
Aire

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by

N.C.
Copyright © 2016 N.C.

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover art by Anne Drury

# Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

# CHAPTER 1

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The curious looks encountered drowsy ones as the crackling fire fought to stay alive for a few more minutes. Some had heard the story many times before, others listened in awe as the new world opened up before their eyes.

"In essence, nothing has changed. Good and evil still reign. Each in their own worlds which at times abruptly collide in the human mind, resulting in unnecessary pain and invisible scars."

The younger ones were completely puzzled at this point. The words of the old man made no sense to them. Yet they knew it was not polite to openly show indifference. So they kept pretending to follow his story while gazing at the fire that was about to quench any moment now, bringing this long night to a much-needed close.

"When there is a separation between people, each side claims to be right, yet often both carry a burden of blame. Only united we can prosper again. My generation will not live to see that day, but you are the ones who can bring the change. But when that day comes, be careful and choose your allies wisely. Those who claim to be your friends are sometimes enemies in disguise."

The last smoke rose from the extinguished flame, handing over to the starlight the duty of illuminating the night in Aire. 

# CHAPTER 2

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As the potent rays struggled to find their way through the clouds that rolled across the unusual sky, Taya slowly opened her eyes to welcome another day. She moved her long black hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears. In those first moments of wakefulness, her attention was immediately captured by a flash of bright colors coming from the source of light. Toe-walking to avoid waking up her roommate who was sleeping on the other side of the wall, Taya came closer to the window to salute the charming visitor standing on the edge of the open pane.

"They are here to stay," she whispered as the bright yellow butterfly with red lines tattooed on its thorax flapped its wings, preparing to disappear into the light of the day. Excited by this curious encounter, Taya quickly put on her indigo dress, paired it with sand-colored sandals, and rushed to her teacher's house, knowing that he must have been already awake, despite the temptation to indulge in some much-needed rest. When you do what you love, it's not really work. The words of Professor Elro echoed in the back of her mind.

His house was only a few blocks away. She knew the road well and despite the similar structure of all surrounding houses, it was never hard to spot the one you were looking for. In Aire the whole population consisted of merely ten thousand people, most of them living in family residences or shared homes, never taller than three floors. She had walked this road so many times it seemed like her legs were moving mechanically, with no need for direction. The house she was heading to was not just a home to Professor Elro but was also his office and the classroom where Taya and her friends attended one of the most popular classes in Aire. The Professor's passion for teaching and spreading knowledge about the ways of nature was as inspiring as his enthusiasm for practical work. Precisely the topic Taya wanted to inform him about. She was relieved to spot Professor in the front garden, which spared her the slight embarrassment of having to disturb him by ringing the doorbell on this month's day of rest in Aire. Fortunately, he was right there, meticulously examining his crops and flowers, seeming almost absent from the rest of the world.

"Professor Elro," she said softly, trying to discreetly announce her presence, but he was too involved in his work to notice her. She pronounced his name again, this time a bit louder.

"Good morning, Taya," he replied without diverting his attention from the flower he was observing.

"Professor, I have something important to tell you," she exclaimed, approaching him enthusiastically.

"What is it, my child? You seem agitated? Is everything all right?" he replied.

"More than all right. I hope you don't mind me coming so early unannounced, but I wanted to share with you what I saw this morning."

"Well, go on." He looked at her.

"When I woke up, I was immediately attracted by the play of bright colors appearing on the window. When I came closer, I realized it was the yellow butterfly with the hint of red, the same species we introduced in Aire last month. I haven't seen them in a while, but I have a feeling they have decided to stay. A whole month has passed, so they must have adjusted to the new environment by now." Taya couldn't hide her amazement at the discovery she had made earlier that morning.

"That is excellent, Taya! See how your effort paid off? You did it with much love and the results were sure to follow. Everything in the world reacts equally to love: with love."

"Thank you, Professor Elro, but I was merely helping you. I can't possible take all the credit," she replied, mirroring her modest soul in her words.

"This was your project, I was simply there to guide you. You should feel proud of your accomplishment. Now, I need to return to my garden and you should enjoy your day off, too. We will share the news with the rest of the class tomorrow and discuss new strategies for further work."

He turned away, saluted Taya with a friendly hand gesture and carried on with his work. Taya stood there for a moment, acknowledging that his garden may have been one of the most beautiful ones in all Aire. After just a few steps in the direction of her home, she thought that her roommate was most probably still sleeping, since there were still very few people outside. So she turned around and decided to disobey the Professor and start her day with a bit of work. In the end, when work is pleasurable, it's not really work, she paraphrased silently and headed cheerfully to the green area as the artificial breeze played with her light dress. 

# CHAPTER 3

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Only a month ago, Taya's project appeared insignificant to most other students in Professor Elro's class in biodiversity. In Aire there were no forms of school like the ones we know and associate with our present time. From an early age, after the first five years of general education, children were encouraged to pursue classes that best suited their personal interests. There was no age limit. Each resident was entitled to attend courses they were naturally drawn to, and at the same time, there was no obligation to continue studies. Each made their own destiny.

Curiously, in Aire most of the symbols of structured societies were absolutely absent. Aside from protectors, which consisted of all residents from the age of eighteen, there were no other peace officers nor law keepers. Knowledge was considered the only currency, and barter or exchange of goods was a regular form of trade. No one was poor, and at the same time the notion of wealth didn't exist either.

Walking towards the green area, Taya remembered the day she left the community, though only for an hour. It felt like it was long ago, years almost. In her twenty years, she probably had not stepped outside Aire more than a few times, never distancing herself enough to lose the sight of her hometown. A month ago, in concordance with the Professor, Taya left Aire when the energy shield was temporarily turned off to allow her to conduct her research in the proximity of the community, located where once the magnificent Amazon rainforest ruled with its breathtaking river, vegetation and savage creatures, all almost completely perished now.

Some two centuries after our time, Earth had turned out to be a much different place than we could have ever predicted. The future we feared was merely a mitigated version of what had become reality.

One of the rare remains of natural habitat was Aire, with its small surface protected by a dome of impenetrable energy, shielding it from the toxic pollution and radiation menacing the external world.

This was the future nobody desired, but very few fought to prevent, justifying the untamable climate change with technological progress that promised to save the human race at a cost that only later was revealed to be too burdensome. But there was no turning back.

Founded by people who recognized in time the dangers of the reckless human behavior that threatened to destroy most of the inhabited land on the planet, Aire had become the last known territory where people still lived according to nature's laws.

Though small, it provided the external world with much-needed clear air for the sick, distributed in oxygen tanks. Aire was also the largest source of healing plants, no longer growing anywhere else in the world, effective in treating illnesses that modern science had never found a cure for. In exchange, the Global Assembly controlled by the world's political leaders offered protection to the community, which had had throughout its existence a fair share of security breaches and hostile visitors intrigued by its nostalgic beauty and natural richness.

Taya was familiar with this story. As a child, she used to gather with other younglings in the park on pleasant evenings and listen to wise older men and women share the history of the human race and the decay of the society that led to terrifying wars, poverty, sickness, and above all, destruction of the ecosystem resulting in significant climate change, rise of the sea level and ozone depletion. Indeed, all of the historic coastal cities had completely perished under water following extreme floods and tsunamis, which had forced the surviving population to migrate to inland areas and build new megacities inhabited by people of all former nationalities. This brought the divide between the countries to an end, reuniting people of all races in ten strategically positioned cities around the world, all governed by the Global Assembly. The high population density in conjunction with the lack of infrastructure in undeveloped regions contributed to the spread of viruses and an evolved type of bacteria immune to most medication.

Despite the undeniable technological progress, the human race had irreversibly exterminated most of the wild life, destroying natural habitats in a desperate search for the remaining sources of clean water and fertile land. The world was in a race against time, and the odds were not in people's favor.

Taya knew about the outside world from stories and images, but like most members of Aire, she had never gotten to see it with her own eyes.

# CHAPTER 4

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Once in the green area, Taya knew exactly what to look for. When she was searching for butterflies outside Aire, by chance she spotted a dozen of exemplars collecting nectar from the passionflower that grew also in Aire's botanical garden, where she was now standing. Butterflies had not been spotted for years in Aire, yet their role in the micro ecosystem was fundamental for the survival of the plants. Sure, there were artificial ways of pollination, but the goal of Aire was to rely as little as possible on technology and maintain a self-sustaining ecosystem. Taya's research suggested that butterflies might still be living in the remaining vegetation of the Amazon basin from which most of the wildlife had almost completely perished. So on the advice of Professor Elro, she had carefully captured the butterflies she found in a box only to release them a few minutes later in the green area of Aire. It was uncertain whether they would acclimate to the new surroundings and eventually lay their eggs, but now that doubt was gone. After a whole month with no sign of butterflies, it was almost as if Taya's morning visitor had invited her to see with her own eyes the caterpillars feasting on the same leaves they were born on before they metamorphose into beautiful butterflies and once again contribute to the growth of the garden. It may have seemed like a small step, but every new species that managed to survive inside the energy shield was a proof that one day Aire could expand and offer shelter to various forms of life endangered in the outer world. 

# CHAPTER 5

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The next day, everything at Aire returned to the regular pace after the one-day rest, which, as agreed by the members of the community, took place every last Sunday of the month. On all other days, the residents carried on with their daily tasks, chosen by themselves, with the sense of responsibility to keep the system working for the current and future generations. Since its foundation out of necessity more than a century ago, the people of Aire had adopted a way of life based on needs instead of desires. While it may have seemed drastic to some, this form of society was incorporated out of pure exigency to survive and avoid the traps of the civilization they had witnessed collapse to the ground. The life here was no utopia, yet compared to the picture of reality in the remaining big cities around the world, this small community seemed like a safe haven for those who recognized in time the urgency of a sustainable life in accordance with the natural laws. So rather than learning a new set of skills as a means of personal growth and a potentially lucrative venture, the members here were motivated to make progress and contribute to the maintenance of the land out of raw need for survival. Each tread mattered in this isolated parallel world, where connection and unity was the only way to get through. Whatever harm or good you did in this microsystem would, like a boomerang, return to influence the quality of your own life.

In the morning, an hour before her classes with Professor Elro would begin, Taya was preparing two bowls of cereal with almond milk she had gotten the day before in exchange for two hemp sweaters she had made with the help of her roommate Marti, who was just coming down the stairs to join her. Barter in Aire was somewhat different from the similar system of exchange invented by archaic societies. Here the value of goods didn't matter, nor the quantity. For two sweaters she made, Taya could have easily taken more than a month's supply of milk if she had wanted to, yet her need was for one week only. Mrs. Olry, who gave her the milk, took two sweaters, one for her husband and the other for her son. She needed no more.

The concept of specialized professions didn't exist in Aire. Every member had many roles in the society. One could be a baker, gardener, writer and cook, all at the same time, like Mrs. Olry's husband.

Taya had many interests, too: she quite enjoyed gardening and sewing, but right now her priority was learning as much as she could about the environmental protection. This is why, five times a week, she attended Professor Elro's classes with her roommate Marti, who, to some extent, shared her passion. With twenty-one of his students, including Taya, the Professor discussed the occurrence that had taken place yesterday.

"In a year or two, we can expect to rely solely on insects for pollination," Professor Elro started the conversation.

"We have a long way to go, and this is just one of the first steps. As you all know, we must be very cautious when bringing in any animal species. We need to select them wisely to avoid causing more harm than good to our ecosystem. If we continue with the work all of you are doing—and Taya's latest contribution is a great example—we will not only prosper as a community but also be in position to share our new knowledge with the external world and help restore the balance our planet so much yearns for," he continued.

"But Professor," Pria, one of the students, interrupted, "shouldn't we focus on finding a solution to our problems first and then think about helping others? I mean, it's not like they have been very generous with us," she asked provocatively.

"We have to remember that before the separation, we all lived together and shared the benefits and hardships of life. One day we will all be united again. In the end, it is only natural. It may seem far now, but we cannot live in isolation forever. We depend on them, like they depend on us. We are two pieces of the same puzzle. And to answer your question, yes, we must first help ourselves so we can help others later. Only with Aire prosperous and sustainable can we carry on with our work. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't offer a helping hand once both sides are ready," he summed up, once again expressing his view on the topic which Pria frequently brought up.

"I know what you say is true, I don't question it. I just feel like we have done so much for them, and they so little for us. Where were they when not even the energy shield was strong enough to prevent the radiation from destroying most of our crops two years ago, leaving us with almost no food? Not to mention Black Day, as we all remember. We provide them with clean air for their sick, we cultivate healing plants for illnesses we don't even have in Aire. I'm not sure they appreciate all that we do for them, that's all," she finished.

Most of the students in the group, male and female ranging from 15 to 25, agreed with Pria. But Professor Elro knew that despite the honesty in her words, there was more to her words than just a genuine worry for the community. He knew that Black Day, which Pria mentioned earlier, was just one week away and the old wounds were already starting to ache again. Or maybe they had never stopped. The gate of the painful memories was about to be open again and this delicate theme required much attention and support from all the community.

After the classes Taya stopped by her sewing teacher, Mrs. Baki, to pick up new fabrics and patterns for jackets she planned to make. Though the temperature in Aire was kept at bearable 30° C, the constant climate change in the outer world was threatening to bring much colder weather in the coming weeks. She went to grab a lunch at one of the cafeterias with Marti. They discussed the class and Taya's project with butterflies, but stayed away from the obvious topic; Black Day was best to be avoided for now. Or at least for a couple of days. After that, each would have to face this painful day with the emotional resources they had at their disposal.

They both had work to do in the fields soon, but Taya decided to go to the library first and take an hour to focus on her research on the extinct wildlife in the former Amazon rainforest and the remaining species that had managed to survive and adapt to the extreme climate change.

Night was about to fall when Taya and Marti were heading back home after hours of work in the fields, making sure the crops and vegetables were protected and irrigated. The sky was blood-red and you could almost see through the energy shield how the toxins were mixing in the air, creating dark clouds covering the stars and the moon. This sight made all the residents of Aire feel both safe and scared. The dome was their protection and prison at the same time. It kept their air clean, but it prevented them from experiencing anything outside the invisible border due to the lack of immunity to radiation and toxins that people in the big cities had over time developed. Those city-dwellers had paid for this immunity, though, a big price that often shortened their lives to half of what members of Aire could expect to live.

That evening after dinner, Marti went to her room to indulge in some cyber entertainment with the 3D projector, controlled by a small, round push button. The reception of the signal from the external world was often disturbed by harsh weather conditions, but on good days like this one, the signal could reach the homes of Aire, too. With one click, the 3D animation appeared in Marti's room. She skipped the news and fast-forwarded to the movie she had watched more times than she was willing to admit. Yet the love story, set in a nostalgic pre-apocalyptic world, was her all-time favorite. More than anything, it reminded her of her late parents who had first introduced her to the tale of a young couple from Europe traveling to Australia for a romantic adventure of their lifetime. Now, like most of the land in Australia, lost to untamable fires, Marti's parents were gone, too. All that was left were memories infused with great sadness and occasional outbursts of anger.

Taya went for a walk instead, letting her thoughts float freely until they found peace. Eventually, she joined a group of young children who traditionally gathered before sleep to listen to the wise stories told by senior members of the community. She didn't mind being the oldest person in the audience. She profoundly enjoyed reliving the stories that she had heard for the first time when she was the same age as other children seated next to her. Only this time, there were no stars and no sign of the moon to illuminate the sky. The children and Taya listened the eloquent Ranka reminisce as the bright light of the flame illuminated her face. Everybody at Aire considered Ranka a real treasure trove of beautiful stories that transcended time.

# CHAPTER 6

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To a stranger's eyes this could have been just another regular night at Taya and Marti's house. After spending some time apart after dinner, around midnight they wished each other good night and went upstairs, each to their own room, dreading the feelings that would undoubtedly resurface in the morning, if not before. Taya slipped into her bed trying to ignore the growing sadness that was pervading her whole body. She felt like there were no more tears to cry. In the past ten years she had reached the limits of sorrow that one person can be given. She took an old gold necklace with engraved locket from her nightstand, and, like every night, kissed it and closed it in her palms, putting the hand under the pillow. And soon she forced herself to fall asleep. As she was surrendering herself to predictable dreams, the skin on her body tightened just like the grip of her hand holding the necklace. An unconscious preparation for a journey down memory lane.

What she saw was a sky that would have been dull black if it weren't for the red and violet strokes, as if someone had spilled a mixture of tempera to color the night. The radiation and pollution sometimes played this kind of trick on people's eyes, simultaneously covering up the moon and the stars. The ten-year-old Taya was observing the illusion from the front yard of her home until her mother called her name just in time for supper. If just one microscopic thing had been different in the order in the Universe, this evening could have been just like any other in the home of the Renks. But this one was the night Taya, and all other residents of Aire, would never be able to erase from their memory.

Taya, her mother Irma and father Jaq were seated around a large round table for the traditional daily catch-up.

"So, what is the most interesting thing you learned today, Taya?" Jaq asked.

"Oh, I had math, literature and art today but the most fun was the history class with Mrs. Tomlin," replied Taya, ready to continue with no need for additional questions. Yet her father interrupted her with a quick comment.

"Times must be changing. When we were kids, there were hardly any students who enjoyed learning about history."

"I believe you've passed your love for history books down to her since she was a toddler," Irma commented. "Do you remember how much she enjoyed listening you read her stories about the ancient world and how much she preferred them to common fairytales?"

"I sure do, her favorite ones were about Egypt and the Pharaohs," he smiled and looked at Taya, who didn't really understand why they were so surprised.

"Actually, today's class was on the history of religion." Taya decided to make the conversation more specific. "We did start off with Ancient Egypt, but I found Greek mythology much more complex and frankly, more fun. Mrs. Tomlin said we would continue tomorrow with a lecture on religion in the ancient Rome."

"Sounds like a fun class to attend," Jaq observed. "I might even join you one day if I finish work early," he winked at Taya knowing that just the idea of having one of her parents attend a class with her classmates would cause much embarrassment for the preadolescent girl.

"One thing, I still haven't figured out, however, is whatever happened to religion in the end," Taya spiced up the conversation. "I mean, it's been part of the human existence practically since we became conscious about the world around us. How come we have no religion today? Why are there no temples, churches nor priests in Aire?"

"There is a difference between religion and faith," Irma replied. "When you are solely responsible for your beliefs no one can question you faith nor tell you what is right or wrong. That is something only you have the right to decide. We all have an inner guiding system which, when we are synchronized to it, never takes us off the right track. Religion, on the other hand, is on organized set of beliefs and shared values where certain rules and discipline determined by a few need to be obeyed by everyone.

"Also, religion and politics go hand in hand. Unfortunately, religion has often been used as an instrument to control and scare people. That is why we don't have organized religion in Aire. This is how it has been since our foundation. Everyone is free to believe in whatever they please, but it is considered a private matter. We don't need monumental buildings to protect our faith," her father added. "In the outer world, religion is still causing more suffering than good, like it always has throughout history. Since gods will never come down on Earth and fight against each other, why should we fight in their name between ourselves?"

"You see, Taya," Irma continued, "faith requires nothing more than what you are willing to offer. No sacrifices, no pain. Your beliefs are your private religion."

"That all sounds very rational, but I'm not certain what I am supposed to believe in?" she asked with a confused expression on her face.

"For now, dear, all you need to believe in is yourself. Just have faith in what you do," Irma replied as Jaq nodded his head in approval.

Halfway through the desert, an abrupt sound of explosion, followed by an almost concurrent shaking of the ground, made time stop. One side of the table collapsed, bringing down with it plates and food scraps. The cracks in the wall caused by the unknown detonation signaled it was a matter of seconds before the whole room caved in.

There was no time for words. No time to be surprised or ask questions. Jaq grabbed Taya with one arm and his wife with another and swiftly escorted them out of the house. Almost immediately the central alarm of Aire activated, signaling a security breach with a malicious piercing sound.

