I curse my luck. In fact, I don’t curse my luck, I admonish it. It couldn’t have gotten me another set of ration cards or some new boots. No, it just had to come with some of the longest strings imaginable. The extra ration cards came with a new house guest, the new boots came with a dead body, and don’t get me started on the meeting I just had with Administrator Kaufman. I’m lying flat on the ground looking up at the ceiling, it’s a bad habit I picked up from the sand moles, it’s what I do when I need to think. When everything around you feels like it's spinning, the solid feeling of the ground is a soothing comfort. So, here I am lying down on the cool tile of my new workstation. Cool, a foreign word. Almost as alien as the word cold. I give a glance around my new workstation. It’s small, tight, and cluttered. Just the way I like it.

  It kind of reminds me of the water reclamation system that I had to sludge through when a filter broke. The thought of that day brings up smelly memories. Instead, let's focus on my surroundings. A simple wooden desk that faces an empty wall flanked by bookshelves. The bookshelves are filled with a variety of worn books. They are mostly copies of books that Last Bastion deems worthy of keeping. Books of science, mathematics, physics, etc. I reach over to the nearest one and look at the cover “Philosophi? Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Issac Newton.” Well if that isn’t a mouthful. I thumb through the pages and wonder what language this book was originally written in. I and the majority of the people of Last Bastion know how to read, write, and speak the official language of Last Bastion, Senesy. An educated populace is a useful populace is what they say, which is why most are taught by their jobs on Senesy. On the other hand, my mother taught me Senesy. It was some of the most fun I had. I can’t tell you how many times I read the electrician safety manual out of excitement. To think reading that drab manual was the highlight of my day.

  I focus back on the present as I put the book back. I think about how I got here. Overseer North had begrudgingly guided me to this office in the corner of the 3rd floor. He promptly left me and let me know that if I needed something to just call me on the white telephone. I don’t exactly know what I’ll need him for but I made sure to memorize his number. Now to the topic that is really bothering me. This. I look up at the folder in my hands. Project Flare. Figure out how to store enough energy that is to be harnessed from solar flares. Easy, right? No. Impossible. Probably. A task meant to kill me? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that this task is certainly a test. I just don’t know what Administrator Kaufman is testing. Either way, I need to get started. I get up and sit in my rickety chair and really start to delve into the file.

  After multiple hours I think I’m beginning to understand what my predecessors were trying to do. I look at the mess of papers before me. This project is old, I’ll say that. I have papers here that date back to the beginning of the Well project. Some of the ideas here are terrifying. The use of humans as batteries, specifically those of the live wire variety. The participants didn’t even know that they were being experimented on, which in all fairness did help move the experiment further than if they did. As I continue to flip through the file my stomach drops and a shiver goes down my spine. I could’ve done without the pictures. Eventually, it seems the idea was discontinued, as it turns out live wires start to lose control of their abilities when used as batteries. Who would’ve guessed?

  While the majority of the ideas bordered on sadistic torture, some of these were more grounded in morality. With every idea came disappointment as no results with substance were observed, at least not in relation to Project Flare. The closest they came to actual results was something called an Altirium-based battery. This rare element was used to create the core of the existing Wells. Twelve grams were split amongst the wells. It says that this was why the other twelve Wells were abandoned mid-construction. I imagine that they would be looking for any trace of this element, but I don’t see anything past a sentence that says that they couldn’t find any. I don’t see any excavation reports, fabrication reports, or expedition reports. It’s weird, but not enough for me to worry about. Questions get you killed.

  Back to the point. None of these ideas were viable, but they did give me an idea. I’m still doing the math, but I think it's possible. I just need to find the key structures, but that’s a problem for later. My ten-hour shift is over. It feels weird to get off early. I’m used to working sixteen-hour shifts, with an extra two hours on top most days. I get up and twirl my new access card between my fingers. White with a gold Phoenix on it. Simple and clean like the rest of this building. I head to the elevator and pass the odd Overseer here and there. I even pass some Clerks in the same gray clothes as the rest of us. The only difference being that their clothes are clean and seem to be missing the signature patchwork we adorn.

