The Red Line

XII

XII

The notice dock was a sectioned off overpass, wide enough to fit two shuttles, wing to wing, with room to spare. It had a dome top, pulsing petternized lights, reflecting off the aluminum floor strips, syncing with the information screens aligning the railgaurds.

It reminded me of that time Suvisara showed me a Terra Firma aquarium on the hologram system. The only thing missing was a whale.

"You find ship from here?" Jemben asked.

"Y-yes". All I had to do was look up the Elysium ship module.

"Will take long?"

"No". I pushed his next question to the back of my mind and concentrated on the interface screen . I rushed my fingers across the keyboard, and within thirty-two seconds I was done. "There". I wrapped my knuckle on the display. "D-done".

Jemben peaked over my shoulder, and I caught a glimpse of a trimmed beard. "Not good". He murmered.

"W-what?"

He cocked his chin at the screen. "Top units off limit".

Something heavy dropped in my stomach when I saw that the interface was flashing a number of warning symbols. "What d-do you mean by o-off limit?"

"Clearanced personal only". He explained, while nudging me out of the way. I clamped my jaw tight and watched in silence as he pulled up the station blueprints. "Floors 340 to 350 have elevation pods". He traced the structures. "You need law keeper swipe card for passage".

I ground my teeth. "What is a l-law keeper?"

"They keep watch of Cygre. Make sure trouble doesn't stir in the upper levels."

I swiped my hand over the screen and it shut off. "How do I get up t-there?"

"You cant. The law keepers train up there. Will never allow".

"T-than why does Elysium have a-access?!"

"There is-"

Before he had a chance to finish that thought I slammed my boot on the guardrails, denting the metal. "This w-whole place is a Bitch!"

My frustration was surpassing to anger now. A feeling I was beginning to affiliate with Cygre.

Jemben let out a breath. "Like I saying, there is one way". He wiggled his bony grey-vein finger. "You join law keepers".

Like a riptide, the bad feelings washed away. "H-how?"

He cupped his chin. "Hmm. It takes long time".

"How long?"

"Months".

My shoulders drooped, mirroring my expression. Jemben was doing his best to assist me. So why was the urge to hit him suddenly so strong?

"I don't h-have months". I gritted.

He shrugged. "I only suggest".

"Well..." I searched my brain for a Russly comment. "It w-was a horrible suggestion". I finished.

"I have another-"

"No".

"It's-"

"No!" I all but shouted.

With a dissatisfied grunt Jemben crossed his arms. "Than what you suggest?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "L-let me think".

"I really-"

"The staircases only m-move if you h-have a swipe card, r-right?"

"Yes".