Once outside the house, they could see the flame coming from some five hundred meters away, where the central energy shield generator was placed. The protective dome of energy that stretched over Aire back then served as a shield against pollution and radiation and was impenetrable to organic matter, including people and animals. But it was not capable of preventing carbon-free objects from passing through. This is the weakness the Grostro Pirates took advantage of. Outcasts of society, desperate to find the last remaining resources of food and habitable territory, the Pirates had set their greedy eyes on Aire a few months ago: when patrolling through waterlogged no man's lands hoping to intercept and rob passing merchant ships, they had spotted distant, curious objects on the land surrounded by bright light. It had been a particularly sunny day and the rays bounced back from the energy shield surrounding Aire, thus creating a conspicuous visual effect that attracted the unwanted attention. In fact, Aire had always been somewhat of a mystery to people living in the external world. Some knew vaguely of its existence, others had no clue, but no one knew the precise location nor the size of it. Only senior members of the Global Assembly were aware of the coordinates of the isolated territory surrounded by vast dry steppe and relatively distant water. Upon the discovery of this peculiar land, the Grostro Pirates, who were notorious for their crimes and brutality, started a careful investigation, observing the dome from far away. Due to the reflection of the rays, one could only get a glimpse of the world inside Aire from not more than a hundred meters away from the energy shield, which is exactly how much the Pirates came close to the community in the following days, after a team of explorers had disembarked from the ships. They patiently observed the community from a safe distance and marveled at their potentially lucrative discovery. What they saw was a prosperous and fertile land that could serve as their base and source of food. The inhabitants looked pacific and not at all prepared for a fight. But what they didn't know was that despite their appearance, the people of Aire were prepared to protect their land if attacked. In their hundred-and-twenty-year-long history, they had experienced assaults before, mostly from thieves who were interested in Aire's food and energy reserves. Limited to only short-range weapons that they seldom practiced with, the Aire members relied on the help of the Global Assembly in case of security risks. In fact, the central alarm of the community was directly connected to the security headquarters in Urban Area One. Once triggered, it was only a matter of time before the Assembly sent a fleet of guardians to help Aire fight back. In exchange, Aire provided the external world with the much needed oxygen tanks and healing herbs for illnesses that modern medicine and technology had no answer to.

Puzzled by the light of the energy shield, the Pirates launched a clod of earth in the direction of Aire, but it bounced back. It didn't take them long to understand that there would be no way to go through the shield and raid the mysterious city they could now see was a full of vegetation; it seemed more like a different planet compared to the arid land surrounding it. Following a close observation that lasted a couple of weeks, the Pirates realized that the protective energy dome was being generated from the center of Aire where the main reactor was positioned. They knew that in order to get in and put their hazardous plan into action, they first needed to disable the shield. Dwayon, the most technology-savvy Pirate, suggested a surprise attack from the main ship, aiming straight for the generator with the long-distance cannon. Hoping this inorganic cannonball would be able to pass through the shield, the remaining Pirates hid in the short vegetation around Aire, waiting for the shield to be deactivated so they could storm in and initiate the assault.

The outcome was impossible to predict: ten thousand residents of Aire—of which many were seniors and children unfit to fight—against two hundred heavily armed Pirates with additional support from the ships. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting people of Aire, the first phase of the Pirates' vicious plan went smoother than expected. The first missile went right through the shield and hit the reactor, causing a big burst and explosion which signalized the remaining Pirates on the ships to get to land and join the others in the attack. As the alarm echoed throughout Aire, it seemed like the explosion and the instant inflow of the polluted air was enough to stir a collective panic. Grostros stormed into Aire not knowing what kind of resistance they could expect from the locals. Caught by surprise and not aware of the intruders, the residents evacuated from their homes, mostly forgetting to take their rayguns for the combat. Once outside, distracted by the fire and smoke coming from the reactor, many didn't even spot the invaders advancing towards the town center. After crossing the now invisible border that separated Aire from the external world, it took only ten minutes on foot to reach the central area where most of the houses and facilities were located. And that is exactly the time it took for people to realize their land was under attack. But by then it was too late. Parents sent their children to hide inside the damaged houses while all adults urgently reunited in the central square.

"Friends, it is clear we are under attack," shouted Hus, the sixty-year-old representative of the Security department, as others checked their weapons and passed the spare guns to the ones who left their homes before realizing they were going into a battle for survival.

"We must fight the intruders and stop them quickly before others come. The shield has been completely destroyed and we don't have much time before the air is completely contaminated," Ary, who was in charge of the shield maintenance, exclaimed.

Despite being a society based on internal peace, the people of Aire knew that they were not immune to the dangers of the outer world. This is why the founders of Aire secured sufficient armament for all adult residents and future generations, to be used only in case of direct peril from alien aggressors, but never for forceful resolution of inner conflicts.

As they powered their weapons, the sound of hostile footsteps was approaching fast. It was clear that their main priority was to protect Aire and the children at any cost. Not knowing the number of opponents they would have to face, they separated into groups, leaving the central square empty so they could besiege the enemy and stop the attack before it even began. This was a standard tactic designed by the residents in case of an intrusion. But just as the enemy was getting close, the fire in the generator caused a complete energy shutdown and the whole of Aire was left in the dark. Which soon turned into red. Ambushed and outnumbered, the Pirates still managed to kill dozens of adults with their superior weapons before they were weakened by high levels of oxygen to which their lungs were not accustomed. One by one they started experiencing severe nausea, which prevented them from continuing the fight. This was an advantage the people of Aire could count on for a very short time because the absence of the protective barrier against the external pollution meant that the structure of air would soon change and become toxic to the natives.

The tables were turning fast and only a more aggressive counterattack could defeat the Pirates. One of the senior residents, Clai, sent his twenty-four-year-old son Dash to sneak out of the battlefield, rush to the warehouse behind the main meeting room, and retrieve as many of the additional guns as he could bring back. Dash managed to bring back more than eighty guns and blasters transported on an improvised trolley. With this new gear, the people of Aire dealt a deathblow to the Pirates' invasion. Decimated, they were forced to retreat and abandon the territory of Aire, leaving dead bodies behind and bloody trails along the way. Stunned by the outcome, the Grostro Pirates boarded their ships and left empty-handed.

Back in Aire, the aftermath of the battle was still uncertain. In the almost total darkness that the community was left in after the explosion, people were running around in panic trying to find their relatives they separated from during the fight, relying solely on flashlights. Only when the emergency power reserves were finally turned on did the bodies of victims and invaders lying on the ground become clearly visible. Sixty-four men and women of Aire, and forty-seven Pirates, forever lost in a fight that brought nothing but death to both sides. The survivors immediately divided into groups according to tasks they needed to face: medical care for the wounded, vigilance of the border in case Pirates returned, and technical repair of the shield and energy generator. Slowly making their way through the agitated crowd, little faces appeared from the dark, frightened by the suspense they were left to hide in. Mrinka, who was identifying the bodies still lying on the ground, immediately rushed towards Taya as she saw her approaching, calling for her parents. Mrinka recognized the girl and quickly stopped her: "Taya, we need to gather all the children and get you to a safe place while we wait for help to arrive. We've suffered an attack from the Pirates, please come this way with me."

"Have you seen my parents, Irma and Jaq? Are they all right?" she asked.

"We need to get you all to safety first," Mrinka repeated, avoiding the answer that was just moments ago before her eyes.

Having no time to waste, she gathered the kids found on the street near the central square and escorted them to the central meeting room where two adults were put in charge of their safety. Mrinka, who just an hour before was fighting for her own life, returned to the battleground, suspended between the fear of reality and trauma she experienced. During the fight, she had instantly discovered her inner strength and bravery she didn't even know she possessed. Now, exposed to those who lost their lives for Aire, she felt paralyzed and helpless. The people she knew, loved, familiar faces on the streets, were now reduced to immobile corpses she had to count and think of their families who were still oblivious of their loss. Among them was the ten-year-old Taya, whose world would soon crumble at the realization that her father gave his life trying to save his wife from a pirate's gun aimed at her. But there was no way to change the outcome. One particle of time in the Universe determined the faith of both Jaq and Irma. The pirate's finger was faster and fatal to both, leaving Taya forever bereft of a normal childhood.

A few hours later, the transports—giant metallic vehicles capable of flying at enormous speed—arrived with the squad of armed men and supporting medical staff sent by the Global Assembly to help secure Aire. Forty armed men in black uniforms marched into Aire ready for a fight, but all they found was a city wrapped in smoke illuminated by dim lights. All they could do now was offer assistance by temporarily restoring the shield and disposing of the enemies' bodies. The medical team took care of the wounded while the scanners searched the border for intruders. In the following days the new energy shield with double protection would be installed to prevent both organic and inorganic matter from penetrating Aire.

As Taya tossed and turned in her bed, she realized that this has not been a dream but rather a sedated nocturnal reliving of old, painful memories. But the hardest part would be facing the dawn that marked the tenth anniversary of the tragic event that had forced one little girl to grow up overnight.

# CHAPTER 7

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In the morning Taya was torn between resistance and acceptance of her sadness that time has had no effect on. It was Black Day in Aire, the tenth annual tribute to the victims of the Grostro Pirates' attack. Taya and Marti skipped breakfast and left the house together without saying much. On their way to the memorial center, Taya broke the silence by asking Marti, who had lost her father in the fight, what she remembered most about that day.

"I remember the darkness," she replied. "I remember all of us kids of different ages sitting for hours in one room not really knowing what was going on other than it was something bad. How about you? What comes to your mind first?" it was now Marti's turn to ask. She was a bit surprised by her direct question, as she knew Taya always tried to stay away from the painful topic, yet it was she who brought it up in the first place.

"I don't really recall much after the explosion. I know I was sent to hide in the house for a while and after the sound of shots disappeared, I walked out to look for my parents. The next thing I remember was my grandmother taking me to her house without saying anything at all. I know why she kept silent. What could have she said? How could have she explained in that moment what had happened to me, her and the whole community? Her loss was as big as mine. She had a black hood covering her head and she walked one step ahead of me so I couldn't see her eyes filled with sorrow. When we got to her home, which was much less damaged than our house, she sat me down and said that on our way home she tried to think of a gentler way to tell me what had happened but that there was no way of avoiding the truth. As I was listening her recount the event which led to the tragic loss of the brave people of Aire, all I could think of was my mum's smile and my dad's strong embrace, and how the words my grandmother was saying meant I would be forever deprived of them. We both cried and sobbed, but after an hour my grandmother, who was 81 then, said, 'I have experienced loss before, but for you this is the first time. Unfortunately, life is like that—sooner or later it takes away people we love. It's part of the human experience. But you are young and you have a whole life ahead of you and I have a duty to support and protect you. Together we'll find a way.'" Taya stopped for a moment.

"After that day, I never cried in front of her again, and neither did she," Taya continued. "I thought it would be selfish of me to strive for full custody of sorrow. This was a feeling we all had to take care of. She also suffered a terrible loss of her son and my mother, whom she viewed as her daughter. I knew she had to put on a brave face every day for me, so I tried to make it easier for her. I cried at night in my new room she furnished next to hers, and sometimes in the middle of the night, I could hear her trying to mute the sound of her crying with the pillows pressed against her face. She was the only relative I had in this world, and for the next eight years she was my rock and my source of wisdom. When she was gone, I felt loneliness I never thought existed. If it weren't for you, Marti, I don't know how I would have managed to keep going," Taya said, hinting at the circumstances which led to the loss of the mother of her classmate and childhood friend. Marti's mother had died the same year Taya's as grandmother Udra, and they lived together since as two "young adult orphans." The community of Aire made sure they had all the support they needed and that is why they helped them build a more modern house they could share as they focused on their studies.

Now approaching the white gate of the Memorial Center, Taya thought to herself that as a result of a strange play of destiny, she had more relatives behind these fences than among the living people. Her parents had no siblings, as it was a custom at Aire to limit families to one child in most cases to maintain the balance in population and avoid a shortage of resources. For a long time, Aire had no way of expanding its territory and offering shelter to more than ten thousand residents living inside its borders.

Throughout the day all members of the community would come at different times to the Memorial Center to honor the victims, but the morning ceremony was reserved for the families of the people who gave their lives for the future of Aire. A few hundred people gathered in front of a beautiful white spiral sculpture symbolizing the winding road of life. None of the relatives standing here today could have imagined ten years ago that a peaceful community like Aire would become a target of such a violent act. Yet, here on the tenth anniversary of Black Day, the urns with ashes of their loved ones were arranged in a series of rings around the sculpture, reminded them how real and raw their pain still was.

"The day we will never forget is with us, in our hearts, every day of the year. But today in particular, we stand here united, all of us who lost a family member on Black Day, to show our gratitude for their bravery. Without their courage, Aire would not be the wonderful place we call home. They will always be missed, but never forgotten," echoed the words of Mr. Chore, whose son was among the names written on the memorial plaque. The words that to some felt comforting, and to others almost like déjà vu from the past years, didn't find their way to Taya's ears. She was standing next to Marti, surrounded by people, yet alone in her pain.

After the morning ceremony, Taya and Marti went for a late brunch at their favorite cafeteria and afterwards headed home to study. There were no classes on Black Day, and most of the work was scaled down in anticipation of the community meeting in the central square, where the battle against the pirates had taken place. However, this gathering was not to remember the past, but rather to design the future of Aire. Sporadically, throughout the year and on important dates such as this one, all adult members of the community would come together to catch up on the developments in various fields such as safety, technology, health, agriculture, environment, education, urbanism, and foreign affairs, each represented by elected members. One by one, the representatives would climb on stage and address the audience sitting in improvised seats.

The fourth to speak was Professor Elro, in charge of the Department of Eco-Sustainability and Development. Their main task was to preserve the ecosystem of Aire and control the impact of all activities on the environment. The Departments in general were open to all interested residents, and representatives were chosen according to their experience and availability. So, not surprisingly, Professor Elro, who had plenty of documented research and grey hair to prove years of hard work, was considered the right person for the job. He presented the ten-year report on the improvement of air quality in Aire after the energy shield had been upgraded in the months following Black Day. This had allowed the residents to enjoy greater protection from outside pollution and radiation, and had also accelerated the adaptation of various forms of flora to the soil. He also addressed a more controversial topic, fauna, which for a long time has been completely absent from the community. Indeed, being virtually impossible to create a sustainable biodiversity in such a small territory which excluded all potentially dangerous remaining species of animals from the external world, it was decided a long time ago that Aire would be home only to humans and plants. This system was carefully maintained through precise selection of plants divided into three categories according to their utility: edible, healing, and potent oxygen-producing plants. Today, however, the Department was able to present its latest achievement: the introduction of one species of insects to help with pollination. Professor Elro explained how one of his students—pointing a finger at Taya siting in the audience—had managed to find a rare remaining species of butterfly in the proximity of Aire and carefully introduce them into the green area. Now, a month later, they were already reproducing. The truth is that Taya was scheduled to speak at the event as well, but being such a difficult day, she decided it was best to let Professor Elro do the presentation. Besides, she had no experience in public speaking and she still felt that her contribution was only a small one. Yet the Professor stressed the importance of this new chapter for the biodiversity of Aire and announced a new project that would require much research and investment.

"Clean air is our main necessity and resource. Before the great pollution of the planet, air was a guaranteed commodity. Today we have to earn it. As the air in the external world is becoming increasingly poisonous, our energy shield will face a greater challenge of isolating particles of toxins and preventing them from penetrating the community. But we cannot rely solely on technology. Our community is located in the once great Amazon rainforest, which was known as the "lungs of the planet." We cannot count on such a vast soil rich in vegetation continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. Our limited land prevents us from planting more trees and non-edible plants, and we have to think of a more efficient way of producing oxygen, both to satisfy our needs and those of the sick in the external world who rely on us. For this reason, we have been working for the past year on the new project that will increase our production of oxygen. As of tomorrow, we are initiating the implementation phase that will see the creation of the "inner lake" in Aire, hosting carefully selected species of algae in a controlled reservoir of purified water. Algae are known as one of the greatest and most efficient providers of oxygen on Earth, and our project will seek to recreate their natural habitat, hopefully with similar results in our protected environment. If successful, the new source of oxygen will lay the foundation for the expansion of Aire."

Professor ended the presentation with a holographic projection of the future "inner lake" which would require three months to be completed and become fully operational. Taya and Marti, as junior members of the Department, were already involved in the research and eager for the next stage of work to commence. From tomorrow their main focus would be the "inner lake."

# CHAPTER 8

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The following months proved to be challenging for everyone. Juggling multiple professional roles in the society was particularly difficult for members who worked on the priority project. Taya was one of them. Her dedication to the project left her with less time for sewing, work in the fields and studying. She was behind in most of her classes and didn't see much of her friends other than Marti, who was volunteering at the laboratory. But she preferred it that way. More commitments meant less time for thinking and reflecting on the circumstance of life. Lately as the anniversary of Black Day was approaching, she had wondered if all the sacrifices the people of Aire undertook throughout time—the isolation and work that never seemed to be complete—were worth the lives they had. Since children they had been instilled with the picture of a devastated external world which none of them had ever gotten to see in person. On the other hand, the signal receivers and projectors most people in Aire had were their second window into the world that showcased prosperous cities and economic welfare. Although the propaganda programs were not targeted at the members of the community but rather to residents of small dislocated cities as a means of inviting them to move to big cities controlled by the Global Assembly, some of the inhabitants of Aire got tempted, too. The material world with plenty of opportunities for personal and economic growth served as a luring mechanism, especially attractive to young, ambitious people. However, this temptation could only lead to a temporary fantasy, as all residents of Aire, born in the protective environment, were not equipped to survive in the external world. They lacked the resistance to extreme pollution, toxicity and radiation which residents of big cities over time had developed, settling in exchange for a lifespan limited to an average of fifty years filled with constant battles with respiratory illnesses. 

# CHAPTER 9

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In the coming weeks the construction of the artificial basin began, involving dozens of people. It was decided that the location of the "inner lake" would be the former plantation, abandoned years ago due to its poor fertility. Every bit of the land had to be carefully assigned to a specific purpose, as the shortage of resources was a constant worry. Concurrently, Professor Elro and Taya were analyzing the results of experiments undertaken in the previous months to determine the most efficient species of algae that would coexist in the lake. The top five species were selected based on their oxygen production efficiency and endurance. Once the central laboratory was provided with the DNA of selected algae, they initiated the molecular preparation of water, to assure ideal structure and temperature of the lake. In less than a week, the samples of algae from experimental tanks inside the laboratory would be transferred to the newly-built inner lake, where they could reproduce and transform sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Intrigued by the innovative project that promised higher supplies of oxygen, the Global Assembly confirmed the presence of representatives of their Ministry of Environment at the opening of the inner lake. They believed that if successful, the project could be recreated in selected parts of the external world as well. The potential increase in supplies would come particularly useful in the coming months: strong winds and occasional tornadoes in the western hemisphere were forecast, meaning that toxins accumulated in the lower levels of the soil would be spread across the territories, further contributing to air pollution. 

# CHAPTER 10

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As the sunlight fought with clouds for primacy in the sky, Taya assisted the final preparations for the inauguration of the inner lake. Through the transparent layer of dancing light above her, she witnessed the wind's demonstration of force, carrying and violently tossing broken tree trunks and stones against the energy shield. The frightening sight was something members of Aire could never get used to. Every time they saw flying objects coming their way from the sky, they had the sensation it would go right through the shield and fall to the ground. Taya squeezed her eyes and waited instinctively for something to fall before her feet. Once the coming objects bounced back and swirling air took them further away, Taya's attention returned to the lake, which, now complete, appeared even more beautiful than expected. The crystal water played with sunrays as the young algae acclimatized to their new surroundings.

