Union slave, same as you.”
He wandered towards the kitchen and noticed there was
a piece of metal sitting on the counter that hadn’t been there before. There
were strange markings in it, sort of like a diagram. Alerik couldn’t decipher
it at a glance. He quickly stuffed it in his pocket. He figured it was probably
something to do with Liberty’s Hammer. The fact that it was left on his counter
meant it was intended for him, and might get him closer to Velar. He checked to
make sure Saskia hadn’t noticed, then walked to his bedroom and changed.
On his way out, he grabbed his pickaxe, just to be
safe.
“What do you need that for?” Saskia laughed.
“Well, some of us don’t have electromagnetic-powered
firearms,” he eyed the gun on her hip.
“Point taken,” she shrugged. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah. Just explain what we are doing today on the way
there,” he said as he followed her out.
“Well…” she started while stepping into the vehicle,
“We are going to go into the city on a hunting trip. The Union believes that
even people within the nicer parts of the city are latching onto this
movement.”
“I suppose that doesn’t sit well with Aemon.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she replied. “We are going to a
couple of places today. The Union building, and outside the wall, to the farm
lands.”
“Farmlands? What?” he acted surprised, thinking back
to all that Cinine had told him. She had been right about everything so far. He
wondered if she would know what the etchings were. Or maybe Soran would know.
“Yes. Outside of the wall, farmlands stretch as far as
the eye can see. All the way to the dome itself. Families are born and die
there, generation after generation of farmers. They work for The Union much
like the miners. Their role is key to our survival. Without them, oxygen and
food would be impossible,” she said, smiling. “That’s why we have a wall
protecting them.”
Alerik wondered if it was for protecting them, or
trapping them. “Makes sense,” was all he said as their ride soared through the
air towards The Union building.
It was massive. The structure could be seen from
anywhere in the settlement, but to be so close to it was surreal. It was the
giant, dark watchman of humanity. He glanced down out the window. The floors
below seemed to go on forever.
“We are almost there, once we land, stay close to me.
If you think the guards are methodical in the mines, just wait,” she said as
the vehicle landed at the docks.
Alerik sighed as he stepped out onto the platform and
immediately felt out of place. The guards at the main entrance were sharply
dressed, it looked like their armor even had titanium plating. Their jumpsuits
didn’t have numbers identifying them like they did in the mines, just a solid
black coloring with big silver plating in the vital areas. He knew that these
guys probably wouldn’t find the humor in his typical sarcastic tone, so he
opted to stay quiet while Saskia spoke with them.
Two guards approached with fully automatic rifles, the
magnetic versions. They leveled their rifles right at Saskia and Alerik as they
stepped closer.
“State your business,” the guards said in unison.
“We are here on behalf of Aemon Irithil. We are
conducting an investigation within this building and have been given level
three clearance. We are looking for a man here by the name of Lucius Rolen,”
Saskia said as the guards began patting them down.
“Lucius is on floor forty-one,” a guard said as he
finished up his search. “We will take you to him and offer any support we can.”
“Perfect,” she smiled before turning to Alerik, “You
ready?”
Alerik nodded in silence. They walked inside with
their armed escort.
The building seemed almost bigger inside than it was
outside. Each floor had a circular platform with a hollow center that allowed
other motorized platforms to rise and fall, rapidly bringing things from the
bottom up and vice-versa. Nobody
He wandered towards the kitchen and noticed there was
a piece of metal sitting on the counter that hadn’t been there before. There
were strange markings in it, sort of like a diagram. Alerik couldn’t decipher
it at a glance. He quickly stuffed it in his pocket. He figured it was probably
something to do with Liberty’s Hammer. The fact that it was left on his counter
meant it was intended for him, and might get him closer to Velar. He checked to
make sure Saskia hadn’t noticed, then walked to his bedroom and changed.
On his way out, he grabbed his pickaxe, just to be
safe.
“What do you need that for?” Saskia laughed.
“Well, some of us don’t have electromagnetic-powered
firearms,” he eyed the gun on her hip.
“Point taken,” she shrugged. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah. Just explain what we are doing today on the way
there,” he said as he followed her out.
“Well…” she started while stepping into the vehicle,
“We are going to go into the city on a hunting trip. The Union believes that
even people within the nicer parts of the city are latching onto this
movement.”
“I suppose that doesn’t sit well with Aemon.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she replied. “We are going to a
couple of places today. The Union building, and outside the wall, to the farm
lands.”
“Farmlands? What?” he acted surprised, thinking back
to all that Cinine had told him. She had been right about everything so far. He
wondered if she would know what the etchings were. Or maybe Soran would know.
“Yes. Outside of the wall, farmlands stretch as far as
the eye can see. All the way to the dome itself. Families are born and die
there, generation after generation of farmers. They work for The Union much
like the miners. Their role is key to our survival. Without them, oxygen and
food would be impossible,” she said, smiling. “That’s why we have a wall
protecting them.”
Alerik wondered if it was for protecting them, or
trapping them. “Makes sense,” was all he said as their ride soared through the
air towards The Union building.
It was massive. The structure could be seen from
anywhere in the settlement, but to be so close to it was surreal. It was the
giant, dark watchman of humanity. He glanced down out the window. The floors
below seemed to go on forever.
“We are almost there, once we land, stay close to me.
If you think the guards are methodical in the mines, just wait,” she said as
the vehicle landed at the docks.
Alerik sighed as he stepped out onto the platform and
immediately felt out of place. The guards at the main entrance were sharply
dressed, it looked like their armor even had titanium plating. Their jumpsuits
didn’t have numbers identifying them like they did in the mines, just a solid
black coloring with big silver plating in the vital areas. He knew that these
guys probably wouldn’t find the humor in his typical sarcastic tone, so he
opted to stay quiet while Saskia spoke with them.
Two guards approached with fully automatic rifles, the
magnetic versions. They leveled their rifles right at Saskia and Alerik as they
stepped closer.
“State your business,” the guards said in unison.
“We are here on behalf of Aemon Irithil. We are
conducting an investigation within this building and have been given level
three clearance. We are looking for a man here by the name of Lucius Rolen,”
Saskia said as the guards began patting them down.
“Lucius is on floor forty-one,” a guard said as he
finished up his search. “We will take you to him and offer any support we can.”
“Perfect,” she smiled before turning to Alerik, “You
ready?”
Alerik nodded in silence. They walked inside with
their armed escort.
The building seemed almost bigger inside than it was
outside. Each floor had a circular platform with a hollow center that allowed
other motorized platforms to rise and fall, rapidly bringing things from the
bottom up and vice-versa. Nobody
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