Work in the mines was, for the most part, hard; dirty, tiring, and hot. Today, although the same, felt different. Centiel could feel a change, and it was clear what it was; the atmosphere. Each new miner to report on duty seemed to arrive with a glow to their face, something she was sure she too had. Centiel hoped that she could only see it because she knew to look.
The message had clearly been sent to every human on this rock, and like her, this was what they had been waiting for. Centiel swung her pick-axe, hardly feeling the effort, too absorbed by her growing anticipation... and anxiety. What if everything fell apart? She knew so little of what was planned, simply that something was going to happen, and that it was going to happen soon; today, if she'd understood the message. She assumed that there were key people positioned around the facility, and that when things kicked off they would know what to do. But what would be expected of her?
Glancing to her right, she caught a glimpse of Al, and a young woman she had seen before but had never formally met. "There'll be a sign," he had said when she'd found him that morning. The look on her face must have given away her fears. So Centiel was sticking to him like glue, and he would know what to do, she was sure of it. The thought settled her stomach, and she swung her pickaxe again. Just keep working, and wait for the sign.