AI GAMES

11

On the thirty-seventh day.

The usually smiling steward awkwardly explained to us, "Dear passengers, I'm sorry to inform you that the train's supplies are nearly depleted. We will provide meals once every three days. Please understand."

Her words caused everyone's face to turn.

I whispered to Emily, "This will force some people to desperately leave the train. I don't know the consequences of spending the night at the station, but they can't be good. Most likely, it's a death sentence."

I tapped the food container by my side, "As for us, it seems we might only have one last round left."

Emily fell into thought, uncertain, and finally asked, "Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

I tapped the nearly empty food container, "Do you think we'll have enough supplies to survive the next loop? Even if we do, what about after that? Without food, we might resort to cannibalism, maybe last another week. But what then? Are we to spend eternity on this train? "

She sat down and continued, " But can you identify the right one? We only have five minutes."

I countered, "No, we have an entire night."

She looked at me, "You're thinking of staying on the platform overnight?"

"There's no way anyone could survive out there overnight," I said, gazing pensively out the frosty window as the train clicked along. "It's just empty platforms and snow."

Emily nodded. "Believe me, I've scoured every inch of those stations. No shelters or buildings beyond the platforms."

"What about the guards?" I mused. "Could we overpower the two that patrol?"

Emily shook her head. "Not a chance. There are others onboard who would come help. And they look armed."

I tapped his chin in thought. "Then maybe we exploit the countdown. Make our move in the last seconds before departure when the guards don't see us as a threat yet. The onboard ones wouldn't have time to react."

He eyed the crafted steak knives. "It's not much, but better than nothing."

Emily wrung her hands nervously but then set her jaw. "It could work. We just need the right moment."

After more heated discussion, they decided to stake their attempt on Hubble Station during the next loop.

Over the next few days, we strategized how best to employ the knives in our attempt. As Hubble Station approached again, I handed Emily one of the crafted steak knives.

On this stop at Hubble Station, all three of us dashed off the train without looking back.