Professor Elro and Taya were standing at the lakeshore that could fit four standard houses, waiting for the final laboratory results to arrive. The news of optimal algae adaptation to the water was brought in by Marti, who rushed over carrying a portable paper screen to show them the final report. Everything was now ready for the opening event that would celebrate the efforts of all involved in the project.

At 2 p.m., the heavy red rain postponed the arrival of the members of the Global Assembly. In order to let the representatives come inside Aire, the energy shield had to be deactivated temporarily, which in case of toxic rains could compromise the safety of the community. At 4:30, when precipitation stopped, the hovering transport accelerated and arrived at the border around 5 p.m. as the sun was setting. Three members of the guardians army stepped inside to collect the monthly supply of oxygen tanks while two representatives of the Ministry of Environment were welcomed by two senior representatives of Aire's Foreign Affairs Department. The older tall man and his younger assistant were given white triangular masks covering their nose and mouth, attached with a tube to a tank with diluted oxygen that allowed them to breathe normally and avoid dizziness provoked by the higher concentration of oxygen inside Aire. While guardians loaded supplies into the black transport before the energy shield was turned on again, the two masked men were escorted to the lake for the much-awaited opening. Indeed, thousands of people of Aire were already waiting impatiently for the event to initiate, forming a circle of audience around the lake. Pryo and Kwayn, members of Aire's Foreign Affairs Department, brought the two guests to the east side of the lake, where Professor Elro was observing the steady water.

"Professor Elro," Kwayn surprised him, "With me are two representatives of the Ministry of Environment, who are eager to see firsthand the promising results of our new project. If you would be so kind to tell something more about our lake, I am sure the representative, Saf, and his assistant, Uro, would be most interested in hearing about it."

"With pleasure." The Professor shook their hands and invited them over to the small cylindrical building on the other side of the lake connected with a wooden bridge to the shore where they met. Crossing the bridge, Professor explained that until now the community had depended on the crops and trees for oxygen, but from today they could rely on larger quantities of oxygen being released into the air as a result of algal photosynthesis. The five selected species would soon multiply in the lake and produce greater quantities of oxygen compared to all other plants in Aire.

"But how will you provide them with enough light for photosynthesis on days like this?" Saf stopped in the middle of the narrow bridge absorbing the view of the lake and the whole of Aire. It appeared to him that he had never seen such a vast green land in his life. Trees, crops, and flowers, mottled with green grass in between, were an absolute contrast to the faded world he came from.

"If you look to your left, you we'll notice our solar panels which absorb sunrays throughout the day and store energy to be used exclusively for the maintenance of the lake. When needed, the four strategically placed spotlights mimicking the sunrays are activated from the central control room where we are going now," Elro said, pointing in the direction of the cylindrical object on the other side.

As the Professor and the younger Uro kept walking, Saf let them get two steps ahead of him, and before they reached the end of the bridge, he opened the left pocket of his coat and discreetly let a marble size silver ball fall from his hand into the water. The ball was small enough to make only a discreet splash.

Once on the other side, they made their way through the hundreds of people on the bank enjoying the musical performance and a festive buffet. They climbed the steps leading to the control room on top of the building overlooking the lake. Here the Professor intended to show them the preliminary results of the study and long-term expectations for the project. As the door opened it was clear that the capacity of the control room would hardly fit Professor Elro in addition to the two guests and Taya and Marti, who were already inside observing the parameters on the screens.

"Guests, please meet my students, Marti and Taya, whose hard work has made this project possible. Girls, today we have members of the Global Assembly with us and I was just telling to them how the system functions," Professor said, but the lack of space made it uncomfortable to continue the conversation so the girls excused themselves and left the room. Reaching for the door, Taya turned around in hope to catch another glimpse of the mysterious young man whose voice she hadn't even heard. The mask covering half of his face only revealed the frame of his light beard and piercing grey eyes meeting hers as she moved further away.

"It's been a while since we had visitors from the outside world. Why do you think they decided to come this time?" Taya asked Marti while the music played.

"They seemed genuinely interested in the lake. But I know what caught your attention," Marti said as she playfully scratched Taya's shoulder with hers.

"What do you mean?" she replied.

"Come on, I've seen how the two of you looked at each other," Marti teased.

"You mean he looked back at me?"

"Of course he did. Since they came into the room, all he did was gaze at you," Marti insisted.

The ceremony continued with a speech by Professor Elro emphasizing the importance of the newly-inaugurated lake, followed by another musical performance under the dark sky. At the first beats of the second band to take the stage, Uro seized the opportunity when Taya separated from Marti, who got lost in the crowd enjoying the concert, and came up to Taya. To her surprise the subject of her recent thoughts had appeared right before her.

"Hello, I don't think I had the opportunity to introduce myself properly back there," said the young man through the mask that made his voice sound robotic.

"My name is Taya, pleasure to meet you," she replied neutrally, trying to hide her interest.

"Uro, pleasure is mine," he offered his hand.

"So, how are you holding up with that mask? I hope the oxygen tank isn't too heavy," pointing out the backpack on his shoulder.

"It's fine, I'm used to them. It's not the first time I've worn an oxygen mask," he replied as Taya tried to imagine how his face looked like without it.

"How come, are you sick?" she blurted out, catching herself in embarrassment of her hasty words.

"No," he smiled. "I guess you think all of us in the real world are in poor health."

"I'm sorry, I just thought that with all the pollution, it must be difficult to maintain good health, that's all," she said, trying to pull herself out of the hole she had dug. "But what do you mean by 'real world?'" she continued.

"You know, the real world, outside of the snow globe," he pointed his forefinger at the energy shield above them.

"Is that how you refer to us, as a snow globe?" she asked, disappointed. The mentioning of a vintage souvenir object triggered a distant memory from her childhood when, as a little girl, she used to marvel at her father's collection of snow globes depicting scenes from abandoned big cities, passed down to him from his ancestors who lived in some of the great cities before the floods eradicated them. The collection, like her childhood home, was lost in the detonation caused by the pirates' attack.

"I meant no disrespect," he replied, sensing tension. "Not many have had the opportunity to visit a place like this, so people are not sure how to define your city, that's all."

"We are hardly a snow globe. It never snows here. Our dome protects us from the outside precipitation. But now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure snow can be seen only in small amounts on the poles. Have you ever seen snow in person? I mean, living outside the snow globe," she smiled to let him know she took no offense.

"Actually, I have. Being a member of the Ministry of Environment I often travel to remote sites to inspect the weather conditions and their impact on the environment. It still snows on the poles, but most of it melts after a few days. Still, it is a beautiful sight..."

"Oh, I bet. I'm sure it's wonderful to travel and see the world." The sleeping doubt in the isolated system as a concept secretly awoke again in the privacy of her thoughts. Uro noticed a slight melancholy in her eyes, which made them even more memorable. Just when he was about to recount the time he visited the remains of the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the few remaining and the one closest to Aire, the red button on his metallic bracelet flickered. He started talking into the incorporated microphone and slightly moved away from Taya. After a few seconds he returned to where they stood together and told her Saf had summoned him and that it was time to leave.

"It's getting late, we must get going. The forecast predicts heavy winds, so we must take off. Hey, maybe one day you'll come and visit us in Urban Area One. We'd love to have the Professor and you as our guests."

"I'd love that, thank you," Taya replied, knowing his invitations was a merely an act of courtesy. Other than on exceptional occasions, people of Aire never left the community, for safety reasons. In that moment it appeared to Uro that if they never met again, at least he wanted Taya to remember him properly, so he took of his mask and his robotic voice suddenly took a human sound.

"Instead of goodbye, how about if I said hello again, with my own voice this time?" He extended his hand and looked her straight into her eyes. His lips and the sweet sound of his name caught all of her attention.

"Uro, I told you we have to go," Saf rushed to their side, with Professor Elro following his footsteps. "What happened to your mask?" he continued.

"I'm sorry, sir, I was just about to join you. I believe my tank has run out of air. If we are leaving now, I'm sure I can manage until we board the transport." The dark-haired Saf, whose unusual tallness made it hard for others to catch a glimpse of his eyes, turned away and stopped to salute Professor Elro, before heading for the border.

"It has been an honor to visit Aire today and witness this great achievement. Please do keep us informed on the progress and the results you obtain."

Uro took one last look at Taya, who wondered what was the point of meeting someone you will never get a chance to see again. She stretched her lips, but couldn't smile. When they departed, escorted by Pryo and Kwayn, Uro slowly turned his head to meet Taya's eyes three times until her face got lost in the distance. Going through the streets of Aire, consisting of stone roads and square houses, each with a garden rich in colors, on their way to the border, Pryo and Kwayn asked their guests about their experience in Aire.

"We hope your brief stay was pleasant," Kwayn said as they reached the edges of the energy shield.

"Most certainly. We are very intrigued by your latest project. Indeed, the lack of oxygen is one of the most urgent issues we are facing, and the Global Assembly is looking into all potential solutions to this problem," Saf replied as the blue light bounced back from the shield and colored his black coat. "We will stay in touch." Pryo pressed the button on his metal pendant attached to his pocket and remotely turned off the shield. The two men dressed in black disappeared into the night, followed by whirring sound of the withdrawing transport. Two minutes later, the dome rose above Aire again.

Back at the lake, which now had taken the color of night, the event had come to an end, and hordes of people headed back to their homes.

"I'm not sure what happened out there," Taya said.

"You mean with you and your boyfriend?" Marti jumped in, having secretly observed from a distance their conversation by the lake.

"Don't be a tease, Marti. He was the one to start the conversation. I was just intrigued to see a human being from the outside world," she replied, blushing slightly. "Have you ever seen one of them, I mean, without the mask?"

"No, just the guardians a few times when they stopped by to take the oxygen supplies. But I never saw anyone's face. I didn't even get a good look at Uro. That was his name, right? How was he without the mask?" Marti inquired.

"Normal, I guess. His eyes were grey, profound. His skin was a bit unusual, though. Sallow."

"That's because all of the toxins they are exposed to," Marti replied. "It accumulates and shows up on the skin. I really don't know how they manage to survive without fresh air."

Pressing her palm against the square scanner to open the door of their home—a precaution in case of intruders' attacks—Taya thought that Uro's yellowish complexion was the perfect canvas for the precise lines of his blond beard connected to short, light hair. Before crossing the threshold, she turned her head, with eyes pointed at the dome above her, and whispered, "Snow globe." And she smiled. Marti didn't bother to ask what she was mumbling. It was too late, anyway. 

# CHAPTER 11

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"As you have seen, by joining the chain of Urban Areas, you will get unprecedented access to the most efficient health care, education and employment options," echoed the female voice as the panoramic images of the densely-populated streets played along, showcasing columns of concrete, metal and glass buildings, reaching the clouds in height.

"Do you reckon any of it's true?" inquired Marti one night when the propaganda break interrupted the movie they were watching through the signal receiver. The 3D images danced in the dark room, so realistic one did not to imagine their presence in the shown scenes; the eyes believed they were already there. Only the mind resisted the illusion.

"I am not sure. They certainly have the infrastructure and resources, but from the outside it's hard to tell if what we saw is an authentic picture of reality or an enhanced version," Taya replied, sitting in their living room.

"Rumor has it only four independent cities are outside of the chain now. All the other ones have accepted a merger with the nearest Urban Area," Marti continued.

"They must be deficient in food supplies or vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We are lucky to be excluded from that political arena," Taya observed.

"But don't you ever wish you could travel and experience the world? To see for yourself how others live in the outside world?"

"Marti, you know those thoughts are destructive and best to be avoided. Of course I'd like to see something other than Aire. But I also don't want to get sick and burned by radiation."

"That's true," Marti accepted. "The blessing and the curse of being born in Aire, I guess. Still, in my dreams, when fears subside, I see myself going from one city to another, crossing the oceans and continents, seeing the moon from the other side of the planet. And sometimes, when I wake up and my fears arise with me, I still wish I could go."

"Be careful, Marti. The Universe is always listening. It might get your message," Taya advised, forgetting to mention that desires need no words to be expressed. Life listens to the dreamer's heart, and hers was beating in the rhythm of change too.

On the other side of Aire, as night was advancing, five representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs gathered for a requested late meeting with the Global Assembly. Though they had expected yet another monthly conference call to settle the dates for the next shipment of oxygen supplies for medicinal use in the external world, the conversation took an uncomfortable turn.

"As you know, the Global Assembly is rapidly gaining trust among the remaining independent cities. This month alone we have signed two agreements that will see the expansion of the Urban Areas and guarantee safety to the new members. In this time of scarcity, dangerous weather conditions and constant terrorist threats, we believe it would be best for Aire to join the chain of Urban Areas and benefit from the privileges of our growing state. Our proposition, of course, provides territorial integrity, and thus a special exclave status for Aire. In return, you would get an unlimited access to our technology, resources, and substantial financing for your projects, including the expansion of Aire's territory, which we know is one of your priorities." The voice of Bris, a senior representative of the Ministry of Expansion, narrated the proposal as his face appeared on the screen, observed by the worried eyes of the representatives of Aire.

"But Mister Bris, we believed our current status and relationship with the Global Assembly was clear and mutually beneficial. We appreciate your proposal, but as you can imagine, by signing a treaty with the Global Assembly, we would expose our community and the location to unpredictable dangers from the outside world," responded Naris, the chosen head representative in this discussion. "The geographic coordinates of our location have always been kept in utmost secret to prevent potential terrorist attacks," she continued with signs of unease on her face. "If revealed, we could risk losing all that we have struggled to build for generations."

"If I may add," Bris interrupted, "We have emphasized many times that if you sign a treaty and officially become part of the chain, your safety will hardly be at risk anymore. Up until now, we could only offer you military assistance in case of direct danger, but as a member territory, you would count on a constant military border control, military training for your residents and more advanced armament," said the bold man with thick eyebrows hiding his eyes.

"I must protest. You know that that kind of organization would go against the very nature of our people. We are a pacifist territory. And while we are grateful for your help with technological maintenance and emergency assistance, we believe that with our precious supply of healing herbs and oxygen, you are more than adequately compensated for your effort. And frankly, we would like the agreement to stay as it has always been. Aire is a neutral territory but open for cooperation," Naris decisively ended.

"Very well, we shall discuss this topic on another occasion," said the voice from the screen and ended the call.

"This is unacceptable. With their reckless ambition to dominate the world, the Assembly is putting Aire at a great risk," said Kwayn from the Foreign Affairs Department.

"Even more worrisome is the repetition of this proposal. This is the third time they have asked us to consider joining the system of Urban Areas, but never so directly and explicitly as tonight. It sounded more like an ultimatum than an offer," commented Naris furiously, whose long white hair almost blended with the color of her pale dress.

"We must keep calm. It serves us no purpose to come into conflict with the Global Assembly. We need to find the right balance between integrity and diplomacy. In the end, the supplies of oxygen are our main leverage. They know we are the only ones who can provide them with enough reserves for their hospitals," Pryo pointed out as other four members of the Department took a seat after the unexpected turn of events.

Miles away, in Urban Area One, the administrative capital of the chain of cities under the control of the Global Assembly, Bris was sitting at his desk in a dim, spacious office with no windows. Across from him, the member of the Ministry of Environment, Saf, showed signs of anxiety on his face.

"This didn't go well. It's time for a different approach." The rusty voice came from the third men surrounded by smoke rising from his cigar. He sat in almost complete dark in the back of the office, gazing at both Bris and Saf.

# CHAPTER 12

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The coming months continued to pass at a somewhat modified pace. The members of the Department of Foreign Affairs hoped that the pressure to sign the treaty with the Global Assembly had dissolved. Yet the anxiety was noticeable among the residents. After the proposal took place, the Department issued a public announcement about the offered treaty and invited people to contribute their insights. During a regular monthly meeting, hundreds of participants unanimously confirmed the necessity to stay neutral. This form of democracy was an ongoing experiment since the foundation of Aire. The lack of supreme leaders and political parties risked anarchy, yet united by the same needs, the people always found common ground. Instead of handing over their power to leaders and passively watching their lives being shaped by circumstances provoked by others, they decided to be the sculptors of their own destiny. The lesson people of Aire had learned, and many in the external world still struggled to accept, is that throughout history, all nations, kingdoms, empires and states have fallen when personal ambitions of the rulers disconnected them from the needs of people.

Nevertheless, the refusal of the alliance with the Global Assembly was a risky decision. Other than oxygen and healing herbs, there was nothing to exchange for the necessary technology and security assistance they depended on. Without the energy shield and technology to filter water and extract surplus oxygen from air, the community could not continue to thrive.

The Ministry of Space Research of the Global Assembly had been announcing for years the expedition to a newly discovered remote and uninhabited planet, ST9, rich in clear air and water, which, if true, would turn Aire into an unnecessary dot on a map. However, what the people of Aire and citizens of the Urban Areas never found out was that ST9 was yet another tool of propaganda conceived by the Global Assembly.

The Earth analogue christened ST9 was a mere work of fiction, supposedly located on the outskirts of the Milky Way. The false images of the planet justified the tax increase to finance the research, suggesting that the newly-discovered planet could soon become the source of clear oxygen, transported at incredible speed in giant tanks to provide not only hospitals with clean air, but also all private apartments through central air conditioning systems. An independent group of renowned astronomers argued that even if such planet existed—of which they could not be sure, lacking the access to satellite telescopes controlled exclusively by the Global Assembly—the remote distance of the planet would make it impossible to transfer supplies to Earth in less than twenty years of space travel. In addition, they questioned whether the dominant gas on ST9 was indeed oxygen or some other element potentially lethal to humans. These voices were, however, silenced over time, with mysterious disappearances of some of the scientists and spontaneous withdrawal of others from the scientific community, according to some sources, as a result of threats to their lives.

Indeed, the classified reports contained information that Earth was actually the only life-supporting planet in this fraction of the cosmos known and reachable to us. There were no hopes for life anywhere else, and the only home people ever had, one they had never respected enough, was becoming increasingly hostile.

# CHAPTER 13

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As weeks and months passed, the memory of Uro's face slowly faded, yet the recollection of his voice and the words they had exchanged kept Taya company during long nights hijacked by insomnia. Gazing through the window from her bedroom in the middle of the night, she played the game she had invented during her lonely childhood, after her parents had passed away and she developed a fear of submitting her mind to dreams. Reaching the furthest illuminated house her eyes could spot, she would let her imagination take over and play a movie in her head about the people who shared the night with her. Why were they still awake? Were they talking to someone or sitting quietly in their loneliness like her? Was she witnessing an act of passion between two enamored hearts? Or a dispute that did not end with the day?

But when the last window in the distance sided with the dark, her thoughts shifted to Uro's adventures in the remote places around the world. She imagined him traveling with his team from lands encased in ice to expansive desert dunes, defying extreme temperatures and obstacles with his audacious spirit. She saw him reaching isolated tribes and bringing help for the hungry and sick. Suddenly, when the rational side of her mind rebelled and took over, she suspended the ongoing romanticization of a stranger's life and finally fell asleep.

The next morning, upon leaving the house, Marti and Taya separated. Marti had offered her position in the laboratory to a younger girl from their class who was eager to get some hands-on experience. This allowed Marti to focus on other classes as well and get some rest in between the work in the fields. Taya continued working with Professor Elro on new projects and on maintenance of the inner lake. As predicted, the algae were now becoming the major source of oxygen in Aire. Not only were the supplies of oxygen increasing, but so was the quality of air. The community could now count on larger oxygen reserves and more frequent shipments to the external world.

"Aren't they beautiful?" observed Professor Elro as he and Taya stood on the shore while two assistants took water samples for testing.

