To the SURFACE
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Chapter 1:- Quandary
Adon Torrentia, brown hair moving against his face in the wake of the sub-shuttles, Stood with eyes transfixed on the large shuttles docking and rising for departure above the docking hanger, which was a relatively new addition to his sub-opolis, New Metro. It was attached via an open-cavern channel that was stretched from the sub-opolis entrance to the edge of the cavern cliff, the huge Plateau of rock on which the sub-opolis sat.
He was standing with friends, who were equally interested in the flying apparatuses that were capable of long-distance travel from one sub-opolis to another. “Wow!” Flin, a young red-head with freckles and a cowlick on the back of his head, said, turning enthusiastically to his elder brother.
Adon smiled down at Flin, “Yeah, they’re something aren’t they?” He said, looking past the shuttles to the Shining crystals called ‘glow rocks’ or ‘sunstones’ They were things that could only be viewed from outside of the Sub-opolis.
Of course, Flin was watching the rising shuttles start their booster rockets and fly off into the distance, as was Michael, The slick-black haired boy to his right. Michael knelt and laid back on the blanket which they had brought with them to lay on the cold rock, withdrawing a small triangle of the sandwiches which they had in a basket resting on the same blanket. “What I wouldn’t give to ride in one of those.” He said, awed.
“Some thing tells me that it’s cracked up to be less than you think.” Adon said, laughing ruefully, and resuming his stare at the glowing rocks that provided the light they were using to see.
Normal people weren’t supposed to stray outside the sub-opolises, but the three of them had found a flaw in the construction of the Hanger Access Channel, that created a sort of slim tunnel to the outside. It opened into a square expanse of rock that was fully encased by the Mechanized tunnel. The walls were high enough that they could only be seen possibly by passing Shuttles, which wouldn’t be able to pass close enough for them to see the faces of those assembled. It was a nice little place they called “The Secret Cove” Although it wasn’t quite as small as the world cove might imply.
Breathing deeply, Adon thought like he always had about how the air was so much cleaner out here. He couldn’t fathom what could be so dangerous about this outside world. He gave voice to his conundrum saying, “So why is this place so ‘dangerous’ I wonder…”
“Maybe they think the exposure to the crystals is radioactive, or that the shuttle emissions will kill us?” Flin asked as a response.
“Who knows.” Michael shrugged, running a hand through his short, slick locks. “Maybe they just don’t want us asking questions.”
“It’s possible.” Adon allowed, not sure himself. “Maybe someday we’ll find out.”
“Yeah, we’re pretty young now to have all the answers.” Flin remarked casually, and it was true. Flin was fourteen, Michael was fifteen, and Adon was seventeen. It was natural for Adon to feel more responsible for the truth than the others. He was wondering in his head about things such as careers and marriage. There was a deep feeling of hopelessness in his bones that resulted from the oncoming pressure of adult life. The inevitable was closing in like a dark cloud on him. He just wanted to enjoy himself, and this little alcove allowed him that reprieve.
He sighed as whimsically as he could, smiling up at his true night. Not a hologram, but a scenery he could touch; sift through his fingers.
Adon Torrentia, brown hair moving against his face in the wake of the sub-shuttles, Stood with eyes transfixed on the large shuttles docking and rising for departure above the docking hanger, which was a relatively new addition to his sub-opolis, New Metro. It was attached via an open-cavern channel that was stretched from the sub-opolis entrance to the edge of the cavern cliff, the huge Plateau of rock on which the sub-opolis sat.
He was standing with friends, who were equally interested in the flying apparatuses that were capable of long-distance travel from one sub-opolis to another. “Wow!” Flin, a young red-head with freckles and a cowlick on the back of his head, said, turning enthusiastically to his elder brother.
Adon smiled down at Flin, “Yeah, they’re something aren’t they?” He said, looking past the shuttles to the Shining crystals called ‘glow rocks’ or ‘sunstones’ They were things that could only be viewed from outside of the Sub-opolis.
Of course, Flin was watching the rising shuttles start their booster rockets and fly off into the distance, as was Michael, The slick-black haired boy to his right. Michael knelt and laid back on the blanket which they had brought with them to lay on the cold rock, withdrawing a small triangle of the sandwiches which they had in a basket resting on the same blanket. “What I wouldn’t give to ride in one of those.” He said, awed.
“Some thing tells me that it’s cracked up to be less than you think.” Adon said, laughing ruefully, and resuming his stare at the glowing rocks that provided the light they were using to see.
Normal people weren’t supposed to stray outside the sub-opolises, but the three of them had found a flaw in the construction of the Hanger Access Channel, that created a sort of slim tunnel to the outside. It opened into a square expanse of rock that was fully encased by the Mechanized tunnel. The walls were high enough that they could only be seen possibly by passing Shuttles, which wouldn’t be able to pass close enough for them to see the faces of those assembled. It was a nice little place they called “The Secret Cove” Although it wasn’t quite as small as the world cove might imply.
Breathing deeply, Adon thought like he always had about how the air was so much cleaner out here. He couldn’t fathom what could be so dangerous about this outside world. He gave voice to his conundrum saying, “So why is this place so ‘dangerous’ I wonder…”
“Maybe they think the exposure to the crystals is radioactive, or that the shuttle emissions will kill us?” Flin asked as a response.
“Who knows.” Michael shrugged, running a hand through his short, slick locks. “Maybe they just don’t want us asking questions.”
“It’s possible.” Adon allowed, not sure himself. “Maybe someday we’ll find out.”
“Yeah, we’re pretty young now to have all the answers.” Flin remarked casually, and it was true. Flin was fourteen, Michael was fifteen, and Adon was seventeen. It was natural for Adon to feel more responsible for the truth than the others. He was wondering in his head about things such as careers and marriage. There was a deep feeling of hopelessness in his bones that resulted from the oncoming pressure of adult life. The inevitable was closing in like a dark cloud on him. He just wanted to enjoy himself, and this little alcove allowed him that reprieve.
He sighed as whimsically as he could, smiling up at his true night. Not a hologram, but a scenery he could touch; sift through his fingers.
