The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 2 : Uni Viva

The train reached Grande Ci'gazze Terminus early in the morning. The train slowed and came to a halt so smoothly that it took Dusk Hale some time to realise it was no longer moving. She turned and saw the steady movement of fellow passengers from the coach and she hurriedly followed, carrying her handbag and the Sixth Sense.

She got off the train and surveyed the station. It was huge... multiple levels, many different platforms, probably 100 trains, elevators, moving walkways and stairways everywhere. The number of people she could see walking past her eyes was definitely more than the total number of residents in her hometown. Compared to the station where she had embarked, this was like being in a game stadium. Her father had taken her to the Rocket-Ball game competition once in the largest stadium in Tharq. Her head swarmed on seeing the size of the place.

As she stood, dazed, the crowd from the train had more or less vanished. No one seem to wait here in Ci'gazze. Everyone just hurried away, almost running. As if the time was coming to an end. As she looked around, another bunch of people were hurrying towards another train that seem to be ready to leave. She felt that she could stand there all day just marvelling at the mass of humanity and the energy they exuded.

"Hey! What are you standing there for? Is there a problem? Show me your Citizen-ID!" A sharp voice broke into her revere. She looked around to see a local Militia-Officer standing on a hover-board, looking at her with suspicion and disgust. Dusk quickly put her bag down, then very slowly moved her hands to pick up her communicator, took out the Citizen-ID token and flicked on the device to 'throw' the token at the Officer. She remembered her security training... a rapid hand movement during a Militia Investigation could result in you getting killed on suspicion of carrying a weapon.

"I am sorry officer, I just got off the train, and need to go to the university. I am new in the city, so was trying to figure out the transportation." She said politely.

The lady muttered something that sounded like "Useless Rurals, Uncivilised Villagers", but Dusk decided it was better to pretend she did not hear it. Exercising her "Citizen Dignity Rights" was much easier in Longburn than here in a new city.

"Your train arrived more than 20 mins back, why are you still here?" she asked harshly after she confirmed the ID with the train manifest. "Move. Don't block the service team. They have to finish their work"

Dusk considered pointing out that she had not interfered with the service team and there was enough place on both sides for them to go ... or that she was in a demarked yellow zone, where the service vehicles would not come. But she did not dare to raise the point.

"Can you help me find transport to the university?" she asked politely instead.

"Go to the Transfer desk, it's a pink display board on the right side ahead where the platforms join the main concourse. They will give you the booking token. I hope you know how to use the universal travel app. I don't have time to baby-sit visitors. Ask at the desk if you can't learn to use your phone apps for information." She went off on her hover-board.

Dusk's temper rose as she felt she was insulted unnecessarily, but the lady was gone before she could react. She had no option by to walk down to the 'Transfer Desk' as instructed.

She manged to find an old man at the Transfer Desk who seem to have sympathy for a young girl. He explained that the travel options were to take a private taxi or a public mass transport. He pointed to the Universal Travel App that was commonly used in most cities in the country. She did not have it because she never needed on back home in Longburn. A hoverboard, a horse, sometimes dad's car or even just putting one foot in front of the other repeatedly (otherwise called walking) was all that was required for going anywhere in her hometown.