"They sure are," answered Taya, not entirely convinced of sincerity of her reply. To her, the algae that Professor Elro so much admired paled in comparison to vivid flowers embodying nature's artistic spirit. Yet she knew that the wise Professor never made superficial observations. She remembered the time he had shared with his students the philosophy that "beauty lies in simplicity." She now realized that he was not referring so much to their appearance but rather to their simple cellular structure that made them such enduring and powerful photosynthetic organisms. It required some decoding skills, but with the Professor you always had to be ready to dig for a deeper meaning in his words.

The strings that covered the lake's surface with striking green carpet were now producing larger amounts of oxygen than all the other plants in Aire put together. The success of the experiment was now a proven fact.

Overlooking the lake and marveling at the beauty of nature, Professor Elro was disturbed by Kwayn, who came approaching at an unusually fast pace. Standing now just a meter away from the Professor and his students, panting, Kwayn bowed his head and bent his knees, trying to catch a breath.

"I am most sorry for disturbing your class, Professor," he managed to push the words out of his mouth. "I am afraid this is a rather urgent issue," he continued in his slightly dramatized fashion that failed to agitate anyone but himself.

"We have just received a request from the Assembly and I was sent to look for you. If you would come with me, the others are expecting you in the meeting room."

Watching the Professor and Kwayn distance themselves from the lake, heading towards the meeting room, Taya and two other students with water samples and portable screens in their hands remained standing on the bank, confused. After a while they decided it was best to carry on with their daily tasks in the Professor's absence.

Three hundred meters away, in a short round building with a curved roof, Professor Elro was rushed into an emergency meeting attended by only two other members of the Department of Foreign Affairs in addition to Kwayn. All the others were occupied with chores as this gathering came unexpected.

"Professor Elro, thank you for joining us," said Naris, sitting in the front row of an empty circle of chairs, with a tall podium in the middle. This was where all interested residents were invited to take part in debates, organized by members of the Department. Kwayn and the other man named Dras invited Professor to join Naris in the first row. When all four took a seat, once the conversation began, it became clear that their seating arrangement was not well chosen and was particularly uncomfortable due to constant head movements to the left and right in an attempt to follow alternating speakers.

"Forgive us for summoning you on such a short notice, but we have just received a call from the representatives of the Global Assembly this morning," Naris started to introduce the topic.

"Something serious, I suppose?" guessed Elro with his head turned to his right, towards Naris, while two other men sat to his left.

"As you have probably heard, the Global Assembly has been pressuring us lately with their proposal to integrate Aire into the Urban Area system."

"Naturally, we have declined," interrupted Kwayn. "Like the fellow residents counseled us."

"Nevertheless, we must proceed with caution if we want to maintain a good relationship with the Assembly and secure a neutral position for Aire," Naris took over again while Dras stayed silent.

"I am aware of this situation, but I am not sure how I can be of assistance. I serve in the Department of Eco-Sustainability and Development. My expertise is not in the domain of foreign affairs," observed Professor Elro, suspecting this meeting was taking too much of his time for no good reason.

"You are right, Professor, we will now get to the point," reassured Naris. "We have told you all of this just to make sure you are aware of the delicate position we are in. The Global Assembly contacted us a few hours ago with an unusual request. It appears they are most fascinated with the results of your most recent project."

"The inner lake?" he inquired.

"Precisely," Kwayn confirmed. "This is why we have brought you here. They have specifically requested your presence at the Ministry of Environment headquarters in Urban Area One, where they are working on a similar project."

"So what you are saying is that they are making a replica of our inner lake?"

"We don't have all the details, but it appears to be so," Dras spoke for the first time. "They said this is their new priority project and they need you to inspect the preparations in person. Our guess is that the expedition to the planet ST9 remains suspended for now, and this is a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the Assembly. In exchange for our know-how, we can negotiate better and long-term status."

"But friends, while I do understand your strategy, I must remind you that for any of us leaving the border of Aire is a risky endeavor. I am more than willing to help, but I am not sure I can physically survive for much time in the external world. I hope you don't want me to be the first one to test the dangers of radiation and pollution on my skin," Elro said half-jokingly.

"Of course not, the Assembly is well aware of our limitations when it comes to their world. This is why, if you accept, we would offer your presence for one day only, with restricted exposure to the outside atmosphere. We will request a protected transportation for you during the whole stay so you can safely visit their headquarters and rest in the hotel afterwards. In addition, we will prepare sufficient oxygen supply in order to avoid any contact with polluted air. All necessary preventive measures will be taken prior to your departure," Dras insisted.

"Well, if it's just a one-day ordeal, I suppose there should be no complications. Fortunately, radiation cannot cause much harm in just one day, and with my personal oxygen supplies, the risk is negligible." To everyone's relief, it seemed like the Professor had accepted the task.

"Thank you, Professor, we greatly appreciate your contribution," said Naris, delighted.

"There's no need to thank me. You know my stance. I am willing to assist any way I can. If this can help calm the situation and maintain Aire's neutral position, I am glad to be of service. When is my visit scheduled for?"

"One week from now," replied Kwayn as Professor tried to pull out the tail of his white lab coat stuck in between two seats.

# CHAPTER 14

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It was supposed to be the first day of spring, but seasons had vanished a long time ago. The constant monotony of heat waves was occasionally assaulted by sudden rains and violent storms, causing severe damage in the external world. In Aire these spectacles were only visible through the transparent curtain of potent energy protecting the community from the consequences of centuries-long aggression against nature.

That morning Taya woke up before dawn and while Marti slept in her room, she discreetly prepared breakfast for one and shortly after left the house. This was the day of Professor Elro's departure for a short visit to the external world and Taya, being his most reliable student, was assigned to temporarily take over his duties of controlling the production of oxygen at the lake. The job itself was not very complicated. It was merely a question of making sure the quality of the water was satisfying and light distribution sufficient for the regular functioning of the algae. During Elro's absence she was also scheduled to teach a class on the basics of Aire's biodiversity to a group of young students who had recently signed up for the course. A few minutes before the clock's hands met at 6:33 a.m. Taya was approaching the Professor's home to wish him a safe trip and to prepare the classroom located on the ground floor of his house. Once she reached the door, Kwayn and Naris of the Department of Foreign Affairs were already there. Standing right besides them now, she found it inappropriate to disturb the chatter that, as revealed by their worried faces, was not a pleasant one.

"This was most unexpected," Naris nervously said as the early sunshine fought against the stubborn dark in the sky.

"The transport is scheduled to arrive in ten minutes precisely, and they expect Elro to reach the headquarters of the Ministry before noon," observed Kwayn. "Are we positive he can't make it?" This was enough to trigger an instant reaction from Taya, who now joined the duo in their anxiety.

"What is the matter with the Professor?" asked Taya, announcing her presence.

"Oh Taya, we are not sure, but it appears that Professor is not well. The healer is with him now. We are waiting to see how serious his condition is," Naris explained and now all three were trying to hear the voices coming from inside the house.

But soon the wait was over. A stubby older man with round glasses covering most of his face wriggled through the door slowly, as if no one was expecting him. He adjusted his glasses and closed his round, dilapidated black bag full of bottles and herbs.

"Gev, how is Elro doing?" interrupted Naris, who was closest to his age. Before he could speak, the beeping sound on Kwayn's bracelet announced the arrival of the transport outside Aire.

As he headed towards the border to inform them of the delay, Gev yet again pushed the glasses closer to his eyes and replied, "I am afraid it is rather serious."

"Oh my," gasped Taya. "Please tell us more."

"His vital signs are stable for now and he is perfectly lucid. However, his body is showing signs of fatigue. His breathing is heavy and the pulse is racing."

"Do you know what could be the cause?" Naris immediately followed, forgetting about the transport and the trip Elro was supposed to have already embarked on.

"We will have to keep monitoring his condition, but according to my preliminary diagnosis, he seems to have been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" they both exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"Yes, I am afraid so," continued the healer. "Elro's skin is revealing traces of toxins in his body. I have taken a blood sample and I will take it to the hospital for immediate testing."

"But his life is not at risk, I hope?" questioned Naris while Taya wondered what kind of toxin could have gotten into the Professor's body. There had been no known food poisoning in the community and no reports of radiation penetrating the shield.

"I cannot say for sure. The changes on his skin worry me. We need to get this blood sample tested as soon as possible. If you don't mind..." he said, stressing his haste to leave.

"In that case, I suppose the Professor is in no condition to make the scheduled trip to Urban Area One," Naris stopped him, knowing the answer would be a simple headshake.

The short man waddled away, carrying his bag in his right hand and balancing his weight with the slightly outstretched left arm.

"Can we come in and check on him?" asked Taya as soon as the healer left.

"I suppose we can," replied Naris and shortly they were both inside Elro's house where he lived alone, walking up the stairs to the second floor where his bedroom was. Lying in bed, the Professor appeared to be more bored than worried for his health. But at second glance, it was clear that his condition was nothing to take lightly. The noticeable blue coloration of his face indeed indicated a potential poisoning by an unknown substance.

"Professor Elro, how are you feeling?" said Taya, approaching the bed along with Naris.

"Well, Taya, my vision is a bit blurred. By I recognize your voice. According to my friend Gev, I am having a reaction to an unidentified toxin I've exposed myself to."

"Can we bring anything to you?" Naris offered her assistance for the second time that morning. When she and Kwayn had come in the morning to escort Professor to the border, they found him sitting on the floor struggling to pack his bag for the planned trip. They immediately called for the healer, who lived just a few houses away.

"Thank you, Naris, I have everything I need for now." He pointed at the carafe and miniature bottles of healing herbs on the surface of his nightstand. "I am terribly sorry for this turn of events. I mentioned to Gev that I needed to leave Aire this morning, but it appears my body has rebelled." Professor Elro was most disappointed with the worsening of his condition over the past two days. The first symptoms he experienced the day before yesterday led him to believe it was a case of a simple cold. But when this morning he woke up shaking and covered in sweat, he knew it must have been something more serious. Indeed, he was much looking forward to his trip, the first in twenty years. The last time he had left Aire for a mission in the external world, he was in his forties, and since then, many things had changed. He even hoped to reunite with some of the people from the Urban Area system whom he had met during a summit on environmental conservation. But those plans had now been shattered.

Surprised to see no one in front of the open door, Kwayn entered the house upon his return from the border. He followed the voices into the Professor's room where Taya and Narris were now sitting at his bedside. "Professor, how are you holding up?"

"Well, let's say I've been better."

"Have you sent the transport and the guardians away?" asked Naris. "The Professor is in no condition to travel. We will have to reschedule his trip for some other time."

"No, I haven't. The transport and guardians are still waiting on the other side of the border," Kwayn said, visible agitated. "I have contacted the members of the Global Assembly through guardians to inform them about the delay, but they insist on expecting a member of Aire at their Ministry of Environment headquarters today."

"That is unacceptable," insisted Naris, annoyed by the message Kwayn had delivered. "We cannot send a sick man on a dangerous trip just because they find it inconvenient to reschedule the meeting."

"Of course, you are right," Kwayn agreed. "But the reason they insist is because only this week representatives from the Ministry of Environment from four major Urban Areas will all meet in Area One for the testing phase of their project. I was told that if successful, the representatives would be instructed to return to their home cities and initiate preparations for local implementation of the project. However, the problem lies in the fact that weather forecast predicts severe thunderstorms starting from the next week which will indefinitely halt all transportation. This is why they require a representative of Aire to join them today to oversee the project and educate their team."

"I hardly see that happening today," she protested. "You and I can be of no use for their scientific purposes." As their discussion developed, it seemed like they had forgotten the presence of others in the room.

Disturbed by the sound of raised voices, Professor Elro interfered. "Please calm down. I might have a solution to our problem."

The two members of the Department of Foreign Affairs silenced and turned in his direction.

"The Assembly requires the presence of someone with profound knowledge about our project which they intend to replicate in their world. Someone with experience and insight. Considering my condition, it will have to be someone other than me."

"Yes, but who?" Naris jumped in.

"Taya," he said and all eyes were on her now as she stood up in surprise.

"Me?" she questioned. Others remained as struck as she was.

"Why not? You have worked with me on the project since the very beginning with more dedication than any other student. You are familiar with all the phases, specifications and challenges."

"But I lack experience. They would never take me seriously," she protested, worried.

"Experience comes with time and practice. If you don't seize given opportunities, you cannot advance. If you act with confidence, you will gain their respect," he reassured her.

The talk continued but Taya was only half present. Her thoughts had already passed the border of Aire and were slowly painting the picture of the external world in her imagination. Could this be her only opportunity to see life outside of Aire?

Thirty minutes later Taya was standing in her bedroom, preparing her backpack, still not sure of her decision. All alone in that foreign land? What if anything happens to me? Will I remember to check all the parameters of their artificial lake? How will they react to a young girl instead of the wise, experienced scientist they were expecting?

Not resisting her disturbing thoughts, Taya found space in her confused mind for a realization that she had never owned a suitcase and that her backpack was too small for all the things she wanted to bring with her.

Rushed by Naris and Kwayn, Taya still remembered to leave a quick message on the fridge for Marti:

I went out (literally).

I'll be back tomorrow.

Ask Naris and Kwayn for more info.

Love, T.

On the way to the border, Kwayn and Naris took turns briefing her about safety precautions. "You must not leave the facilities nor the hotel," insisted Naris authoritatively. "Don't get any ideas about wandering around and exploring the city on your own. You must not risk exposing yourself to radiation or excessive pollution."

"Not to mention thieves and pickpockets raiding the streets," added Kwayn, now accelerating his pace.

"And most importantly, never remove your mask," he lifted his left arm to point out a bag he was carrying with five oxygen tanks, to be used until she returned home.

"You have all the documents and presentations the Professor provided you with, right?"

"Yes, Naris. I downloaded them on my screen and the portable projector the Professor lent me, just in case of some unexpected technical issues." She tried to reassure the two, as they seemed more agitated about the change of plans than she was.

Approaching the edges of the dome, Kwayn explained that the black transport with two guardians on board would take her directly to the Ministry headquarters, and from there the hosts would make sure she has all she needs until she headed back home the day after. With a touch of a button, the energy shield collapsed and the doors on the black transport lifted up.

"Welcome aboard," said a masculine voice coming from the tall man in black uniform, with a dark blue helmet covering his head.

"Good luck, and see you tomorrow," said Naris while Kwayn handed over Taya's bag with oxygen supplies to the driver. Taya took a seat behind the two men and adjusted the mask over her nose and mouth, and soon the door closed. The transport made a shrill sound and lifted from the ground. For a minute it levitated without moving and then made a swift jump into the distance. Taya gripped her seat. Five minutes later, she was already the furthest from Aire she had ever been in her life. 

# CHAPTER 15

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The alternating images through the obscured windscreen didn't differ much in the first hour of the trip. All that could be seen was the vast steppe with only an occasional short and stunted tree withstanding extremely dry conditions. The two guardians occupying the driver's and passenger's seats did not communicate with Taya, nor between themselves. She figured it must be their protocol and internal rules, so she remained quiet as well, sitting behind them and relying only on their window for visual orientation. As the vehicle headed north, still in awe of the sudden development of events, a curious thought invaded her head.

What if I see Uro again? He does work for the Ministry of Environment. She did her best to put all the blurred pieces of the puzzle together and clearly remember his face, but it had been too long. The composition of his face had been smudged by the passing time. In that moment, the silence was briefly interrupted as the driving guardian turned around and announced, "Miss, we are about to increase altitude. We are approaching a mountain range. There might be some turbulence," he finished.

Taya didn't know what was expected from her. Was she supposed to hold tighter to her seat, tighten the seat belt or stretch her arm and reach for the handgrip hanging from the top? She decided not to change her posture. The guardian's voice carried no tone of alarm; it was merely an informative announcement.

Suddenly, the transport made a ninety-degree rotation and gradually distanced itself one kilometer from the ground. Coming back to a horizontal position, below them now were bare mountain peaks varying in height and sharpness. If it weren't for the moderate fog, the sight of flying between mountain edges, avoiding collision by only a few meters, would have surely made her cover her eyes. Instead, the water droplets suspended in the clouds provided the much-needed visual censorship for someone who has never experienced detachment from the ground.

Soon the seats trembled again and they plummeted at high speed, coming back to a horizontal position just two meters before they would have touched the ground. The transport continued flying low over the bare land covered with grey sand and occasional rocks. The wind lifted the grains of sand and it was now impossible to see through the window. Yet the guardians remained calm. It seemed like they needed no visual contact to drive. The control screens in front of them changed colors and displayed numbers and coordinates throughout the journey.

With nothing to watch, Taya took out her portable square screen, thin and foldable like paper, from her backpack and tried to go over the notes Professor Elro had left her. She needed to memorize all the parameters and avoid checking her notes once she arrived at the Ministry. That way, she hoped, she could mask her insecurities and lack of self-esteem. The names of the algae, the ideal temperature of the lake, the amount of light: all danced in the rational side of her mind as the other wondered whether her choice of wardrobe was appropriate. Granted, she didn't have many options to begin with; before leaving the house, she changed into a pair of black tight pants and a night-blue blouse covered by a jacket a shade darker. In her bag she had managed to squeeze in just one extra shirt in addition to underwear and toiletries. She hoped it would be enough. After all, it was her first trip ever. She had no experience with packing.

Consumed by her thoughts, she didn't even realize that they had left the arid land behind them and were now flying over the ocean at full speed.

When the turbulence shook the transport, Taya directed her attention to the windscreen. She could now see high towers in the distance and blinks of bright light bouncing back from windows in the city. She knew they had almost reached their destination. The transport slowed down, and in a few minutes they were surrounded by other rushing transports of different sizes and colors going in both directions between massive buildings, some with facades entirely made of glass.

"Miss, welcome to Urban Area One," said the guardian. "We will shortly arrive at the Ministry."

The chaotic scene of vehicles flying below and above them, coming close to buildings at times, instantly made her question her decision to accept the mission. All she thought was, How do people drive these machines so fast and avoid crashing into one another? As fear took over her body, she reached inside her bag again, digging for the gold necklace with the engraved locket she always slept with. With her talisman in her hand, she felt protected by the memories of her parents embodied in that small piece of jewelry.

Another quick shake and the transport finally landed on a round platform carved into the lower level of the building.

"We have reached our destination," announced the guardian, and the door lifted.

"This is the Ministry of Environment?" Taya asked, peeking through the open door. The building was so massive it stretched across half of the street with its endless row of windows and floors reaching higher than eyes could see.

"Yes, Miss. These are the headquarters of four Ministries, including the Environment," said the guardian while Taya grabbed her backpack and got out of the transport.

"Will you be needing all of these oxygen tanks right away, or shall we deliver them to your hotel?" Taya took one tank out of the bag and asked the guardian to put the remaining ones back in the transport. She now had two tanks in her increasingly-heavy backpack.

The sun was shining so strong she could feel her skin burning after just a few seconds in the open air. Fortunately, the exposure was brief.

"If you will come this way, Miss, they are expecting you." The guardian pointed in the direction of short stairs connecting the platform to the main entrance while the driver remained close to the vehicle.

Oh my, she thought to herself. How did I get myself into this situation? They are going to think I am an amateur. With the first drops of nervous sweat coming down her forehead, she remembered the words her mother Irma used to tell her: The only thing you need to believe in is yourself. She repeated the mantra for the next few steps before they stopped at the entrance, facing a large glass door, where a man in a black uniform pressed a red button and asked Taya to move to the left so that the security camera could scan her face and eyes.

"The guest is not authorized for entrance," announced a female voice through the speaker. "There is no record of her biometric data in our security system."

"There has been a last-minute change. The scheduled guest was unable to come, so Ms. Renks took his place. Contact Mr. Oren from the Protocol Department, he will confirm the name Taya Renks," argued the guardian, using information provided by Kwayn before departure.

Five minutes later, just as sunrays started to irritate her skin again, the female voice confirmed Taya Renks' entry clearance. Two panels of reinforced glass separated and they stepped inside.