  The movement of the elevator is smooth but slow. I wouldn’t care about the speed of the elevator if it wasn’t for the other people jammed in here with me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that it’s hotter in here than it is out there. It also doesn’t help that every touch sends shocks through my body. As soon as the doors open we all funnel out, but I don’t make it far. A hand clasps my shoulder and pulls me to the side. I come face to face with those cold gray eyes. Overseer North. As I open my mouth to speak he cuts me off. “Mr. Brooks. I wanted to inform you of the progress of the machinery. Follow me.” A simple command that leaves no room for debate. He doesn’t raise his voice, it’s just that his voice is filled with a sense of absolute authority. I begrudgingly follow him to a stairwell.

  It would’ve been nice if he had warned me of the numerous flights of stairs we would be going down. My calves are on fire and it feels like the sun is in my lungs. I guess that level of courtesy is alien to an Overseer. At the very least he does open the door at the very bottom of the stairs. If that counts as courtesy. I grumble to myself, but as soon as I enter the space all the pain fades from my mind. What stands before me is both marvelous and impossible. At least it should’ve been impossible. A line factory floor manned by Automatons. They are humanoid metallic creatures that stand seven feet tall. Their bodies are a mixture of dark red gears and tubes, hobbled together to make a semi-functional worker. They each have a serial number stamped on to their chest and have eerily generic faces. Hundreds of them work tirelessly on three different types of machinery. High-altitude balloons with electromagnetic wave absorbers. Converters that need to survive high altitudes and most importantly the energy transmitters that will carry the energy back down.

  As they work I bask at how rare it is to see Automatons that are still able to function. The majority of Automatons on The Edge are on the Frost side. They aren’t common on this side because they can’t handle the heat and if they don’t break down from the heat they’re likely to go psycho. Funnily enough, that’s not the most surprising thing. What takes the cake is the Well wiring that is exposed down here. It’s a curtain of wires that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s one thing to understand what the Well does, it’s another to see it with your own eyes. A behemoth of human ingenuity. I sometimes can’t believe that there are twelve of these. Just awe-inspiring. For a moment I get lost in the enormous feeling of awe, but it doesn’t last long.

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  Overseer North pulls me back into reality. “The necessary machinery will be completed before the end of the week. If anything needs to be changed, let the S-Series Automatons know and they’ll make the necessary adjustments.” His explanation is clear-cut, but there’s something about the way that he looks at them that gives me pause. His face is almost unreadable, a testament to his work, I’m sure.

  After a moment of staring at the Automatons, I realize I have to tell Overseer North something. “I’m going to need the city plans and access to the power grid. I’m also going to need an escort to the solar farms outside of the city. I’m thinking tomorrow right after the sun rises.” I start to list the various things that I’ll need for the week. It takes me a minute to realize how I’m speaking to an Overseer. Especially an officer of Overseers North standing.

  He replies with his pasted smile. “Anything else Mr. Brooks?” I catch myself as a conditioned fear grips my body. I’m suddenly aware of the gray eyes of Overseer North as they look down at me. I’m not used to people physically looking down at me. He’s not the kind of man to take orders often, especially not from a person like me.

  I respond with a steady voice but a shaky hand. “No. That should be everything Overseer North.” I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I can definitely imagine the worst. Luckily his expression seems to soften, if only by a bit. He turns back to the Automatons and seems to ponder something.

  While they work in an almost seamless motion, a rough-looking Automaton seems to give out. It crashes straight onto the conveyor belt, its legs must have given out because it still seems to be functioning based on its desperate movements to get off the conveyor belt. Without missing a beat the other Automatons continue to work as the broken one goes down the production line. The broken Automaton tries to block the others from scavenging at its body, but it just can’t seem to get its body to respond. It’s not long before the broken Automaton is torn to pieces and welded into a converter at an efficient speed.

