The Split Sun and The Mechanical Moon

Chapter Forty-Nine: Sol

Above the clouds, I assumed they'd be nothing. Where I thought the sky would stretch upon farther than my eyes can see... I could only be more than wrong.

When I breached the clouds, I was staring at a flat misty floor. As I flew towards the center of Erun, a mass of buildings and skyscrapers was before me. Attached with long wires, massive airships flew close by to support the buildings. I flew close to one of them, it was unmanned, flowers decorated the hull and deck, even the large cannons that were positioned on either side had their barrels stuffed with bouquets of roses and daffodils. I didn't see any weapons, no remains of war, nothing that makes me think that these people even participated in the civil war. I landed atop a building, scanning my surroundings. I spoke into my wrist, recording my findings.

"There's no signs of anything relating to the civil war here, while it's nice to have the sun on my skin again, it won't be long until it's night. I see a congregation of skyscrapers off to the north, I think it must be the main capital up here. There's some sort of dome at the center of this place, much like the stadium positioned under the moon in Middle Earth, putting the dots together... I'll relay later."

Ending the recording I fired my engines and now nosedived toward the dome, from above I could see walkways and faint streets. People were really living up here, putting it aside I decided to crash through the domes skyline. Bracing for impact I retracted my wings and put my metal foot first. Smashing through the glass as I took a knee in the middle of the dust, I heard gasping and yelling. Extending my wings, they swooped in front of me and now extended high up revealing myself. My mask made my voice garbled and deep, as I looked around to people sitting on the sides of the room like a theater.

"Get out."

They all immediately rushed out, standing up I looked around. The seats elevated like a lecture hall, but I then looked down. Below me was a large window to the world below me. You could see the entirety of middle earth with its walls fitting perfectly in the frame of the circular floor. They've been spying on us, I looked around and saw someone standing incredibly still. I dashed over, taking the person by the collar.

"You've been spying on us!"

They pleaded.

"P-please! I... I don't know what you're talking about!"

I'm getting ahead of myself, I put them down gently.

"W-what are you? Are you an angel?! Here to take me to hell?!"

"Im from there."

I pointed to the floor and the window.

"T-that's impossible, that's a simple simulation of the world before it was destroyed.

"What?"

"Y-you're really not from here, im sorry. Don't you know? The civil war that ravaged middle earth a decade or two ago made life down there unbearable, it's thanks to Daniel's leadership we are able to live up here."

"What made life so unbearable?"

"After Akiras containment, their daughter sought revenge and killed Daniel's soon to be wife... Ki."

I immediately snapped my neck at them.

"What?! K-Ki was married to Akira!"

"No? Akira was never married to anyone."

I took a few steps back.

"Everyone has lied to me, where's Daniel now?"

"I understand you want answers, but you should calm down a bit sir."

"Sir?"

"S-sorry I don't need to call you that, you're just so tall and y-you broke my roof."

I sighed, disengaging my armor it began to click and depressurize. I stepped out from the exoskeleton frame, some elements still on my body as I put my goggles up and loosened my scarf.

"I'm sorry about the roof, I never got your name."

They were awestruck, seeing the machine before them turn into me.

"M-my name Is Sol."

"Sol? As in the sun?"

"Yeah... ironic I know, I work in the moon."

I looked at them now, dressed in grey and gold with a large fluffy dark grey jacket, gold accents all over them. Their eyes, were a pure glowing pale gold, like the moon in the night sky. Their freckles glowed across their face, with two big ears on their head that twitched.

"W-where do you really come from?"

"Don't worth about that, tell me where Daniel is.

"W-well, he's at the top of EMC tower."

"EMC?"

"The Erun Manufacturing Company, they make everything-but mainly robotic prosthetics and androids."

"How difficult would it be to see him?"

"He almost never comes down from his office, you'd have to make yourself a pretty big name around the parts for him to even consider letting you up there... you know I've heard a couple rumors that their Finance department is running into issues."

"They have multiple departments then?"

"Oh yeah, surrounding EMC Tower are 5 smaller towers each dedicated to managing a different department. Like Security, Finance, Handling, and a couple others I forgot."

"I got it, I'll go to each tower and assist them with whatever issue they have, and then im on good terms with all 5 departments Daniel will have no choice but to see me!"

Sol clapped softly next to me.

"So I assume you'll be off now?"

"Yeah, I don't have a lot of time up here. I need to return to my family below, sorry about your roof."

"It's alright..."

I suited back up, fiddling with my wrist controls before hovering back under the hole I made previously. I fastened my scarf, pulling down my goggles and taking my controllers in hand.

"Hey! Is there really a world below us?"

I nodded to him, putting my two fingers together and saluting him off, I looked up and burned back through the opening. Stalling a bit mid air, I did a slow flip and now shot off to the north. It what Sol really told me is true, everything I've been told up to now is a lie. The history of this world is split in two, much like the sun on the horizon. I need to act fast, or else I'll risk more danger to my family below.

I'll keep fighting for them.

For me.

For Erun.