"I am sorry for the mix-up," said the handsome man in formal attire coming their way. "My name is Ben Oren, head of protocol." They shook hands. "Thank you for filling in for Professor Elro on such a short notice," said the man, taking both her and the guardian to the reception where she was asked to have her fingerprints taken.

A young lady sitting behind the black counter took out a small round object with a lens in the center and asked Taya to look straight into it. What a strange request, she thought.

"It is just so we can scan your eyes, Ms. Renks. It will only take a few seconds," she explained.

"All right, I think we are all set," said Oren. "We can now take you to meet other scientists from the Ministry. They are waiting for you."

The guardian remained standing by the reception. Walking towards the glass capsules that served as elevators, Taya took a moment to let her eyes examine the enormous structure of the building, made entirely of black stone with metallic arches. From the ground floor she could see above her more floors than she could count. And, strangely in such a huge building, silence ruled, and other than Oren, the guardian and the receptionist, there was no one else to been seen. The capsule rose from the ground and Taya secretly hoped it would take them to one of the top floors so she could experience a panoramic view of the city. But after only a short ride, the capsule stopped and they were on the third floor. The glass door of the capsule slid sideways and soon they were outside the high black door, where, as Oren explained, the meeting was taking place. The anxiety took over Taya's body again. There's no turning back now.

The massive door opened on its own as soon as they faced it. Behind it, a group of ten people standing around a large rectangular table turned and lined up to greet the visitor. It seemed like no one was surprised to see a young girl instead of an experienced scientist. Her heartbeat slowed down, finally. The ten names flew out too fast for her to memorize them all. Instead, she just smiled and shook their hands, hoping to make a good first impression. She thought that with the mask covering half of her face, she must have looked like Uro had appeared to her when they met in Aire: a half-human, half-machine.

"Right, now that you have all met Ms. Renks, I will let you get to your work," Oren said. "Ms. Renks, if you need anything, just dial 431 on the communicator." He pointed at the device on the table. "The guardians will wait for you outside of the Ministry and transport you to your hotel at the end of the day." And then he left the room.

"Please, take a seat," Fas, a kind man with catlike green eyes, wearing a grey suit, pulled the free chair out for her. Taya occupied the place nearest to the glass wall through which she could again witness scenes of transports rushing down the street in both directions. The woman named Jors, seated across Taya, stood up to introduce the topic.

"As you well know, we've been summoned here, some from distant cities, to oversee the preparation of the inner lake project, which is promising to provide significant amounts of pure oxygen for medical purposes. Once we familiarize ourselves with all the aspects, those of us living in other Urban Areas will brief the teams and initiate the local implementation of the project. The goal is to recreate the inner lake in the first four Urban Areas by the end of the year. To help us, we have a special guest with us today, a scientist from the independent city of Aire, where Professor Elro - whom many of you have heard of - has already realized a similar project," she continued. Taya felt both flattered to be presented as a scientist and irritated by the subtle way Jors avoided saying that what they were actually doing here was replicating the Professor's work.

She followed with the presentation of what the four lakes would look like and the amount of oxygen they predicted the algae could generate. The numbers and expectations appeared exaggerated to Taya to say the least, but she wanted to stay neutral and refrain from expressing her opinion when not asked. She remembered that one of the key instructions Kwayn and Naris gave her before departing was not to engage in any sort of conflict. So she stayed quiet, listened to the presentation and observed the numbers displayed on the table, only at times diverting her attention to the glass wall and promenade of flying objects.

Halfway through the talk, a light nausea clouded her mind. She knew it must have been the toxins from the air penetrating through exposed skin. Instinctively, she pulled her sleeves to cover most of her arms, and then she noticed that the thin skin around her fingernails was cracking. Oh my, it must be the radiation. But I was outside for only a few minutes. She tried not to think about it. Other than the unpleasant dizziness, nothing hurt. She hoped her skin would heal on its own. Yet these first warning signs made it clear to her why no one had ever left Aire. Some stories, rarely discussed in the community, suggested that a few members of the third generation of residents had voluntarily left the community in search of a more comfortable and exciting life in the external world, enchanted by propaganda put in motion by the Global Assembly. The same stories hinted that those people had never returned. Nor reached their desired destination.

The presentation, which over its course turned into a motivational speech emphasizing the importance of oxygen production for the health of the chain of Urban Areas, was coming to a much-needed end. After the final words and more numbers flashing through pixels that made up the surface of the table, Jors, who during the talk was revealed to be a senior member of the Ministry of Environment and stationed in Urban Area One, invited Taya to share Aire's experience with the project. Taya only had a short speech prepared, accompanied by a holographic representation of the lake in Aire. She shared the results they obtained, but that information was already known by the participants in the meeting. Precisely because of these results, a member of Aire was invited to this meeting. Or so they believed.

To everyone's relief, the meeting was coming to an end. During the course of her presentation, Taya's skin started to itch again, but she couldn't decide whether it was caused by exposure to radiation or nervousness. It was probably a mixture of both. Once Taya sat down and officially concluded her presentation, Fas declared the meeting adjourned and announced the second phase of the day, which would take place after a lunch break. According to the daily schedule, the participants would be taken to the facility where the inner lake project was being developed so that the whole team could see firsthand the preliminary results of the tests. Inspecting the skin around the tip of her fingers, Taya noticed on her vintage gold watch, passed down to her by her grandmother, that she had already spent three hours in Urban Area One; the meeting alone was more than two hours long. It was now the time of the day when the sun was strongest. The light reflected from the windows of the building across the street was almost blinding. It was best to leave the room. The ten people accompanied by the head of protocol, Mr. Oren, and Taya with them, were now in glass capsules, divided into two groups of six and going up. It felt like flying again. 

# CHAPTER 16

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Like the previous time, the ascent was limited to three floors only. Number six popped up on the illuminated glass before the door opened and Taya followed the group to the only room on the floor without a door. Unlike the meeting room, they were now in a large cafeteria that could easily fit hundreds of people. And to Taya's surprise, all the people she hadn't seen when she entered the building earlier that day were conversing and moving along with their trays here. The group of scientists broke up and got lost in the crowd. Taya found herself standing alone in the middle of an unfamiliar scene. For a minute she observed people of different races and ages rush around the room carrying food, looking for a free table. Just when her curiousness was about to capitulate to the invading feeling of embarrassment, Mr. Oren came up to her and took her to the counter.

"I'm sorry, we lost you in the crowed for a second," said Oren.

"That's OK, I was just observing all the people. When I first came inside the building, it was so quiet, I thought no one worked here...except you and the lady at the reception, that is."

"Oh, there are thousands of people working here. This cafeteria is only for those occupying the first ten floors. We try to keep corridors and common areas quiet and peaceful, with cafeterias being an exception. This is probably why you got the impression of being in an empty building," he explained.

Standing in front of a row of closed glass boxes placed along the tray line, showcasing white plates with unrecognizable food, Taya let Oren explain the mechanism before she asked anything. She wondered how hundreds of people put food on their trays with only one plate in each box. In addition, there were no workers serving food. It was a whole different thing compared to small restaurants in Aire, where all customers knew the owners and the staff.

"This is how it works: you just need to pick the dish you like and push the green button on the side," he said following his own instructions and almost immediately a smoking plate of some red-green mixture popped up from the round opening on the tray line.

"Wow, that was quick," Taya noticed, surprised. She couldn't really tell what kind of dish Oren had chosen. It was nothing she could recognize.

"Do you have any particular dietary requirements?" he inquired. "You can see all the nutritional values on the display at the bottom of the box."

But there was no information about the ingredients. Taya knew people in the external world still ate meat that came from animal farms or was artificially made in laboratories from muscle cells. She preferred to stay away from both.

"I would just like some light vegetables, but I don't recognize these dishes. Maybe this yellow one?" she said, trying to spot something that resembled food she knew.

"I am afraid you won't find many vegetable dishes here. Unfortunately, this year, due to poor weather conditions, the cultivation of edible plants has been for the most part suspended. All the plates here, however, are perfectly balanced, made from an isolated protein as a base and selected vitamins, minerals and acids according to one's nutritional needs. The flavor, however, as you will find, is similar to the food you consume. Our kitchen uses the finest aromas extracted from the samples of real vegetables."

The detailed description of the food process made her lose her appetite. She quickly picked up the yellow dish, avoiding thinking what it was made of, and followed Oren to a small isolated table by the wall with no windows.

"So, how did the meeting go?" he asked. "The Ministry of Environment has high hopes for the project."

"I believe it went well. I am sorry I arrived a bit late. As you know, Professor Elro, who is the creator of the project, was supposed to visit but this morning he fell ill. So I was asked to come in his place. It was a last-minute decision," she replied, trying to hide her dislike for the food she was now tasting. It was like eating mud masked with vivid colors and exaggerated flavors. So this is what they eat in the external world, she finally realized. An imitation of food.

"I am looking forward to visiting the laboratory," she continued. "If I understood correctly, this is where the second phase of the day will take place."

"Precisely so. After lunch I will gather you and the fellow scientists and take you to the laboratory. After that I am afraid I will have to leave you. It's a rather busy day," he carefully pronounced the words in between bites.

"Have you been working here for a long time?"

"An entire life, it seems," he smiled and diverted his attention back to the plate.

They exchanged another round of polite conversation to pass the time, during which Taya was tempted to inquire about Uro and his whereabouts, but she struggled to find a reasonable way to introduce the topic. So, believing Uro must have been on one of his missions around the world, she let it go. Their encounter was all it could have been. She felt comfortable in the embrace of her memories of Uro, fortified by an occasional fantasy about his adventures, pictured in her imagination.

"We'd better get going," Oren reminded her, noticing a stream of people leaving the cafeteria. The lunch break was over and the second phase of the day was beginning for the scientists on the project as well.

Taya wondered where the laboratory was located and what it contained. It was expected of her to inspect the preparations and all parameters, but she knew that technology they used in Aire was no match for the resources the Ministry had at its disposal. She wished there was a way of contacting Professor Elro in case of questions she couldn't answer. But that was hardly an option now. In order to communicate with Aire, a special, secret frequency needed to be adjusted from both sides, strong enough to pass through the energy shield. It often required several attempts and use of sophisticated equipment to establish the connection. Besides, Professor Elro was in need of rest. The last thing she wanted was to disturb him after seeing how fragile he was earlier in the morning. It was all up to her now.

Outside the cafeteria, Oren gathered the ten scientists and Taya, directing them to the elevators. The two capsules plunged, passing the ground floor and descending below the surface. They were now completely enshrouded in darkness. Taya could barely see the people standing around her, illuminated only by a built-in dim elevator light. A good two-minute ride and they stopped. The door opened and instantly the inflow of cold, moist air further irritated her skin and eyes. She hadn't felt this cold in a long time. Compared to the external temperature, it must have been fifteen degrees colder in this massive basement divided by bare concrete walls. They appeared to be in some sort of labyrinth, an elaborate system of corridors connected to chambers that could only be opened by Mr. Oren's fingerprints. They stopped in front of one, waited for the lock to make a beeping sound, and the massive steel door opened on its own. It was still very dark and not much of the room, which appeared to be empty, could be seen. The only distant source of light was coming from a hole some twenty meters away from the door.

"Please be careful, the stairs can be slippery," Oren advised as the group formed a line and one by one, step by step, went downstairs, following the light. Taya, the last one in line, carried her heavy backpack on one shoulder and supported herself with the opposite hand, clinging to the surface of the rugged wall surrounding narrow stairs from both sides. The group finally arrived at the bottom. The cave-like space was an enormous laboratory with computers, large screens and machines making whirring sounds. Taya questioned whether she had correctly understood the daily schedule. They were supposed to be visiting the lake in the afternoon, but all she could see were machines and one man and one woman in white coats. The lake must be somewhere outside, and they only analyze samples here, she thought.

"Many of you already know Istri and Gin," Oren introduced the lab workers. "I will have to leave you now," Oren continued. "Fas will show you around and then we'll let our guest, Ms. Renks, evaluate the parameters and help you with final preparations. I will come back for you once you signal me." He showed them the communicator, a discreet round button hanging on the wall, where the stairs ended. He climbed the stairs and from the distance they could hear the slamming of the door.

Fas, the man with gentle eyes and short grizzled hair, showed everyone around, explaining what each machine's purpose was. Taya remained puzzled by the excessive equipment they used. She remembered that back in Aire, they managed to monitor all the parameters of the lake with only two computers and one tiny laboratory, all located in the same facility by the lake. Instead of relying solely on numbers and test results, their approach was an empirical one. Indeed, each day Professor Elro and his team would take a walk around the lake to inspect the color and smell of the water, and observe the appearance of algae. The Professor always used to say, "They might be silent, but they are living beings like us. They need to communicate with all that surrounds them. If they need something from us, they will find a way to let us know."

But there were no algae to be seen anywhere; just cold screens with flashing numbers. The scientists walked around, going from one computer to another, occasionally exchanging words among themselves. Taya did her best to emulate their actions. But the truth she tried to hide was that she could not understand most of it. The system they built around the project was too complicated to comprehend for someone used to limited access to technology. Just when she was starting to feel inadequate again, Fas announced that they would now finally go and inspect the lake. This is where she could be useful, she thought.

Fas took five scientists with him and they walked back to where the stairs ended. It appeared as they were going to climb the stairs, but suddenly the circle engraved in the ground shuddered and they plummeted. Taya stood looking in disbelief as six people disappeared before her eyes. Nobody else seemed to share her surprise. At a closer look, she noticed a hole in the ground, exactly where they last stood before descending into the ground. A minute later, Fas' head rose from the ground, his feet eventually reaching the level of the floor. Fas invited the second group to join him. They distributed themselves inside the circle and in a blink of an eye the round hydraulic platform sunk, taking them even lower.

The two groups reunited and were soon joined by the two scientists from the upper laboratory. They were now standing in a giant open space with naked walls and an enormous pool of water, more than ten times larger than the lake in Aire. The strong artificial blue light coming from the bottom made it appear even bigger. Taya could not believe her eyes. This is the prototype of the Ministry's inner lake project, she realized. At first, she didn't even spot the algae floating in the pool. When she came closer, she recognized the species of algae, but something seemed strange. They were too large and their color was dull compared to vivid green of the same species of algae she witnessed growing in Aire's lake.

"Jors, you can take it from here," Fas invited her to pick up from where they left off during the earlier meeting on the third floor. She circled the whole pool with the scientists, pointing out the elaborate technical details of the project, the cost and the expected results.

"In the preliminary phase, we have already achieved great results," she assured them. "The lake is fully functional and the algae are responding well to the conditions. Ms. Renks, can you share your thoughts with us? How do you feel about the project now that you have seen the data, instruments and the actual lake?"

This question caught her unprepared. She could have never imagined a project of this scale. Coming to Urban Area One she had expected to examine a lake resembling the one in Aire in size and appearance. What she found was more than she could handle. But she needed to justify her presence, so she decided to interrupt her silence.

"May I ask for some additional details, if you don't mind? I do realize that due to my late arrival, I may have missed some important information," Taya asked Jors.

"Of course. This is the reason we have met here today. To share information and experiences," she replied.

"I must confess," Taya launched the first question, "the lake we built back home is much smaller in size, but I believe the requirements of algae for optimal functioning do not differ much. One of the key elements for their growth and oxygen production is exposure to sunlight. As we are in a closed space, how will they get the energy they need for photosynthesis?"

"The light coming from the bottom of the pool and from the lamps attached to the ceiling mimic the sun's rays. Unfortunately, due to harsh weather condition we had to build the lake inside this facility. If exposed to real sunlight and radiation, the algae would dry up and die off," Jors explained. Taya didn't sense tension in her voice, so she continued with questions.

"In Aire we also have lamps to provide algae with sufficient light when the sky is clouded but we have noticed that they absorb only thirty percent of artificial light compared to actual sunlight. The natural light has turned out to be essential for photosynthesis."

"I am afraid we don't have that option. We must rely solely on an artificial source of light," she insisted.

"And what about carbon dioxide? How are you making sure there is sufficient yet not excessive concentration of the gas in the water and in the air?"

"We have taken into consideration Professor Elro's recommendations, but we have decided to pump additional thirty percent of carbon dioxide into water and twenty percent into the air to increase productivity of oxygen," she said, confident.

"But that excessive amount of gas can be harmful to algae. Are you sure they can absorb that much carbon dioxide and use it for photosynthesis?" Taya argued.

"Maybe I forgot to mention that the algae you see have been genetically modified to require more carbon dioxide and thus produce more oxygen," Jors said with a hint of condescension in her voice. Taya now understood why algae appeared so strange to her. Their size, color and shape had mutated due to DNA modification. She knew how dangerous tinkering with the DNA structure could turn out to be.

Some hundred years ago the external world had reached the peak of its dependence on genetic engineering and cloning. Health care relied on therapeutic cloning of organs for the growing population affected by incurable heart and lung diseases. The cloned organs seemed to be perfectly compatible with the patients' bodies. However, only when the patients' second-generation offspring were born, it was revealed that their genes had mutated and shortened the life span of the same organs that were transplanted into their grandparents. The scientific community remained puzzled by the unexpected outcome, which in many cases proved to be fatal. No logical explanations were found other than the presumption that nature simply does not appreciate humans trying to imitate it. Every cell nature designs must remain a unique work of creation. The organ cloning practice had since then been for the most part suspended and performed only illegally for large amounts of money.

Similar side effects had hit the food industry as well. The new types of resistant super-bacteria and viruses found in genetically modified meats and plants caused a series of pandemics that decimated the population in cities around the world. Yet when it came to food, there was no other way to produce sufficient quantities without relying on genetic engineering. As the outbreaks spread, the pharmaceutical industry controlled by the Global Assembly was rapidly growing its profits and each year it put out stronger and more expensive drugs that fought malicious diseases but also damaged the internal organs as a side effect. There was no way to break the vicious circle at that point. Taya feared a similar calamity could occur if the genetically modified algae released unexpected gasses in addition to oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

As she struggled to find a delicate way to express her concern, she remembered Kwayn's and Naris' instruction to stay away from any potential conflict, including heated discussions. So she kept her thoughts private. Still, she was puzzled by the invitation to visit the facility in the first place. Surely Professor Elro would have been more helpful, she said to herself, but even he could not have persuaded them to proceed differently. The project was already planned out and ready to be replicated in other Urban Areas. So instead, she asked a few additional easy questions to continue the dialog with Jors, as other participants walked around the giant pool taking notes and conversing among themselves.

It was now time to bring the day to an end and draw conclusions. As before, the team divided into two groups and used the hydraulic lift to reach the upper laboratory. Surrounded by the sound of machines again, Fas and Jors gave final thoughts and recommendations, and invited all other participants to express their predictions for the local implementation of the project.

Taya's oxygen tank was running out. The beeping sound coming from her backpack alerted that she had less than thirty minutes of supply left. She knew no serious damage to her lungs would occur if she inhaled polluted air for a limited amount of time, but still she preferred to avoid the risk and immediately attached another tank to the tube connected to her mask.

As the voices alternated, Taya perked up her ears to the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. When the footsteps quieted, she recognized from the other side of the room the head of protocol, Mr. Oren. He came into the room discreetly, remaining almost undetected by the others, too involved in the discussion among themselves to notice a new face in the room. Behind him, like shadows, came down the stairs two male figures, the first one taller than the second. Once the group quieted, Oren greeted the crowed and reminded them that the Ministry was closing soon. Night had already fallen.

"With me here is a high-ranking representative of the Ministry of Environment who was kind enough to find some time in his busy schedule to join us and thank you for your hard work and dedication," Oren announced as Saf, the tall man whom Taya had met in Aire, stepped into the light.

"It is my pleasure to see you all here, working on one of our priority projects that will greatly benefit the health care system and, over time, when the production of oxygen increases, the quality of life of every citizen of Urban Area as well," Saf spoke, observing the audience from his privileged height.

