Back outside, the daily activities of Altera had resumed for most people. Those who joined the war had mostly gone to rest, while those who found their loved ones would have days-worth of things to talk about.
The slaves from Bright sobbed as they reunited with family and friends, though a lot of them arrived much later than the last batch of Alterans.
After all, a lot of them were seriously hurt and the Alterans didn't have the manpower to help them travel through the array. Hence, they had to go through on their own after they received some treatment, assuming they had the money for the transfer.
In any case, people camped outside the teleportation array, and a lot of new people arrived now that the funeral was over. They sat on the benches set near the arrays.
The benches were erected there as soon as the war started. For the most part, it was for the comfort of the defending parties. But now that the war was technically over, other than the guards, there were also plenty of citizens who camping.
They were waiting for more people to go through—hopefully people they knew.
There had been people who went to Fargo to look for relatives, but it was discouraged at some point because they could get stuck there until a team returned to Altera by foot.
When those people had yet to return, it really did serve as a deterrent to those who wanted to do the same. So, the best thing they could do was wait for more people while it was open.
Of course, with people camping out and concentrated in one place, money grubbers also appeared to sell some goods. So, at least for a while, the place was really lively.
However, after another hour or so, most of the people had already gone inside with only a few more remaining under the heat of the sun.
A voice of disappointment echoed. "The array is about to close, no one else is coming in?" Tom asked, a bit whispering, but the little girl holding his hand still heard it.
She sniffed, heart clenching in pain and fear.
What if her father really didn't come? Did something happen?
Unfortunately, everyone was too busy and no one thought to specifically find Lily or Tom to say they found Bruce. When they found an acquaintance who knew them, it was already too late. Tom couldn't risk running over there with Lily lest the array closed in on them!
However, just before the array completely closed, it flashed—revealing about a hundred more people before it completely dispersed from their view.
Bruce and the others had to undergo emergency treatment in Fargo's clinic, with Ansel leaving the few of them some funds for the array. Some minutes ago, they were forcefully woken up in order to 'catch the ride', so to speak.
Everyone still felt like they had been hit, ran over, and then squished by a truck, but they knew Altera and were determined to settle there for good. Waiting for the next caravan would take too long! They didn't know if their bodies would be better by then, either!
So, by nook or by crook, these former Bright citizens practically crawled to the array. The only reason they didn't have to was some carpenters felt pity for them. They didn't care that the rickshaws held corpses a few hours prior, they just wanna get to Altera!
Fortunately, they got in just in time.
"We made it…" Rebi said, breathless, touching his stomach which was still aching a bit from earlier injuries. He had never been to Altera, but he had heard it was definitely the place to be.
Bruce's eyes were similarly bright. He looked forward, already pondering about how to find the territory since he knew the walls were still a distance away from the array.
What he did not expect though was for a small crowd to be there! It wasn't a big crowd anymore, but there were a lot of seats around and he could tell there used to be a lot more before.
He was just startled at first and was prepared to just ask for directions, but then he heard a familiar voice just outside his peripheral vision. He didn't even have to look for his tear ducts to break.
Bruce's heart lifted and he sobbed, opening his arms so he could take his baby into his arms.
Rebi looked in envy at his friend who finally found his daughter. He wished he could have the same fortune, and the hope it would happen to him lit up his fire to keep fighting.
Lani beside him, however, was frowning a bit. She held on Rebi's hand, which caught the man's attention. "Uncle…" she mumbled, her large eyes lined with tears.
Rebi's heart softened, thinking the little girl was scared. "Everything will be alright. Altera is a good place…"
She nodded, her eyes shifted towards Bruce and his daughter. She frowned when he started talking to the other big man, and they gestured to go away.
"Uncle Bruce has forgotten about us…" she said, frowning. Rebi blinked and looked to see they were heading away. He chuckled a bit, patting the girl's head.
"Nonsense," he said. "He's just very happy to find his daughter. We'll all be a big family, don't worry."
Lani looked at him with her large innocent eyes and nodded. She looked very obedient and it just made him more fond of the girl.
"Such a well-behaved girl," he said, and Lani smiled in comfort.
"Can I call you dad?"
Rebi blinked, before his heart turned to a puddle.At this time, he couldn't help but really think of the girl as his offspring.
"My daughter calls me Papa," he said, patting her head. "You can use that too."
Lani looked at him, eyes full of dependence, and—at that moment—it made Rebi swear to provide for her and protect her as he would his own daughter.