Escape Attempt

“Live with vultures become a vulture; live with crows, become a crow.”—Laotian Proverb—

Working in the Alpha District had its disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage was that the Alpha District worked with the People’s Military more than any other district in the Surface Patrol did. Zormna had just received a call to go to the small central docking bay that the People’s Military owned to answer questions the People’s Military had, and Anzer Zormna Clendar grabbed the nearest Anzer to accompany her. It was under Alea Arden’s orders that she play along with the P.M.s—at least for now. Alea Arden himself was working hard to convince the Kevin to break ties with the People’s Military, but so far he had very little luck. The Kevin, Zormna figured, still feared the government and the P.M.s’ influence within it. Zormna was of Alea Arden’s mind herself, feeling that ties with the People’s Military should be broken as soon as possible.

When Zormna arrived at the uppercity hall in full helmet and uniform just outside the emigration bay, she noticed crowds of people climb out of taxis taking the barest of necessities and memorabilia with them. Just watching them, she shook her head and parked her scooter. She didn’t bother to take off her helmet. Zormna directed her partner to come with her so they could make their trip quick. Her partner nodded back to Zormna, knowing exactly how she felt.

They marched into the small but serviceable hall where they watched people line up in rows to pass security inspection. The hall was no bigger than one of their district entrances and it contained three shiny black shuttles shaped not unlike Parthan vans, except a little longer. Each shuttle was loading with wealthy uppercity High Class as well as a few other classes of Arrassians that had saved up their money to leave Arras. Zormna shook her head at the sight.

She saw no point in leaving Arras. Partha, as far as she knew, was a primitive world full of wars and violence. There was a lack of order there, people living in squalor in most of the continents, not to mention the low technology the people had. And that they did with their technology seemed more of an abuse rather than a use of it. Besides, she knew her heart belonged to her home world. There was no way she would willingly leave.

“There you are,” the People’s Military officer in charge said, looking at the two helmeted Surface Patrol officers. Glancing first at the helmets, he made a face. “You’re not staying?”

“I’m in a rush,” Zormna said.

The P.M. shrugged then passed over a vis-pad. “Here’s the list. These individuals have just escaped from ISIC and might try to sneak off to the surface.”

Zormna looked at the pad with a nod. Pressing the view button for a quick peek, she watched the faces of individuals flash along side their personal information. A number of them were Guard and Servant Class men and women, though most were of the classless sort from the undercity. She could feel a slight twist in her gut that said it was a terrible idea to catch these poor souls again for the People’s Military. Zormna knew that if she hadn’t been taken to the Surface Patrol as a child she would have probably ended up among them.

Sighing, Zormna looked up with a glance at the lines of

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 02.03.2018
ISBN: 978-3-7554-7889-8

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