The scientists stood and attentively listened to his pretentious monologue, thus feeding his ego. Taya, on the other hand, as a neutral party, cared little for the motivational speech about the importance of teamwork for the development of the chain of Urban Areas governed by the Global Assembly. She figured her job was done and all she thought about was the hotel where she would spend the night before embarking on a trip back to Aire. At night, the weather conditions had been known to suddenly change, resulting in serious storms and aggressive winds which made traveling unsafe. This is why she had to wait for the morning to start the journey. She didn't mind staying for one night. Her skin didn't itch much anymore and she had plenty of oxygen supply waiting at the hotel. The only understanding of hotels she had was based on the scenes from the movies shot in the external world. The whole idea of traveling and staying in hotels felt so foreign and exotic, almost like a dream. Imagining how her room in the hotel would look, she sensed a strange feeling of being watched from behind. But she was the closest one to the wall among the group of scientists listening to representative Saf's words.

And suddenly she felt a stranger's hand on her shoulder and a soft voice whispered, "Well, hello there, Ms. Snow Globe."

# CHAPTER 17

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She didn't need to turn around; there was only one person who could call her like that. Her body got hot and then cold again. The only person she hoped to see and the last one she expected was standing behind here, letting her feel his breath on her neck.

He stepped forward and stood beside her, and now they both pretended to listen to Saf's speech.

"I heard you came instead of Professor Elro," he murmured. "I was on a business trip with Saf but I convinced him we should come back early and greet the participants."

"That's nice of you both," she commented while trying to catch a glimpse of his face from the corner of her eye.

"I'll leave the others to Saf." He bent and twisted his head to make direct eye contact. "I came to see you. Now that the tables have turned," he said, hinting jokingly at Taya's mask, covering the lower part of her face.

"True," she smiled. "But you've seen me and heard my voice without the mask first. I had to wonder in the beginning whether you were a man or machine," she exaggerated, instantly remembering the day they met in Aire.

In their exchange of playful words they failed to notice the end of Saf's speech and the group of scientists breaking into groups to climb the stairs and leave the laboratory.

"So we meet again," Saf found them, standing in the back of the room. "I wanted to thank you for coming here today. I hope Professor Elro will feel better soon," he said without addressing her directly. He had only a vague recollection of seeing the girl before, but had no knowledge of her name; he could not be bothered to memorize it. His time was too precious to engage in such an unimportant task.

"I am glad if I was able to help in any way," she replied courteously.

He nodded his head and went for the stairs. Taya and Uro were now left alone in the laboratory.

"We should go upstairs, too. Oren is probably waiting to lock the door," Uro remembered.

Taya disliked the idea of the day coming to an end. It meant that their second encounter would be as brief as the first one.

The two followed the scientists through the corridors until they reached the capsules and shared a ride with them up to the ground floor. They stayed silent while surrounded by others. They just looked at each other, half smiling to avoid attention from others. The ground floor was now full of people coming from all upper and lower levels rushing to exit the building. Taya believed this would be goodbye. She saw Mr. Oren approaching.

"I hope your stay was pleasant," he said. "The guardians are waiting outside to take you to your hotel. As agreed, at 8 a.m. tomorrow you will begin your journey back to Aire."

"Thank you very much, this has been a great experience," she replied, not really wanting to go already.

"Very well, if you will follow me this way please, I will take you to the platform where the transport is parked."

"No need, Oren," Uro interrupted. "I am heading there myself. I will be glad to escort our guest."

The couple walked through the massive glass door at the entrance and climbed the short stairs to Platform Two, where Taya's transport awaited. On their way, the noise of a horde of people heading in the same direction made the communication between the two of them almost impossible.

Once they reached the two guardians and the transport resting on the ground, Taya struggled to make sense of this curious encounter, which she knew would only develop into something more in her fantasies. If they hadn't seen each other again, maybe she would have forgotten his face over time. Instead, this way, she feared she could never erase him from her memory.

"We have to stop meeting like this," she said, trying to mask her disappointment with humor.

"I agree," he replied as they reached the black transport. "That is why I would like to take you out to dinner tonight. That is, if you haven't made plans already."

"I don't know. My schedule is quite busy. There are so many people I know here." She made herself laugh with the irony.

"If you could spare an hour or two, I can pick you up at your hotel in an hour."

"Oh, I would like that," she became serious again. "But I am not supposed to leave the hotel. You know, radiation and stuff," she stretched her fingers to show the damage caused to her skin by the ultraviolet light.

"No need to worry. The radiation subsides in the evenings and we'll take my transport and avoid exposure to the open air," Uro said reassuringly.

"OK, then, I'll see you later," she said and got inside the transport along with two guardians who were waiting for her arrival.

A moment before the gull-wing door closed, Uro shouted, "Wait, I don't know which hotel you are staying in!" Taya, who could only hear his voice but not see him anymore, looked at the guardian, who said "Monde."

"Monde!" she repeated at the top of her lungs, hoping she pronounced it well. The transport made a humming sound and lifted itself from the ground. Soon they became one with the traffic rush as Uro watched them disappear in the distance.

# CHAPTER 18

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Back at the headquarters of the four Ministries, Saf was standing alone in the glass capsule, rising to the very top of the building jutting above the rest of the city. He tapped his feet nervously, waiting for the ten-minute ride to carry him to the highest floor of the building. Below him he could see deserted floors and dim lights in the hallways. The capsule bounced and leveled off. Last floor.

He almost walked through the glass, stopping himself only a few centimeters before the collision. For a moment he had forgotten about the security measures requested by Bris, the senior representative of the Ministry of Expansion. In order to access the floor where his office was located, the fingerprints of the visitor needed to match the database of authorized guests. Saf rolled his eyes and placed his palm against the scanner attached to side of the capsule. A flash of pulsating green light appeared on the scanner's screen and the door immediately opened. It seemed like there was no one left on the floor. The only source of light along the darkened corridors was coming from the illuminated doors.

Bris' office was the farthest one from the lift. Saf hated coming here, to another power-hungry man's territory. But he had no choice. The third man would only participate in meetings on this floor—in Bris' office, more precisely. He was a man with no name to those who didn't know him directly. Most had never seen him. In fact, ordinary people didn't even know he existed. Nobody noticed his occasional presence in the building. He was a tall man, though not as tall as Saf. His long black coat dragging on the floor behind him blended perfectly with the darkness that surrounded him. Few knew him, but he knew everything about everyone. He was already waiting for Saf to arrive at Bris' office, isolated from the rest of the world. No windows, no security cameras. What happened between those four walls didn't really happen. Saf both feared and admired the third man as much as he disliked Bris. His secret admiration for the man who called all the shots was reflected in his personal style consisting of similar long coats, strictly in black.

With an accelerated pace he reached the office and pressed the blue button to signal his arrival. From the inside, sitting at his desk against the front wall, Bris recognized his face on the intercom and unlocked the door. Saf bowed his head to avoid hitting it against the doorframe, which was too short for a man of his height. The three men were now reunited in an obscure room lit only by a round desk lamp. Bris and Saf sat across each other, separated by a dark grey marble desk, while the third man sat on a sofa in the corner, overlooking both of them and enjoying the smoke of his cigar.

"I understand the Professor has not come to the agreed meeting," Bris started.

"It seems that he was the first one to experience the symptoms. Quite unexpected," Saf replied.

"Yet his presence here was fundamental for our plan. Are you sure the dose was adequate?" Bris continued.

"Apparently so, if it's working," Saf replied, frustrated with this interrogation.

"You know what I mean. The substance was supposed to act from today, not yesterday," Bris insisted, placing both hands on the desk. His face almost had no expression. His eyes were never fully exposed, but rather half-covered by eyelids, making him seem even angrier than he usually was.

"The laboratory must have miscalculated the variables. I did my part," Saf said defensively. "I faked the entire inner lake project and convinced hundreds of people of its presumable importance. All the reports we produced were forged. Those algae we cloned will not be able so survive for more than a few weeks. The composition of air we breathe is deadly to them. The only place this project can be carried out is Aire. I organized the meeting and came up with the excuse to invite the Professor here," he continued. "The inconvenient changes that occurred have nothing to do with me."

Bris' eyes closed even tighter. His stare was blood-curdling. But Saf was not intimidated at all. He protected himself from the direct eye contact with surly expression of his face. The animosity between the two was almost palpable.

"Let's go through the original plan once more," the rusty voice broke the building tension. The shadow of a man put out his cigar on the edges of an ashtray. The two men redirected their full attention to him.

"The poisonous micro-bomb Saf planted in the lake of Aire was designed to gradually change the structure of water and turn it into an inconspicuously toxic pool. We made sure that the technology they have at their disposal cannot detect the presence of the substance nor the chemical change in the water. We also instructed the laboratory to make sure the substance isn't hazardous to algae so that they could not reveal any signs before the toxins evaporate from the water and mix with the air. Are we all on the same page?" he stopped for a moment to rest his hoarse voice. The two men nodded to confirm the planned scenario.

"The sufficient concentration of toxins in the air was supposed to be reached today. One by one, the citizens of Aire would start experiencing symptoms of poisoning but it would be impossible for them to identify the source. To divert attention away from the lake in Aire, Professor Elro was supposed to be here for one day, as they would not have accepted a longer visit. But the day of his departure, he would learn that unfavorable weather conditions had postponed his trip for a couple of days. This way, he would be prevented from tempering with our plans. His knowledge is certainly not to be underestimated. With no means of communication, he would be left completely in the dark about the ongoing events in Aire. As the mysterious illness spreads across the city, claiming its first victims, and with no solution in sight, the desperate representatives of Aire would surely reach out to the Global Assembly for help. Like loyal allies, we would comply and send an army of guardians to put Aire under complete quarantine to make sure the unknown source of poisoning could not pass through their energy shield and spread across the external world. Desperate and weakened, they would have no other choice than to sign the treaty and become part of the chain of Urban Areas in exchange for our protection and medical assistance. If reluctant, the prolonged quarantine would simply transform into an occupation to which they could offer no resistance. Either way, in clean and peaceful manner, we would take control of Aire and its oxygen production. Eventually, of course, we would provide them with the antidote and unobtrusively remove the toxic bomb from the lake before anyone detected it."

Saf and Bris followed attentively his every word. Then Bris jumped in.

"But the poison has reached the air one day sooner than expected and affected Professor Elro first. It may have weakened him, but he still might realize that his frequent exposure to the air near the lake made him the first victim."

"That is not something we can change now," the peculiar man said, lighting a new cigar. "Hopefully, the poison will cloud his mind and he will not be able to interfere with our plans."

"And what about the girl?" Saf asked. "Should we let her go back tomorrow or keep her here, like we intended to do with the Professor?"

"We will proceed as planned," the man replied. "No one is to leave nor enter Aire until all the residents have been poisoned," his words flew out through the clouds of smoke. He showed no signs of sympathy. Nor did the other two conspirators.

"We must make sure that the board of the Global Assembly remains oblivious to our actions," Bris reminded the rest.

"It is the job of you two to prevent the truth from coming out," the man wrapped in darkness ordered. "And to make sure the board approves a military intervention to contain the health threat in Aire. Everything else will fall into place. As a result of convenient tangle of events, the system of Urban Areas will get a new, fertile member, to the Ministry of Expansion's satisfaction." He finished the phrase by glancing at Bris, the representative of the same Ministry.

"Once the treaty is signed, the complete production of oxygen and healing herbs in Aire will fall under the control of the Ministry of Environment," Saf took over. "In the second phase of our plan, most of the oxygen and medicinal plants exported from Aire will end up on the black market through our smuggling network, for record prices dictated by us."

"Soon we will be in charge of the entire pharmaceutical industry and its growing profits. And those who control the sick rule over the healthy as well," said the rusty voice. The shadow of the man stood up and headed for the door, announcing the end of the late meeting.

# CHAPTER 19

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By now Taya was already accustomed to the architectural style of Urban Area One. Two rules seemed to apply: the higher the better, and one side of the room always had to be made of glass. She understood the reason behind both choices. Hypnotized by scenes of multi-leveled traffic jam, through the glass wall of her room on the 74th floor of Hotel Monde, Taya's eyes followed the movements of the world she didn't belong to. In the process, she almost forgot that there was less than an hour left until Uro's arrival.

She had no idea what purpose the lower floors of the edifice served, but she knew that the hotel stretched from the 50th to the 94th floor. From these heights, guests could soak in the entire west side of the city and even catch a glimpse of the arid land surrounding it around the edges. Whether it was a beautiful sight or not was debatable. To her eyes accustomed to relaxing shades of green, the absolute absence of any traces of vegetation made the city appear even more foreign. Yet, in a city where it was best to stay away from its streets to avoid frequent crime scenes, terrorist attacks and at times unbearable heat and radiation, the glass walls provided an access to a private peep show where life itself was the performer. Look but don't touch, see but don't be seen. All through the privacy-protecting tinted glass offering several levels of transparency to the guests. Taya pressed the buttons on the wall to test all five of them. The surface of the vast window was soon spattered with reddish raindrops, bringing the show to an end. Instead, Taya was now standing against the canvas painted with cascades of condensed water vapor colored by toxins and dust particles.

A tiny round light bulb on the door flashed five times followed by the hotel receptionist's voice coming through the undetectable speakers.

"Ms. Renks, there is a gentleman waiting for you in the lobby. Mr. Est." Uro Est, she thought to herself, realizing that she had never asked him what his last name was. In that moment her own reflection in the mirror by the door reminded her that she had completely forgotten to change into something appropriate for the dinner. Not that there was much to choose from.

She temporarily removed the mask from her face only to notice that her lips had taken on a pale blue color. I guess this is how you look when you die, she thought. The pressure applied by the mask to her lips and nose resulted in a make-up effect she certainly didn't want Uro to see. She quickly unpacked her bag and changed into a purple shirt she had sewn herself. This actually matches my lips perfectly, she smiled. There was not much time for additional preparations. She readjusted the white mask to her face and let her hair cover the tube connecting the right edge of the triangular mask to the oxygen tank placed in her backpack. It was not exactly how she would have imagined her outfit for a night out in a big city. Catching her own reflection in the mirror again, she thought that she resembled a humanoid robot from the vintage sci-fi movies she often watched back home. How comic was the vision of future people had hundreds of years ago. They fantasized about a world where people would be freed from work thanks to an army of obedient droids, she remembered, thinking of one of the reruns she had watched with her friend Marti. The future that Taya lived in had little to do with the coming time we could imagine in our present days. The external world certainly relied heavily on technology, but the only ones in command of the machines were people operating them through rigorous programming, rather than some elaborate artificial intelligence planted inside the independent and witty robots. They looked nothing like humans but as mobile machines in all shapes and sizes, of which design our futuristic enthusiasm would probably be utterly disappointed.

Taya took one last look in the mirror and quickly closed the door of her hotel room behind her. The elevator this time was built inside the wall with the glass bottom, representing the voyeuristic architecture of Urban Area One. Some minutes passed and Taya arrived at the grandiose reception with three artificial waterfalls, two incorporated into walls and the tallest one placed in the center of the lobby. The pounding sound of water falling into round pools dampened the volume of irritable chatter. A hundred people hurtled in all directions, waiting impatiently to check-in or leave, collect their bags or pick up the guests. Taya looked around for a man in a black suit but all the ones she spotted were not the person she was looking for. A few seconds later, from the crowed of people sitting at the edges of the waterfall base, Uro stood up and walked towards her. He wore a blue suit, light enough not to be mistaken for black. His white shirt with two open buttons gave a different complexion to his face—less sallow, but more pale. She preferred seeing him in something other than black for a change. When he came even closer, she noticed that the shape of his beard had changed, looking slightly shorter with precisely defined edges. Realizing how much effort he made, she felt inappropriately dressed down.

"Did they give you a room with a nice view?" he asked.

"Yes, it's quite spectacular. I enjoyed observing the scenes from the street...but when it started raining, the window turned red," she replied. The people were still jostling nervously around them and it seemed best to get away from the crowd.

"It only rained for a few moments, now it's safe to leave," Uro said pointing in the direction of the main hotel entrance. Taya preferred not to inquire about the side effects of the red rain. She knew it could be nothing good.

Once they reached the main door Taya remembered that the hotel lobby was on the 50th floor so it came as no surprise when the door opened and led them to another hall filled with countless elevators going up and down frenetically. It was the only way to carry hundreds of guests from street level to the hotel. One metallic box was already available. Uro pressed the button marked "–5," the door shut and they plummeted.

"We are going below ground level?" Taya assumed.

"Yes, we just need to get the transport quickly from the garage and then we can get going," he said, looking her directly in the eyes. "The restaurant is not far from here."

When the elevator trembled and stopped, just before the door opened, Taya discreetly lifted the left side of her mask to let her nose smell the floral scent of Uro's perfume in the air. She knew that an olfactory memory would reinforce her recollection of him, in case their paths never crossed again.

She readjusted her mask just in time to avoid the musty odor of the garage that was now all around them. Uro spotted his electric-blue transport right away, parked on the platform sixteen. It was a much more compact vehicle compared to the one driven by the guardians; when its door lifted, she saw that it only had the driver's and passenger's seats. They spoke little as Uro set the coordinates and the transport lifted from the ground. Hovering just a meter above the ground, they passed hundreds of similar transports of all colors and suddenly entered a large tube through which they arrived directly on the street. To Taya's eyes, this whole experience appeared as unreal as her frequent dreams. She kept waiting for the moment when the first sunrays would wake her up in her bed, but all she saw now were flying objects and high buildings gleaming in the night.

"We'll be there in no time," Uro confirmed.

"Where exactly are we going?" she remembered to ask.

"There is a nice restaurant, not far from the Ministry headquarters, actually. They serve great food." Taya immediately envisioned another plate of unidentified slop she would have to politely taste and hide her disgust at the same time.

"Do you live close to the Ministry?" she asked.

"I do, just a few blocks away from the headquarters. But I am rarely there," he replied.

"Why's that?"

"This year I was assigned the priority mission of finding remains of fertile land in remote, uninspected locations around the world. I've been traveling nonstop for the past six months."

Suddenly Taya's fantasy about Uro's adventurous life and reality matched. In that moment the transport touched the ground and the door opened. They had landed on a roof of a strangely short building placed in between two skyscrapers.

"This structure was built to fill the void between two poorly-designed edifices," Uro explained as the small, improvised elevator attached to the side of the building brought them down to the street level. "An urban legend has it that the two rival architects loathed each other so much that they refused to connect the two buildings they designed. Instead, they left empty space in between them, which was afterwards sold to a third investor. However, he only managed to construct five floors before he went bankrupt, and thus this became the shortest building in all Urban Area One."

If it weren't for the discreet engraved sign on the wall above the short and narrow door, it would have been impossible to identify this building as a restaurant. But as soon as they walked through the door, the wave of noise composed of incomprehensible words coming from the numerous guests made them realize it was a busy night for the restaurant. Welcomed by a handsome man in a sharp black suit, Uro and Taya were taken to their table, located on the third floor. The atmosphere was surprisingly intimate. No glass walls exposing the world outside the restaurant, but rather small windows offering a glimpse into the city illuminated by strong light.

"This is one of the very few restaurants where you can enjoy some real food," Uro said while the waiter walked up to their table. Taya wondered what he meant by "real food," but there was no time for additional questions. The young man serving as waiter pressed the button on a small device he carried in his hand and placed it on the table. As the three-dimensional images of plates from the menu appeared in the air above their table, the waiter explained in detail the contents of each meal, stressing the importance of fresh ingredients coming from exclusive suppliers. What Taya saw was food she could recognize, unlike the suspicious cafeteria lunch she had earlier in the day. These dishes were actually made with real vegetables, coming from some of thte rare remaining farms. Much to Taya's relief, she could dare to taste food tonight, instead of just numbing her senses like she did in cafeteria. Some of the ingredients listed next to the renderings of dishes recommended by the chef were known to her only by names but she had never tasted them. She even recognized some of the plants that the Department of Eco-Sustainability and Development was planning to introduce in Aire.

