Train Tracks

“So how does that work, if you don’t mind me asking, I mean.” John stood behind as she scrolled through various pages with her fingers on the holographic screen.

“Well… okay. I don’t know much about terran technology, so I can’t draw any comparisons. Everyone wears computer blocks on their wrists, that’s what you saw me plug into the desk. It contains the specifications, operating system, and most essentials for operation. Desks like these are the most common interfaces. Mine is a little unusual because of my affinity for interacting with technology. I don’t need a keyboard or a tracker like most people install on theirs.” It was the most she had spoken so far, and what she said made sense.

“So it’s like keeping your computer with you at all times but without a monitor,” John reasoned, watching as words appeared in what he guessed to be a search bar on her holographic display. “So it doesn’t even use amazing screens like the ones you have downstairs?”

“It’s only so analog because having physical displays is sturdier than holographic ones.” Jackie turned to look at him, studying his outfit. “You’re not from here, that much was obvious, but do you know anything about how our technology works?”

“Not really, no.” John scratched the back of his neck as he sheepishly answered. “That’s more One’s speed. He’s a native. I get the feeling I’m just here to watch and learn.”

“That’s... not very reassuring.” She hesitated as she said it, and it was more to herself than him but it stung nonetheless.

“Just because I’m not fluent in the culture of this place doesn’t mean I can’t protect you! That’s my job at its core and I can do it.” Whether it was because of his Charisma or the determined look on his face, she was visibly relieved at his resolve. “Are you expecting trouble?”

“No, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” she answered, digital blocks moving at her fingertips as she turned back to her hologram. With a jolt, they took off. She waved her hand at the wall, and a three by three row of screens emerged, each showing the outside of the train as they slowly picked up speed.

He took a seat behind the desk in a surprisingly mundane swivel chair. Looking out, he watched as the buildings slowly turned into nothing but a blur. We’ve started moving. The chances of being attacked at top speed are slim. You can relax until we get to a checkpoint, One’s voice cut through his thoughts, though his message was relieving.

Copy that. John took out his phone; he didn’t plan on being on it for long, but he at least needed to tell Jenny that he definitely wouldn’t be home for dinner.

John: Hey so I’m not going to be back for 16, 17 hours tops

He waited ten minutes for a reply but didn’t get one, so instead took to periodically looking at his phone, Jackie, and the window, in that order. I would have installed some mobile games if I knew this was going to be the case. I wonder if there are Abyssal game devs.

About half an hour later, John looked up from his phone to see Jackie scrolling through some sort of text file. Satisfied with her safety, he looked down and saw not his phone, but a vision triggered by Foreboding.

A pillar of pink petals, large as the cranes he had occasionally seen in Springfield during major construction, lanced toward him. He heard himself call out, “Hephaestus, if you can, divert all energy in the armor toward my next attack!”

He felt his mana drawn to his armored right hand as he charged up a Fist, but when he went to release it, his whole body was set alight with its destructive energy. Determined to protect the people fleeing behind him, he surged toward the flower storm.

He snapped back to attention, pulled into the present. Jackie’s head whipped to him, but he just gave an apologetic shrug, hand on his chin as he mulled over what to do with this information.

One? I think we may run into trouble. I have an ability that allows me to divinate the next time I’ll be in a life or **** situation, and it just triggered. I was in armor like yours and trying to fend off an attack made out of flower petals. All was silent for a while as he waited for his partner to respond.
I generally don’t trust magic that doesn’t have some sort of physical base, but divination is famous for being inaccurate. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much. John expected as much of a response based on the device in his ear he was being **** to use.

This ability is never wrong! John grit his teeth, calmed only by the sight of the still undisturbed girl he was guarding.

You know everybody who studies divination claims to never be wrong, right? Don’t worry about it too much. We’ll take things as they come.

About two hours later, John noticed they were slowing down. The buildings gradually thinned and shortened, making this part of the district look more like a normal city than the science fiction maze they came from. This is the checkpoint between districts one and three, stay alert.

One and three? Did we skip district two? Isn’t that where we’re going? He recalled One saying that the odd districts were on one side and the even districts were the other, but even still he had no idea how they were actually arranged.

Pay attention in class, Gamer, the odd districts are all on this side. In order they’re one, three, five, six, four, two, One explained in his head, appearing at the top of the stairs. “We’re going to need to be on the bottom floor for inspection.”

Jackie plucked her computer block from the desk before walking toward the stairs. John waited for her, noticing that they had stopped completely. The divide between the districts was clear. Just ahead the third district looked to be made mostly out of stout buildings, none higher than three stories. I still haven’t seen a single house, not that I would have recognized it going as fast as we were.

He followed the other two down, the door-wall already opened for them. The two men awaiting them with glowing batons looked much more menacing and angry than the reverent employees they had encountered thus far.

“Passports?” Their faces were covered with sleek black helmets which looked more decorative than functional, the opposite of One’s armor.

Just show them your guild card, One ordered through their connection, a screen appearing on the forearm of his armor. He showed this to the guards who nodded before moving to Jackie. They took one look at her and moved on to John.

John took the metal rectangle out of his inventory, holding it out for them. Unlike with the other two, they took it from him. One produced a phone that looked like a smaller version of Jackie’s out of an unseen pocket and placed the card on it. A curt nod and it was returned to him. “You’re all clear. Enjoy your trip, Ms. Anor.”

They didn’t even take her passport, how famous is she? John put his card in his inventory, suddenly unsure of his ability to protect the woman they were hired to.

I believe an apt comparison would be the Earth billionaire who established Smallsoft. Except instead of developing a basic GUI for the masses, her family is on the cutting edge of tech design. The more he learned, the more worried he was. Don’t worry so much. You’re here to learn.

Right, right. They stepped back into their train car, the wall slowly closing in after them. That still looks unsettling, John thought as it hissed shut.

“I’m going to have dinner if that’s alright with you.” Jackie looked up at him, hands clenched at her sides.

“Of course. I still have to stay with you though,” John informed her, looking at the bare surface of One’s helmet to see if he had any input. The man just nodded along, heading toward the stairs when John finished.

“I’ll be upstairs. Let me know if there’s any trouble.” One didn’t wait to hear a reply before taking the stairs up.

“I could order you something if you’d like,” Jackie offered, taking a seat at one of the smaller tables in the car. She took the computer block off her wristband and stuck it under the wooden table, the holographic display popping up again.

“I think I’ll be fine. How did you know that there would be a jack there?” The desks he could understand, but this looked like a small dining table.

“I’ve been riding in cars like these since I was a little girl.” Pictures of food appeared in the hologram and she scrolled through them.

It makes sense that she’d know the environment, I guess. I can’t imagine being that high-profile, living that way my whole life, John thought as he sat in the chair next to her, watching the door that led to the next car intently. “So how does this work?”

“The kitchen car separates this one from the normal dining cars, so our food is brought with the utmost speed and security.” Jackie tapped a picture of some sort of meat with gravy and rice.

“I haven’t seen any wildlife since I got here, where does the food come from?” He hadn’t seen any fauna, flora, or even soil. And what about oxygen?

“I don’t know, and I’d rather not talk about such things if that’s okay with you.” Her voice was tiny as she replied in the negative.

“Of course! Sorry for all the questions. I’ll let you enjoy your food,” John replied, taking his eyes off the holographic display and looking at the screens showing the platform they were currently stopped at. With a jerk they slowly started to move again, apparently done with this checkpoint.