  Overseer North waits for a second until after a new Automaton replaces the broken Automaton. “You can leave now, Mr. Brooks.” A short and simple command. I don’t take long to comply as I leave this uncomfortable conversation. The moment I’m halfway up the staircase, I stop and take a moment to calm myself. My breaths are ragged and my hands are shaking. Too much of everything. The conversation with Overseer North, the constant surge of pain from this damned liquid coursing through my veins, and the noise. This constant static hum keeps coming and going. I just need to calm down. I take a couple of deep breaths and continue my walk back up. The moment I open the door to the lobby, things go from bad to worse.

  The sight before me isn’t the lobby of my new workplace. It’s an entirely different location. Deep blue paint covers the walls. White and blue tiles checker the floor. The door I came from is no longer there. Most importantly it’s cold. Cold! So cold that I can see steam radiating off of my body. For a moment a smile starts to form on my face, but it is gone the moment I hear laughter. Multiple children laughing at the distant end of the hallway. Curiosity gets the best of me and I walk down the hallway towards the laughter. For a moment the darkness of the hallway consumes me. Fear creeps into my mind. Am I in my right mind? This is a distraction, one that could lead to your death. Turn around. Run Away! My thoughts wisp away as a light blue glow fills my vision. I’m in a glass tunnel. With light blue water on the other side of the glass. A swarm of colorful creatures swims past my vision. They create an array of beautiful emerald lights in the water. They’re not alone. Soon they are joined by a multitude of creatures. Big ones, small ones, long ones, round ones, and so much more. I’ve never seen so much color in my life. What is this place? I stand there watching for what seems like an eternity. An eternity that will end too soon.

  I am shaken out of my trance by a child's voice. “Mister, are you okay?” I look over and see a group of children. Most of them are laughing and pointing at the various creatures in the water. Some are just wide-eyed, like I was, at the colors that fill the tube. Others are writing or drawing in their books. They all seem to wear a simple school uniform with an embroidered symbol on the shoulder. For the majority, it seems to be a black water droplet. Others have a black dagger or a black mountain. The little girl in front of me has a black water droplet on her shoulder. She has snow-white skin and light blue hair that matches her eyes. Expectant she waits for my response.

  A small smile cracks across my face. “I’m fine. What’s your name, little one?”

  She thinks hard as if trying to remember something. “I’m Lily Pond, eight years old, and I’m on a field trip to the zoo.”

  Ah, I see. I taught Maple something similar to say when someone asked her name. “That’s a lovely name. Any chance you know what city we are in?” I look around at the various signs with text but can’t understand a word of it.

  Her face shows a hint of superiority as she knows something an adult doesn’t. “Yes. We are in the flying city of Thales. How don’t you know that mister?”

  I fake a splash of exasperation. “I know plenty. Just ask me anything.”

  She gives me a questionative look. “Ok. What is that fish called?” I look over at the round and spiky creature. It has yellow skin and just seems to be floating there with a wide mouth. With absolute confidence, I answer. “It sure looks like a Steve.” Lily doesn’t seem to find my poor attempt at humor humorous. As I look at her, she sort of reminds me of Maple when she was around her age. Maple always used to hate my bad jokes. Who am I kidding, she still hates them.

  The little girl looks slightly frustrated by my attempts at humor. “It doesn’t look like a Steve. Steve is a dumb name. Spikey is cooler.” I look at the still-floating creature. I guess it is Spikey. I look back at the little girl to ask her where we are, but she's gone. Then I feel the wave of nausea followed by the vertigo. I steady myself against the white stone walls. The heat of the room immediately hits me. I’m back in the lobby.

  After a moment of steadying myself against the warm stone, I eventually right myself. That must’ve been Thales. I start to wrap my head around this again. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the jarring feeling from crossing over. That one felt longer than last time. I wonder how much longer the next one will be. Better yet, when will the next one be? They seem to happen at random times and there is no indication that I’ve crossed until after it's happened. I take a quick look around to see if I brought a guest with me this time. I don’t see anyone out of place. The only thing out of place in this room is me. The first time I crossed I brought Charlie with me, then Jane, but this time there seems to be nothing. No rhyme, no reason. This is impossible. How am I supposed to deal with this?

  I start to make my way out of the center. I need to get out of here. Jane is still waiting for me back home. Wait, did I tell her when I would be back? Oh no.