Once they placed their order, they were finally left alone, just four eyes looking at each other.

"So, what is the last location you visited?," Taya asked.

"Saf and I were sent on a mission to the extreme north of the old continent, where some remaining communities are struggling to survive in the flooded areas. Their endurance is remarkable, but I am afraid they will not be able to resist the harsh weather conditions for much longer. The melting ice is constantly endangering them, and food supplies are scarce. This is why we were assigned with the task of inspecting the locations, delivering humanitarian aid and initiating the negotiations for the resettlement of the people to the nearest Urban Area," Uro explained, but Taya was immediately struck by Assembly's tendency to assimilate small communities into their megacities. A temptation Aire had already faced and was still trying to fight.

"Do you believe that with adequate help they still could not survive on their own?" Taya followed with the provocative question.

"I am afraid that would be very difficult and unfortunately unsustainable in the long run. You see, the weather conditions in their communities are worsening with each day. They are already walking the thin line between life and death. What the Urban Area can offer them is a safe home where they can find work and give their children an education rather than just postponing the inevitable," Uro said."

"I understand that. Many of my friends in Aire often wish they could enjoy benefits of living in a large city but, of course, our situation is slightly different compared to the community you mentioned. But one thing I have learned thanks to my history classes is that one of the most sacred values to people has always been the sense of belonging. And that innate feeling is usually linked to the place you were born in. No matter how challenging it may be, your home is the only one you have, and you don't abandon it until it closes its doors for you."

It dawned on Uro that he had never thought about the concept of home and belonging this way. Maybe because he had never felt like he belonged anywhere, really. The loss of his parents to illness when he was very young ripped the seed of home and family from his young life. For the most part, he only relied on himself. And home, if empty, is not much of a home. This peculiar path of destiny that he walked together with Taya would remain unknown to her, like hers would to him, for now.

"I must say that I envy you a bit," Taya confessed as their plates arrived on a mechanical trolley, escorted by the waiter.

"How so?" he smiled, perceiving it as a light joke.

"No, I really do," she insisted. "You know, this is the first time I have left Aire in my entire life," she said, embarrassed.

"Because of the radiation and oxygen?" he assumed. She nodded and removed her mask so she could try the fresh lasagna. Uro's eyes lit up at the sight of her beautiful face and precise lines of the mask temporarily engraved on her skin. She felt vulnerable having to expose herself this way to Uro. She was self-conscious about the effect the mask had had on her face. She tried to ignore the unease she felt, but her cheeks blushed.

"Exactly," she confirmed, allowing Uro to hear her real voice. "I often dream of traveling the world and exploring both the big cities and vast lands where nature rules. This is why your life sounds to me like a movie."

"I am flattered, but believe me, my life is hardly interesting enough to be a movie," he said in a sarcastic fashion. "Don't get me wrong, I like my job and opportunities it gives me. Helping others and making a difference, more than anything. But sometimes—well, often, actually—I wonder whether it is all worth it. The climate change is a force that cannot be tamed. The more I witness its violent nature, the more I fear we have no adequate answer to its growing power. So, you could say that at times I wish I could have more of your life. I've seen far too many people get sick and drift away due to the changes we cannot stop. If there was a way to make the world resemble Aire more, this planet might find some of the balance it so much longs for."

Taya noticed a subtle sadness in his eyes that he tried to mask. His clear devotion and dedication to his calling made her appreciate him even more.

"One thing they teach us back home is that there should not be more of Aire and less of the external world, nor the other way around. It's not about supremacy, but unity. Only when the divide between us is abolished, the new chapter can begin for all. We are pieces of the same puzzle that cannot be completed without both parts," Taya recounted the messages she had heard in her childhood.

Uro nodded in agreement and followed with a story he had intended to tell when they first met in Aire.

"Despite my frequent trips, the closest I ever got to Aire before visiting your community was when I got assigned to explore the remains of the grand Perito Moreno Glacier on the southern continent. It was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. And sadly, one of the most harrowing, too.

"How so?" Taya asked, intrigued.

"It is one of the few places in the world where you can see such a vast land carved out of tall glaciers defying the rising temperatures. Yet as you start soaking in the beauty of this monumental vast land sprinkled with white snow, the haunting shriek of ice shards collapsing into the surrounding water reminds you that this was yet another time bomb destined to self-destruct."

Taya recognized sincerity and veracity in his words, and it was clear to her that Uro's passion for environmental protection was as intense as hers. Only, unlike her, he got to see and experience in person the impact of climate change on the planet, while she relied only on stories and information she could obtain to create a picture of the world outside of Aire.

The conversation subsequently took on a lighter mood. They discussed their favorite foods, movies and shows they preferred, and Uro was surprised to learn that members of Aire were not at all in media isolation like he had believed.

"That was a nice meal, wasn't it?" Uro inquired as Taya sipped on her glass of wine—not the first in her life, but since alcohol was such a rare commodity in Aire, it was a custom to consume it only on rare, festive occasions.

"I certainly enjoyed it," she replied. "I must say, it was nothing like the food we were served in the cafeteria earlier today. This was some of the best food I have ever tasted."

Uro smiled and without much hesitation, gently placed the tip of his left hand on Taya's fingers. A hasty but prudent move on Uro's side. This was his opportunity to unequivocally yet gentlemanly express his interest in Taya. The thin line between friendship and courtship needed to be crossed. This was the moment he had been waiting since the day they met in Aire. Uro's gesture came as no surprise to Taya. In the end, she wanted the same. And his subtle manners put no pressure on her. His was a simple and short act of affection.

"I would like to take you to another special place, if you are up for it. It is a sort of museum," Uro proposed.

"Oh, but I am scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. I am not sure we'll have enough time," she said regretfully.

"That's precisely why we can go there now, after dinner."

"But it's already half past nine," she said as she glanced at her vintage watch.

"Time is not a worry," he asserted. "Most of the facilities downtown are open twenty-four seven."

Uro paid the bill with a series of codes entered on his metallic bracelet and soon they were on their way to the roof, where his transport was parked. From the top of the building the city appeared even brighter than during the day. All buildings were emitting light from inside and from their facades, while passing transports added a spark of fleeing glow.

After only a short ride through the lower levels of bright streets, the transport stopped and slowly slid inside the opening above the third floor of the building that, differently from most, had a facade of beige marble. Considering the time, it was not surprising that the parking of the Grand Museum was half empty, and in no time they arrived at the ground floor, where only a security camera and an eye scanner inspected the visitors before letting them come in.

They were welcomed by a colossal hall with straight lines of engraved antique-style columns on both sides of the building. The architecture of the museum was an homage to the iconic structures from the past centuries that remained in the collective consciousness long after they were wiped out from the cities that no longer existed.

"This is one of my favorite places in all Urban Area One," Uro explained as few other visitors enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the building with no visible staff, monitored by micro-cameras strategically placed throughout the museum. "I think you will like it, too. This is the museum that tells the history of humankind with artifacts and masterpieces retrieved from the ruins of the famous museums from the old world."

They headed to the first floor where visitors could experience the authentic atmosphere of the streets of lost cities like Paris, London and New York through simulated reality. After stepping through a full-body scanner, placing the wireless helmets on their heads, Uro and Taya were swiftly transported into a virtual reality of a typical Parisian street, where they could even smell the aroma of freshly-baked croissants coming from a local bakery. Taya stood and watched in awe as people that she knew were not really there walked by her. Even more shocking was the sight of Uro standing right next to her, but almost unrecognizable in his vintage suit, typical of the twenty-first century. Uro noticed her surprise, and with a teasing look in his eyes pointed at her dress. Suddenly Taya looked down and noticed herself in an elegant black dress she did not possess. Never in a million years could she have imagined something quite like this. Once they tasted a cup of hot coffee in a typical bistro surrounded by other tourists and locals, they pressed buttons on the helmets, which they could no longer see on their heads, and in a blink of an eye they were transported to the crowded streets of New York, where they marveled at the world they had only read about. The final stop was a tour of London before Taya started feeling dizzy and switched her helmet off.

"That was something, huh?," Uro asked, excited even though he had made several virtual journeys before this one.

"It sure was," Taya replied, already feeling better. "I was not ready for something as spectacular as this."

"I told you, this is one of my favorite places in the world. There is so much more to see," he took her hand and they walked up the stairs, a rare sight in the Urban Area, and climbed to the second floor where the most precious works of art hung on the walls inside protective glass boxes, showcasing the creative achievements of the minds that left a profound impact on human history. Almost all paintings were visibly damaged and sculptures shattered and put back together, as a testament to their age and distant provenance.

"All of the objects on display were discovered and restored where possible by the Ministry of Culture," Uro said proudly, as Taya was transfixed by masterpieces she had believed to be long gone. Tears almost came to her eyes when she found herself standing just a meter away from the breathtaking Pietà marble sculpture embodying the universal pain of loss, that she herself had experienced early on in her life. This and many other objects she came across on this floor were the subject of her studies, but she never knew they still existed. It didn't even matter, really, because most of the people in Aire would never even have a chance to see them in person anyway. For them, these wonders really were a matter of distant past.

Hand in hand, they visited the floor of the greatest human scientific discoveries, chronologically telling the rise of the human mind; the floor dedicated to the most significant moments in history, with wars being the most dominant theme; the cinema and library space; and finally, the floor dedicated to the nostalgic virtual tour of the planet before climate change took its toll. Here, not surprisingly, Uro and Taya spent the longest time, with helmets turned on, walking through the lost wilderness of now-deserted territories, once rich in life. They finished the walk with a meditative tour of Niagara Falls, absorbing the smell of clear water rushing headlong towards the precipice. Uro reminded Taya that this masterpiece of nature had to be destroyed artificially some hundred years ago in an attempt to save the nearby cities from the rising water levels.

"I wish the world was still this beautiful," Taya softly said as the cascade of water played the most beautiful melody she had ever heard.

"This place is a reminder that one day, it could yet again be like it once was. If we allow it," Uro added while gazing at Taya's melancholic eyes, lost in the beauty of the massive waterfall. Their final stop was the gift shop, an inevitable opportunity to buy things that serve no purpose other than to reinforce old memories.

"Here is something you might like," Uro pointed at the row of glass objects. "Pick the one you like the most. It is my gift to you. To cherish this beautiful night and our second encounter."

Taya cracked a smile and crouched to take a better look at the collection of snow globes, the very first topic of their conversation and squabble in Aire. The objects on display paled in comparison to the beautiful snow globs her father Jaq had owned, but differently from his collection, these souvenirs were depicting scenes from the contemporary world, which Taya found ironic since the whole museum was a nostalgic journey through the world from the past. She finally chose a miniature replica of downtown Urban Area One, enclosed in a glass sphere filed with water and shiny snow flakes. A true paradox, she thought. A city that has never seen snow, shown in an idyllic winter atmosphere.

"Great choice, something to remember your first visit to Urban Area One by," Uro said while taking the souvenir to the automatic cash register where he placed the object on the round scanner. Like in the restaurant, he typed a series of codes on his metallic bracelet. By now, Taya had figured out that this was the standard process of payment in the external world. She felt slightly embarrassed for having no money to buy a gift for Uro as well, but in the developing fantasy in her mind, she believed there would be a second chance.

"You know," Uro said carefully, "after my visit to Aire with Saf, I thought about the difference between life in your community and some other independent cities I have seen around the world, and the way of life in the Urban Area system. I always believed that we were the ones embracing the opportunities of the modern age and thus were more advanced. But seeing how happy, joyful and healthy people in your hometown were, made me question my beliefs. Can all the economic progress justify the increasing pollution our cities are producing and the growing population of the sick and weak? And yes, to be honest, when I first met you, I did think that Aire was some sort of a snow globe. Imprisoned in its own little world. But later, I realized that maybe more than Aire, we are the ones closed in an invisible sphere of dependency on innovation, technology, money and greed."

Uro's words reminded Taya that on many occasions, she herself had doubted in the system she was a part of. And now, having experienced life in the external world as well—however brief it may have been—she knew that it would be even harder to draw conclusions.

"I think we are all locked in our personal snow globes that throughout life we try to break out of. Often we are too centered on the world around us that we cannot open ourselves to new horizons outside the small container of our life," Taya observed as the conversation continued.

By the time they concluded their visit to the Grand Museum, the clock hands on Taya's watch had already passed their meeting point at midnight. They were now closer to the morning than to the night. But the subjects to talk about could have kept Uro and Taya up until the dawn. There was so much to ask and tell, and so little time. Circumstances worked against them. They both ignored the fact that this would be the last day they would be together and that nothing else could come out of their curious second encounter. Their worlds were destined to stay apart and never collide again after the sunrise.

Following the fading moon, Uro unwillingly took Taya back to her hotel in his transport.

"This is it, I guess," Taya said as they reached the opening for the parking inside Monde Hotel. "I had a wonderful evening, thank you."

"My pleasure. It's been a while since I had such a meaningful conversation with someone," Uro replied.

Reaching the hotel entrance in elevator, the stream of people they had encountered several hours before was still crowding the lobby. Life in Urban Area revolved around closed spaces. The heat and radiation made encounters in open air hazardous. To Taya, the invisible dome imprisoning Urban Area resembled Aire even more now.

"I will come by in the morning before work to say goodbye."

"Then I will sleep better knowing this is not the last time we see each other," she replied and removed her mask as Uro leaned in for a kiss. He pressed his sharp beard against her soft skin and touched her cheeks with his lips. A friendly gesture, but not a friendly kiss. She felt something else. Their kiss was something different. It could have led to something more.

The truth is, Taya could not sleep at all that night. She spent most of the few hours separating her from the dawn observing the scenes through the glass wall in her room and twisting and turning in bed, trying to fight insomnia. Her mind was still with Uro, wondering what their second encounter had meant. Was it designed by destiny or was it just a coincidence? She knew her heart wouldn't break into tiny pieces upon leaving Urban Area One and returning home; it would simply divide into two, one remaining with Uro and the other, weaker part with her. What they had could last no longer than a mayfly's life.

The oxygen mask made it utterly uncomfortable for her to rest in bed, so she took it off and finally fell asleep only to be woken up an hour later by a strong cough and itching skin. Her body knew it was time to leave Urban Area One, much as her soul secretly desired to stay.

# CHAPTER 20

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Without the watch on her wrist Taya would have never guessed that sun had already risen above the city. The sky she could see through the giant window was as dark as night. The passing transports rushed in between buildings with lights on and nothing outside resembled the time on her watch. She double-checked all other devices in the room and it was indeed seven in the morning.

She changed into the clothes she had worn when she first came to the capital and went down to the hotel's restaurant for breakfast. She had one hour before the guardians were scheduled to come by and pick her up. More importantly, in one hour she would see Uro again—for the last time, probably. She put the last oxygen tank she had in her backpack and left the room. The breakfast was served in an imposing, tall room just above the main hotel lobby, which could be seen through the floor entirely made of armored glass. Heading towards the serving area, Taya had the sensation of waking on thin ice that could break any moment and drag her to the abyss. The grandiose arches stretching dozens of meters in height were faithful replicas of the iconic triumphal arches from the old continent, yet another nostalgic reference to the past that haunted the new world, lacking in identity and aesthetic expression of its own.

People get accustomed to good easily; Taya naively expected to find delicious food like she had tasted with Uro the night before, but all she saw on display were a series of unknown substances sorted by color and placed on white plates, similar to her meal in the Ministry's cafeteria the day before. After another unpleasant culinary experience, Taya was ready and eager to get back home. Walking to her room, guilt-ridden, she realized that in all this time she hadn't once thought about her mentor, Professor Elro, and his condition. She hoped to find him in good health upon her return to Aire.

She had just enough time to pack her clothes and the snow globe she had received from Uro in her backpack and the empty oxygen tanks in another bag and get going. When the elevator took her down to the lobby there was no Uro nor guardians in sight. After a few minutes, in the horde of people passing by she spotted two men in black uniforms advancing in her direction. She wasn't sure if they were the same two men whom she traveled with from Aire, as their faces were covered by signature dark blue helmets.

"Ms. Renks," the taller of the two said with no particular intonation. She perceived it as a question and confirmed it was her indeed.

"I regret to inform you that our journey to Aire has been postponed due to unstable weather conditions forecasted for the majority of the route today."

"But I must go back to Aire today, as planned," she said as nervous sweat covered her body.

"We've been informed that heavy rain is expected throughout the day. The toxins in the rain could damage the transport's bodywork and jeopardize your safety. In addition, the winds are very strong, and that could further aggravate our journey. We've been advised to refrain from departing until weather is stabilized," the masked man said, showing no sympathy for her concerns.

"Your room in the hotel has already been reserved up until our departure."

"And when will that be?" she inquired anxiously.

"We will contact you as soon as we get clearance for takeoff." In that moment Uro appeared before them, puzzled by Taya's worried face.

"Is everything all right?" he asked as three men now stood around Taya. The guardian explained the situation to Uro and repeated that Taya's room had been booked for additional days, with all meals and expenses prepaid. Without hesitation, the two men in uniforms turned around and went towards the exit as Taya stood in shock with Uro by her side.

"This was so unexpected. I was convinced we would leave for Aire in a few minutes," she told Uro.

"Weather conditions can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to traveling. It's better to be safe than sorry. And, hey, look at it from the bright side; we'll get to spend an extra day or two together." He smiled, but Taya was too concerned to share his enthusiasm.

"No, this is not good." Panic took over her. "This is my last oxygen tank. All my other supplies are finished." She worried that after last night's coughing that had kept her awake, she could risk serious lung problems if exposed to toxic air any longer.

"Don't worry, I have a solution. I know where we can get more oxygen supplies to last you until departure. I have to go to a meeting at Headquarters, but I will return soon," he promised. "Do you have enough oxygen to last you until noon?"

"I believe so, this was supposed to last until my arrival in Aire," she replied.

"All right, then, I'll see you here in a couple of hours. I'll call for you."

"But I don't want to distract you from your work," she said modestly.

"Don't be silly, it's my pleasure." He pursed his lips and gently caressed her chin with the tip of his fingers around the edges of the mask.

# CHAPTER 21

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At 11 a.m. Taya was pacing from one side of her hotel room to another in attempt to pass the time until Uro's arrival. The amount of oxygen in her last remaining tank was rapidly decreasing as signaled by frequent beeping signals. Did someone inform Kwayn, Naris or anyone from the Department of Foreign Affairs of the current situation and the delay? She realized she had forgotten to ask the guardians, but there was no way of contacting them. The signal regular communicators used in the external world were not strong enough to penetrate the energy shield of Aire. The only way calls could be established was through a special frequency only official Assembly representatives had. Maybe Uro could help me get in touch with someone in Aire, they'll get worried when I fail to arrive in one hour at the border, she thought.

A few minutes after noon, the round light bulb on the door flashed five times and a female voice announced the presence of Mr. Est in the lobby. On her way to the main hall, she wondered whether her desire to spend more time with Uro was misinterpreted by the Universe and this delay which could potentially expose her to a great health risk was a result of her secret desire. Be careful what you wish for, she said to herself as the elevator descended with two other people inside.

She spotted Uro right away and rushed to give him a hug. He noticed her agitation and suggested they set off for the General Hospital right away where he believed they could secure more oxygen supplies. During their short ride in his transport, Uro realized that Taya's discomfort was further aggravated by the irritating sound coming from the oxygen tank placed in her backpack. The sky had cleared up by now and sunrays were burning the ground and everything that found itself in their way. The narrow street where the building housing the General Hospital was located attracted even more traffic than other areas of the city Taya had had a chance to see in person. The stream of transports lined up hovering outside levels five and ten, waiting for the opportunity to get inside one of the two crammed parking platforms. After a good twenty-minute pause, Uro finally managed to get inside the higher parking lot and by chance notice one free spot by the elevator.

