The lads are already up and eating toast with eggs.

“Look what the cat dragged in, decide it was time to get up?” Aaron asked. The other fellas sniggered.

“Very funny,” Derek replied.

“I’m surprised he’s alive at all. You were really knocking them back,” Marcus intejected.

“Me too. I thought we’d have to delay the mission,” Charles added.

“Thank you all for your concern,” Derek just about managed to reply.

Mick spoke, his tone serious. “You will be able to take part in the mission, won’t you. We need to leave in under two hours on your shipped .”

Derek nods in the affirmative.

The guys talk about soccer briefly before heading out for a walk around the island. It gives Derek time to savor his food, he swears before God it has never tasted so good.

Maeve comes from the bedroom, her eyes drooping. “Where are they gone?”

“Out for a stroll.” Derek says having perked up somewhat after finishing his third cup of tea. “Actually, I’m going to head over now and check up on the ship. I’ll meet everyone over there for the departure.

It’s a sunny, pleasant day outside. There is not a cloud in the sky.

Derek wakes up to a massive headache. His mouth is dry. This is the worst he has felt since he caught the Aurex virus when he was young. He pauses for a moment, wondering how the previous night had ended. Nope, he doesn’t remember.

Maeve is in the bed beside him.

He kisses her forehead.

Her head moves from side to side. “Are you okay?”

“Not really, if I’m being honest. Feeling shit.”

Maeve opens her eyes and smiles. “I think you had a bit too much to drink. Do you remember the last thing you said to the boys?”

“Not really, what?! Derek’s eyes narrowed.

“That we are part of their next operation. Like, you didn’t even ask me,” She let out a mock laugh.

“Ah, no, I’m so sorry. I’ll go and explain that I was drunk.”

“I don’t think so, babe. It wouldn’t go down well. And we’re going to need these people if we are to stay out of prison.”

Derek sits up at the side of the bed. He had a sinking feeling. “I guess you’re right. God, I’m starving.”

With that, he moves back into his wheelchair, eager to get something to fill himself up.

“So, where and what is this?” Derek asks.

Mick smiles. “This, my new friend is our next target. A relay station in Liverpool.”

Derek shrugs. “What is so important about that?”

Aaron interjects, “It’s an important communication portal between Earth and several major orbiting stations. The monetary cost of the damage will be enormous. We’re not going to change everything overnight. It’s about building sustained, prolonged pressure. Ya know what I mean.”

“I understand. Tell me more about the plan. There must be something I can do to help.”

Placing his hand on Derek’s shoulder, Aaron replies, “When I heard what you had done, I said fair fucks. A guy in a chair, breaking our Maeve out. I said that, didn’t I say that, Marcus and Charles?”

They reply in unison. “Yes, you did.”

Aaron looks directly at Derek, “I knew I was going to like this guy. And yes, I think there’s something you can do.”

Animated, they tell Derek about what they have planned. Every few minutes, they encourage him to down another whiskey. Soon, he feels groggy, and he finds it hard to follow what they are saying.

Maeve whispers in his ear. “I think you’ve had enough. Come on let’s get you into bed.”

The drink flows, and Derek feels warmer.

“So, what was it like growing up on the moon?” Aaron asks Derek. “It must have been great to be able to look up at the stars and to see the lunar surface.”

Derek stops to ponder his response. “Most of the time, it was pretty boring, to be honest. It’s like being stuck on a small island where the scenery never changes and where you must justify your own existence.”

Mick rubs his nose and then speaks for the first time. “I take it you’re not a fan of the authorities?”

Grinning Derek replied, “You do realize that you are speaking to probably the most wanted either down here or up there.”

Mick’s jaw clenched, “Can we trust you?”

Gasps went out from those in the room.

“Of course, we can trust him,” Maeve interrupted.

“It’s ok, everyone, I prefer to talk candidly like this. Yes, you can trust me,” Derek says, staring right at him.

“Good,” Mick replied, “We have a lot of work to get through. And some of our best work is done while drinking whiskey.”

Mick takes out a blue and white schematic. “This is our next target.”