Thomas stiffens for one startled second, then folds his arms around Charlie and holds on in the quiet hallway.
Thomas Roberts
Okay. Then I’m holding you to that promise, because I really need to believe it.
Thomas rests his cheek briefly against Charlie’s shoulder. Beyond the doorway, Maya gathers the fallen pencils and gives them privacy without comment.
Thomas Roberts
We’ll find a car, follow the safest route, and get to Franklin prepared. I can face that if you’re with me.
He eases back but keeps one hand on Charlie’s arm, his fear still visible yet steadier now. The radio crackles softly from the common room.
Thomas Roberts
Thank you, Charlie. Not just for the plan. For staying.
“Charlie blushes and says it's no problem. And Thomas has been there for him too.”
Charlie Moore
It’s no problem. You’ve been there for me too.
Charlie blushes beneath Thomas’s attention, but he keeps his hand on Thomas’s arm. The hallway feels quieter than the common room beyond it.
Thomas Roberts
I have tried. Maybe not always gracefully, but I want to keep being there for you.
Thomas’s thumb brushes once over Charlie’s sleeve before he lets his hand fall. His expression steadies, carrying less fear and more determination.
Thomas Roberts
So we do this together. First the campus vehicles, then Jerry’s Garage, and then Franklin when we are ready.
From the common room, Maya finishes resetting the watch schedule and taps the maintenance-lot map. The rescue plan waits for their judgment, practical and unfinished.
Thomas Roberts
Come on, partner. Help me figure out what we need to check first, and I’ll tell you everything I remember about my family’s neighborhood.