Silver Saint

Nine: Reunions

//Report: Quinn, Jackson.

//Saint Corp Plaza.

//Horizon City.

//Greece.

//Begin log.

The gold dollar in my hand dropped to the floor, bouncing off the tile with a loud clatter.

"Damn," I muttered, bending over to scoop the coin up. "Sorry about that."

Sanviento, Dan, Lucas, Amani and I all stood together in the confines of an elevator that was currently racing its way up the side of the towering skyscraper at the centre of the Plaza's complex. Through the open glass windows I could see all of Horizon City stretching out before us, laid bare in the golden evening sunlight. I could see the circular form of the Plaza below, ringing the tower, and beyond that was the rest of the city itself.

The white and gold color scheme that dominated its architecture gave Horizon City an almost ethereal quality, like it had been sculpted from marble. Towering spires of glass and polished metal reached skyward, their sleek surfaces reflecting the golden hue of the setting sun. Every building seemed to flow seamlessly into the next, curves complementing the rigid geometry of the city's layout.

The habitation blocks-perfectly aligned rows of white houses-glowed faintly in the sunlight, the lights in their windows far below shining. Between them, lush, green parks and pristine boulevards ran like veins through the city.

Further out from the center, I could see industrial sectors-massive, cubic factories in shades of white, their rooftops punctuated by plumes of exhaust. They hummed with the life of production, contrasting the stillness of the inner rings.

Finally, where the edge of the buildings met the Grecian coast, the Horizon Energy Shield reached the ground, its transparent blue glow encircling everything. From up here, the city felt like paradise.

"Is that... what do you call it in Canada... a toonie?" Sanviento offered.

"Loonie," I responded, showing him the bird on the face of the coin. I didn't want to continue speaking, but it was clear that Sanviento was asking about more than just the name of the coin. "Long story about this, it was my father's and it means a lot to me. Doesn't matter right now."

"Hey, I get it. I won't pry," Sanviento replied. "Sounds like you looked up to him."

A long, awkward silence overtook the elevator, quiet enough that I could hear the rush of wind outside. Dan coughed into his sleeve. Amani shifted her weight from foot to foot. Finally, we seemed to slow-I felt my stomach rise into my throat as the elevator's rapid ascension ground to a halt.

Behind me, the doors slid open, flooding the elevator with light. The space beyond the elevator doors was almost blindingly bright at first, a stark contrast to the fading sunlight my eyes had grown adjusted to. Vast windows lined the walls, offering a panoramic view of the Plaza far below and the shimmering waters of the Grecian coast beyond. The transparent blue glow of the Horizon Energy Shield occasionally flickered beyond the windows, adding a soft, surreal light to the space.

Rows of medical beds, each equipped with built-in information screens, were arranged with meticulous precision. The beds' sleek white surfaces and soft wooden accents matched the center's design, their displays flickering with diagnostic readouts and patient data. Only a handful of beds were filled-I could make out the form of an armoured Saint Corp soldier, a worker in a grey jumpsuit and two women in civilian clothes, each spaced several beds apart.

A handful of doctors and nurses hovered between the beds, clad in the ubiquitous white uniforms of Saint Corp with a splash of brilliant red marking their lapels. They spoke in hushed tones with any patients who were awake, performing routine checks or adjusting patient conditions.