Tale of The Broken Sword

Chapter Two : Back at Home

19th September, AD 2056

270 kilometers beneath Detroit

"Approaching Detroit City in 7 minutes..."

The voice came out of the intercom, instantly snapping me out of my frustratingly short nap. I pry my eyes opened and slowly glanced at both sides along the corridors of Carriage Level Eight, not many seats were used by the commuter these days. I peered out of the air-locked window and all I could see is a flickering trail of light going down as the elevator goes up towards the Surface Station.

Gravitational Elevator Number Three, one of five gravitational elevators in the world and a rather small one compared to the other bigger models of its kind. It occupies Line Number Three, the one that connects Detroit to Melbourne, on the other side of the world. We've passed the core just ten minutes ago, having to return back to the northern hemisphere. Ever since, I leaned my head against the leather seat and got me some shuteye.

I raised up my head, glaring at the screen frame attached to the ceiling. All types of information were displayed on the holographic screen. Temperatures, pressure difference, humidity and most of all, world news.

"Arriving in Detroit City, please check for your belongings and proceed to Terminal One. Have a nice day."

The elevator slowed down as it begins on its fast approach towards the Detroit Surface Station. Moments later, I saw the city skyscrapers through the growing view of the enormous hole set to fit the diameter of the main carriage. The vast outline of the skyscrapers blots out most of the evening sky, just out of reach -hundreds of tall metallic spirals dwarfed the Surface Station.

I stood up from my seat and strode towards the exit door. With a quick hiss of air, the door rises open and the terminal lock collapsed onto the holder. Two people head out first before me. Carefully, I step out onto the metallic floor panels of the terminal bridge. Aside from a couple of guards stood watch over the passengers walking out of the shuttle, the place is more or less deserted. Quiet and filled with sounds of staccato steps on the marbled floor, the last sun rays , now a light orange, flow up into the terminal through the transparent glass and cast shadows on whatever that it has came into contact with.

I took a deep breath and followed the crowd past the security scanners to the lower levels of the Station. The windows on the curved hallway heat the incoming sun until it feels like summer's kicking in. We intersect the corridor and head towards the main elevator shaft that forms the backbone of the Terminal Building.

Slinging my bag over my shoulders, I marched down an unremarkable hallway. The lower ground levels and the lobby are usually packed at this time around. According to some who have worked here before, the Station usually manages up to ten thousand passengers a day. With the Elevator kept on going down and up, it's his responsibility to ensure that the mechanics of the motion stabilizer and all the high tech stuff are in place.

A few more moments and we're at the elevators. One of them pressed the button and stared blankly towards the ceiling while he waits for the doors to open up.

I watched the holographic screen beside the doors as we descend to the Ground Floor in the Main Building. Seconds later and the doors spread open.

I rushed past the receptionist, who seemed to be engaging and talking to her customers and I kept on going. The security guard followed me with his eyes as he held on to what I imagined was a transceiver. Although I had did nothing wrong, my heart beats twice for every step. The security forces here in the city are kind of strict and they apprehend whoever that acted suspiciously or even unintentionally suspicious. It's the society's norm these days, it's the Governments taking, not ours as citizens.