Dimension Of Perfection (And Its Flaws)

Chapter 20 - Symmetry Our Saviour

Symmetry our saviour.

It's a strange saying. Obviously.

But hearing an entire city of people say it all at the same time, even stranger.

That's all I care to think about as I stare at this wall. This boring wall. It's just white and metallic as always. I've really taken the artistic abilities of graffiti artists for granted, haven't I...

Someone knocks into my backside and pushes me forward. I twist back at who might've done it, but only see the enormous mass of people trying to get into the building. You'd think you'd build more than one church if this many people always show up.

Even us somehow.

Well, I don't know if there's more than one church, but everyone I could see around us went to this one so I'll assume for now.

4663 also never gave me a reason as to why this is mandatory, because she was explaining to me what mandated meant. It did not mean romantic relations with a male, apparently.

The triangular arch door into this cathedral structure is jagged on its underside with spiny teeth that look like they could slam down and swallow the people already inside.

In every direction is at least someone talking about their day, or where they went for the parade just before. "Do you think Tristan's married?" Some woman mentions to their friend behind me.

Come to think of it, I don't know if Dora's his wife or if they're merely coworkers, but I guess I'll never find out because I can't remember who Tristan was in the old world. I think I saw Dora once or twice, when she still dressed in brown and ran the news in the Emporium.

From the doorway, a melodic tune dances out and asserts its serenade on the city, causing a few people to look down into the building. I haven't been able to see in yet, except for through a group of stretched tall windows with lattice stained glass in patterns. The one closest to me appears like a group of scientists behind a row of smaller diamonds. What the diamonds are meant to represent could be anything.

Above that is the front view of a big vehicle stamped with a geometric mural of a lion. The vehicle has two prongs above and below the main structure, along with an extra two view port windows glowing with blue glass. On both sides of it are a legion of flying vehicles, dragging along heavy orbs on rods and flying with tinted pairs of wings. A light from inside the building shines through the now sparkling display at the moment the crowd jumps forward in.

The outside stairs leading from the street are completely swamped by Desirables, until they start to clear away inside. 4663's hair brushes against the wall as she wanders along through, not gesturing at me to move along because all I've been staring at for the last fifteen minutes is her pin of a cartoon robot on her bag. The dust and dirt on it is barely rubbing off onto her disguise, but if they catch her from that I'd be surprised if you were even allowed to go outside in this city.

I follow her in and finally see what this obnoxious cathedral is all about. It's much taller than I expected, and tonnes more extravagant. There are a dozen more beautifully decorated glass mosaic windows at the far end of the room in front of me, behind a pedestal for the speaker. In between each there are blue banners with a swirling symbol that seems like it spins in only one direction, given the fin-like shapes that point the same way around.

The roof is a collection of sharp edges converging up into the center like a giant wizards hat on the top of the building. The whole arrangement looks mightily expensive, with even special chandeliers dangling precariously off the ceiling, coated in dazzling triangles and simplistic shapes.

To both of my sides is a stupid amount of seats pointing in rows to the front, with nothing between spots like any armrests.

Farther to the sides of me are more people funneling in from other entrances, more graciously decked out in noble, flowing coats that do much more than combat the cold. All but one of the people coming in from the sides has some kind of hat on; something that looks like a police cap but with decorative gold details that create an impressive silhouette for their head.