"It is very busy here," Taya noticed while waiting for the elevator with almost a hundred people around her and Uro. Most of the people with spent and perturbed faced were holding in their arms young children, some crying and others asleep. This disturbing scene was a complete novelty to Taya's eyes. Never before had she seen in one place such a large number of evidently sick people. The health system in Aire relied solely on one small hospital and few doctors and healers. However, this was only a mild version of what she would see inside the building.

"This is one of the three hospitals in Urban Area One. This is the biggest one, and it has an entire wing dedicated to respiratory illnesses. We should be able to find oxygen supplies here," Uro explained, appearing very familiar with this place. The fastest way through the labyrinth of sterile white corridors to the 23rd floor took them through the right wing of the U-shaped building. The murmur of people echoed through the endless aisles stretching in four directions and meeting at the reception, where a dozen of uniformed nurses rushed back and forth from one patient to another in an attempt to register all new entries. It was clear that Uro and Taya would have to wait in line for their turn for quite some time. Children and senior citizens had priority, and this waiting period offered time both to chat and to reflect on the new surroundings. Dry air and high temperature in the building caused by thousands of people rushing in and out was too much of a task for the central air conditioning, even operating at full capacity. Taya wondered why in this warm climate almost everyone around her wore long sleeves and some, like Uro, even jackets.

"It gives us protection from heat and radiation," Uro answered once Taya found a way to formulate her question. "My suit is made with nanofabrics that regulate body temperature. If we didn't wear long sleeves when exposed to direct sunlight, sooner or later we would experience the same effects as you," he said, pointing to her irritated skin around the fingernails.

The nervous chatter of people in the line waiting to be attended was becoming increasingly irritating. The loud complaints of tense people and children's cries bounced between the walls as Uro and Taya tried to continue their conversation. Finally, the last person before them left the queue and they were now standing in front of the half-moon counter, behind which a tired nurse in a white uniform welcomed them with a fake smile while her colleagues kept rushing around, talking into their metallic bracelets. The heated atmosphere and the sensation of a hundred people gasping for air behind them naturally accelerated the dynamic of the conversation, which lasted no longer than five minutes. Uro explained that his friend Taya needed immediate oxygen supplies on which her health depended, but he was informed that they needed to undergo the standard procedure first, which involved a thorough medical exam by a specialist who was the only one authorized to prescribe the use of oxygen tanks. This process could last up to two weeks. Besides, the oxygen supplies at the moment were scarce, as the nurse explained, and even with the prescription, they would have to be put on a waiting list if their case was given priority status. However, when Uro explained Taya's origin and the fact that without a resident card she could not schedule a medical exam even if she had the time to wait two weeks for an appointment, the nurse announced that there was simply nothing she could do for them, as the facility offered assistance only to legal residents of Urban Area One.

"Next, please," said the voice behind the counter, and Uro and Taya were soon pushed out of the queue without further explanation, leaving them both frustrated.

"I am really sorry about this. I should have consulted the Ministry before coming here. We will probably need official authorization to get the oxygen supplies," said Uro, disappointed with his failure to predict the administrative obstacles that they could face.

The building tension and the high temperature in the overcrowded room made Taya dizzy so they retreated to one of the long corridors, where Taya rested on the beam seating alone while Uro distanced himself a few meters to contact someone from the Ministry of Environment. After an unanswered call to Saf—who was on a yet another business trip—Uro managed to get ahold of his colleague Davis, who was in charge of administration for the Ministry.

"I will see what I can do right away, one moment please" Davis replied. As Uro held the line, he could hear the frequent beeping sound coming from Taya's backpack from a few meters away.

A few minutes later Uro returned, announcing that his contact at the Ministry had found a away to secure the oxygen supplies and that they would be given them at the reception.

"Let's just hope we don't have to wait in line again," he said with a sour smile.

"I am so sorry for bothering you with all of this. I am sure you have plenty of work to do back in the office," Taya regretted.

"It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to have more time to spend with you. Work can wait. I only wish the circumstances were different. I am not very fond of this place."

Among the names repeated on a loop by a robotic voice in the waiting room, Uro recognized his last name and approached the left extreme of the counter where people with appointments were invited to register.

"Mr. Est, your request has been approved. However, at the moment we only have two oxygen tanks we can supply you with," a slightly kinder young nurse said. "Please keep in mind that these two tanks contain a lower concentration of oxygen than the ones described by Mr. Davis. The patient will have to adjust gradually to the new concentration. If you can please wait in the waiting room behind this door on the right, we will bring the supplies to you shortly."

Recognizing that something was better than nothing, he explained the situation to Taya, who remained waiting in the back of the room, and together they relocated to the main waiting room, which was somewhat more peaceful. Surrounded by strangers too consumed with their own problems to pay attention to the two of them, Taya found a subtle way to ask about Uro's previous statement of dislike for this particular hospital.

"I have never been in a hospital like this before," she said. "Well, I guess everything I see is new to me. In Aire we only have one relatively small facility for the sick, but most of the time the patients only have mild problems. I would assume you were already accustomed to a place like this, but I see you find it very uncomfortable to be here." She hoped her words would not upset Uro, whose eyes were visibly sad ever since they entered the General Hospital.

"This place brings back a lot of sad memories. It is here that I saw my mother for the last time just a day before she lost her battle with pneumonia. We moved to Urban Area One when she was diagnosed with serious lung disorders in hope of providing a better medical assistance for her. However, her health deteriorated in the following months and she had no more strength to fight the infection that ultimately caused her death."

"I am so sorry," Taya said, almost whispering while putting her hand on Uro's shoulder. In that moment she realized how difficult it must have been for him to come back to this place just so they could get her oxygen tanks. Suddenly, she was filled with gratitude for his selfless act and her affection for him became even clearer to her.

"Unfortunately, ten years later, in this very place, I had to say goodbye to my father as well who caught a deadly virus which destroyed his vital organs, one by one," he continued, looking away to hide tears coming to his eyes.

"I am sorry," she repeated, knowing exactly what emotions he was feeling in that moment. She didn't want to say much more. She didn't want to come off as insensitive, but from her own experience she knew that there were no words that could ease this kind of pain. Time could not allay the grief, either; it only taught you how to get used to it.

"No, I am sorry," he said, "I should not have bothered you with this story. Memories took over my head."

"I know what you mean," she commented without revealing else. She patted his shoulder, but the moment was disrupted by a tall dark-skinned man carrying two oxygen tanks attached to a plastic holder.

"Mr. Est?" he inquired. Uro nodded his head. "As agreed, these are the two oxygen tanks that we were able to retrieve from our reserves."

"Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Do you happen to know when the new supplies will be available? We are still not sure how much time she will need to stay in the city and rely on the oxygen tanks," Uro asked.

"Unfortunately, we do not know when the next shipment might arrive. This is why we have to be very careful with the supplies we have. When we get the pure oxygen delivered, the laboratory first needs to process it with other gases to create a mixture that can be used for respiration in medical purposes. According to the priority list, the tanks are then distributed to patients and some stock is kept for emergency cases."

This explanation caused great discomfort for Taya. She realized that these tanks, which probably contained oxygen imported from Aire, were desperately needed by patients they encountered in the hospital. Yet, both times during the man's speech when she was leaning towards a decision to decline the offered tanks, the alarming sound from her bag made her change her mind. The instinct of survival with a hint of self-reproach took over her. But she was determined to return home before she would require additional supplies.

The man bent down on one knee to inspect Taya's current tank sitting on the floor inside her backpack. He warned that the new tanks had a significantly lower concentration of oxygen compared to her current one and that they might not last as long as the previous tanks. He helped Taya connect the tube and the mask to the new tank, and soon she left the building with Uro carrying the empty and the second full tank in a bag.

"Thank you so much for finding a solution so quickly. I really appreciate it," she said.

"I am sure you would have done the same for me," he replied, eager to leave the building that harbored so many painful memories.

"I will take you to your hotel, but then I have to return to the office. But I will come by in the evening to check on you."

"That's very sweet of you. I will be fine. But I would most definitely like to see you again," she replied with her altered voice. Her lungs had already detected a different air composition compared to what they were used to. Taya could sense it, but she preferred not to engage in fearful thoughts. When they arrived in the hotel's garage, she convinced Uro she could reach the lobby on her own and excused herself for taking so much of his time. They exchanged hugs and parted their ways. 

# CHAPTER 22

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The ever-metamorphosing painting of the world outside her room made Taya ruminate, as she gazed through the window wall, on all the experiences she potentially had missed out on living in a closed bubble she called home. Is all the safety Aire offers enough to compensate for the sea of opportunities a large city like this has to offer? As her thoughts drifted into the unknown, her body followed and soon she found herself lying exhausted in bed, trying to escape lethargy.

Two hours later, she woke up in sweat, struggling to maintain a regular respiratory rate. Her lungs failed to keep up the pace and her heartbeat progressively slowed down. Like never before in her life, she felt completely deprived of energy. Glancing at her wristwatch, she realized three hours had passed since she came back into her room she intended to leave that morning. She skipped lunch, and still had no appetite to order anything from the room service. The heat evaporating from inside her body instinctively brought her up on her feet and led her inside the shower. She hoped that a stream of cold water could regulate her body temperature, but the results were not as expected. She adjusted the room temperature to the minimum and went back to bed, weakened and disoriented. Is it the new oxygen tank or something else?

Undressed, she went back to the bathroom only to see alarming red dots across her stomach and chest which at first resembled an allergic reaction, but at a closer look were evident signs of radiation that penetrated the clothes and left marks all over her skin. But I was exposed to direct sunlight for just a couple of minutes...

Confused and exhausted, involuntarily she fell asleep again, forgetting about Uro's promise to return after the sunset.

"Ms. Renks, Ms. Renks," repeated the female voice from the speakers.

From a dream she could not remember, Taya abruptly opened her eyes and took a moment to remember where she was while the unknown voice announced a visitor in the lobby. Not sure if her voice could be heard on the other side as well, she decided to speak up and ask the receptionist to invite the visitor, whom she had identified as Uro, to come up to her room. She knew that her body's rebellion would not allow her to easily get out of the bed and get down to the lobby in short time. After a few minutes when she heard two knocks on the door, she pressed the button close to the bed and the automatic door slid into the wall, allowing Uro to come in. At seeing her lying in bed in apparent discomfort, a cheerful expression immediately abandoned his face. He stood in surprise for a moment before rushing to Taya, who was already trying to lift her back from the bed and get herself in a half-upright position.

"I don't know what happened. I was fine when I came back to my room but then my body betrayed me. I suppose I just need some rest," she murmured with the little strength she had.

"You look a bit red in your face. Your temperature must be high. I will call a doctor," he insisted.

"No, please don't. I'll be fine, I think. Besides, the guardians will return soon so I can get back home. My friends must be worried about me. I was supposed to arrive there at noon."

Uro took out a small round device Taya could not recognize from his bag and handed it over to her. "This will tell us your current health status," he explained and showed her how to press the round object against her neck. Five minutes later the first aid indicator, commonly used in the external world, signaled the completion of its diagnosis with a blue light. Uro glanced at his communicator-bracelet and lifted his wrist so Taya could see the results as well.

"According to the analysis, there is a significant shortage of oxygen in your body. Your temperature is above the normal level. Medical assistance is advised," he read with a concerned voice.

"I am sure it's just temporary. My lungs are getting used to a lower concentration of oxygen in the new tanks. I will be fine," she responded.

"We must take you to a doctor, we shouldn't take the risk."

"No, really, I'll be fine. It's all this accumulated stress. I really hoped to be home by now. Is there a way to contact the guardians and get confirmation that soon we will be able to depart?"

Uro contacted his friend Davis from the Ministry, who answered immediately.

"I was told the journey would be rescheduled as soon as the weather conditions on the route have improved. We are waiting for the official forecast from the meteorological service. Nothing so far," said the male voice coming out of a tiny speaker on Uro's bracelet.

"Let's wait until morning, they should give us more information by then," Uro said, trying to calm Taya, who was by now fully aware that each additional hour she spent exposed to toxic air, radiation and low concentration of oxygen could put her health at great risk. Seeing her exhaustion, Uro gave up his idea of taking Taya to a restaurant and offered to order room service instead.

"Let's have a nice dinner here, just the two of us," he proposed.

When the food arrived half an hour later, Taya found strength to get up and sit at the round table in the center of the room together with Uro, who had meticulously arranged the food and plates.

"And for that special little something..." Uro said and surprised Taya by turning off the lights and placing his bracelet in the center of the table. The communicator emitted soft light resembling a candle flame. A synonym of retro romanticism from the movies all generations enjoyed watching.

Taya struggled against her lack of appetite but still succeeded in taking some of the food she could not name nor describe. The light conversation took her mind off the symptoms she could still feel in her chest and on her skin. Her imagination got lost in Uro's tales of distant places he had visited and her thoughts followed what her eyes could not see. When the dinner was over, Taya dragged her tired body to the more comfortable sofa and invited Uro to join her.

"When I talked about the loss of my parents in the hospital, you said you knew what I meant. It seemed like you wanted to say more but stopped yourself," he said.

Taya opened her heart and the gate of memories with it. She chronologically recounted the events that took place in Aire, the ones that had left the same kind of deep scar that Uro carried on his soul. As the night and talk went on, Taya's body slowly slipped into sleep, coming closer to Uro on the sofa that was too small for two people to comfortable lounge in. Before her eyes closed, her head unintentionally nested on Uro's shoulder, supported by his gentle embrace. Her weak body could not cast a shadow on the beauty of her face, which kept Uro awake by her side. One sleepless night was a small price to pay for a chance to admire from the corner of his eye her silky black hair, soft cheeks and a hint of her small nose and chin that the oxygen mask left uncovered.

In that moment he knew exactly what his heart felt, but he feared reality was not propitious to his desire. It was clear her health was deteriorating. She needed to return to Aire as soon as possible. Another day in Urban Area One could lead to serious complications. But, at the same time, he desired nothing more than for her to stay by his side so that he could finally prove to the stubborn loneliness and to himself that he deserved to have someone special in his life. A person who had that something he could not quite explain. Someone who could cause time to stop when they were together. How could he hold on to a person he cared for and let go of her at the same time? The sweet feeling of hope and the bitter suspense slowly seduced his consciousness into a doze and now they both surrendered to sleep, one body leaned against another. 

# CHAPTER 23

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On the last floor of the headquarters of the four Ministries, three men met yet again surrounded by four nude walls. The tall Saf hated being in Bris' office and sitting behind his desk, giving him an advantage in their game for domination. The third man, as usual, sat in the dim corner, overlooking both of them. The building was almost completely empty at this time of night. If the office had had glass windows, from outside it would have been one of the few illuminated rooms in the whole building.

"Have we heard anything from Aire yet? Do we know what is the current situation?" asked Bris, the representative of the Ministry of Expansion, apparently expecting Saf from the Ministry of Environment to answer.

"They have contacted us this afternoon when their member Ms. Renks failed to arrive in Aire at the expected time," he shortly recounted what his associates from the Assembly had told him.

"And?" Bris continued his interrogation.

"There is nothing to add. We informed them of the delay caused by weather conditions and confirmed she would remain in the hotel until her departure. That is it. It is the story we agreed on," he said in an irritated voice.

"But what about the health situation in Aire? Is it proceeding as planned? Have all the residents fallen ill by now? The concentration of poison in the lake must have spread across their city through the air by now."

"That we do not know. They have not asked for our assistance yet. And obviously, we could not ask random questions and risk exposing ourselves," Saf stated.

"Could it be that they discovered the source of illness? Or worse, could they have linked it to us?" Bris was getting paranoid.

"Of course they cannot. To do so, they would have to dry up the lake and find the remains of the toxic micro-bomb, which I find very unlikely. If Professor Uro was the first to catch the disease, others must have followed," Saf explained.

"They should have been begging for help by now," Bris continued.

"Patience," they heard coming from the corner of the room. The man surrounded by darkness added, "The plan is going exactly as we predicted. When desperation overwhelms them, they will contact us. And that will be the beginning of the end of their independence. However, Saf, my sources have confirmed that your assistant Uro has been spending a lot of time with Ms. Renks. What is the nature of their relationship?"

"I was not aware of this. I suppose they met when we first visited Aire. He poses no threat. He is completely unaware of our plans," Saf replied. What he was just asked confirmed his theory that the third man had complete access to the prying eyes of thousands of cameras covering all focal points of Urban Area One. When needed, this security system made it easy for the officials to follow the whereabouts of any person labeled as potentially dangerous. Only, the third man was no official. In fact, there was no record of him even existing.

"He should not be in her proximity. Ms. Renks was supposed to be left alone in her hotel. This way, she might extract important information from your assistant," Bris said, clenching his teeth.

"She is just a simple girl who has no clue whatsoever. And as I said before, Uro has none of the information we have," Saf repeated.

"They should still be separated. As a precaution, assign your assistant on an emergency trip as of tomorrow morning. That way, we will rule out any possibility of our plans being impeded," the third man ended the discussion.

# CHAPTER 24

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The sky was still dark when an ominous cough disturbed Uro's light sleep. Beside him, Taya, still only half-awake, struggled for air. He gently pushed his body out of the sofa and placed a pillow behind Taya's head. The oxygen tank resting on the floor showed no signs of warning. It still had a good two hours of gas left. Still, her cough got more intense every minute. He thought that perhaps her mask needed to be removed, and just as he was about to wake her up, she opened her eyes and instinctively pulled the mask away from her face. A few moments later, her breathing had returned to a normal pace, but her discomfort remained evident on her face. She was no longer red in the face, but rather pale as the winters that could rarely be seen anymore. Her eyes had changed color from black to dark grey. Taya tried to lift her body from the sofa that was no longer comfortable, but the first attempt was unsuccessful.

"Is it morning yet?" she asked before putting the mask back on her face.

"Almost," Uro replied. "How are you feeling?"

"I have been better, I must say," she replied, knowing there was no sense in hiding her sickness.

"I will try to contact someone from the Ministry as soon as the sun rises. It is clear you need to go back to Aire," he said, against his wishes to the contrary.

As the sky transited into the light, Uro left the room and headed to one of the bars in the hotel to get breakfast for the two of them. He seized the opportunity to establish a connection with the Ministry and inquire about the weather conditions on the route to Aire. On his way back to Taya's room, the unknown person on duty confirmed that Taya's departure had still not been rescheduled due to unchanged weather conditions. Despite his efforts, the person on the line declined to offer any further explanation. "I am sorry, Sir, for safety reasons we must await the next forecast from the meteorological service."

Reaching the door with a bag containing hot beverages and food, Uro realized that if he wanted to help Taya, he had to take matters into his own hands. An alternative solution occurred to him. Though risky, it seemed to be the only way to get her to Aire before it was too late. He rang the doorbell, walked inside and spoke before Taya asked him anything.

"The Ministry will not approve your departure until weather conditions have been declared perfectly safe for travel. A matter of bureaucracy. The weather is often unstable in parts of the route to Aire, so it may take them days. It would be best if I took you in my transport directly to Aire. I am not authorized by the Ministry to do this, so it has to be your decision."

"But how will we get through the winds and toxic rains?" Taya asked, surprised by this turn of events.

"It is risky, but the sensors on my transport should be able to detect extreme changes in the weather before we find ourselves in their direct proximity. When alarmed by the system, we'll slightly divert from the route. It may take us more time to reach the destination, but I don't see any other solution. I would like nothing more than you to stay with me longer, but we must think of your health first."

Taya accepted the offer. She grabbed the pillows from the sofa and dropped them on the ground by the wall facing the window, which was now illuminated by soft natural light.

"Come, let's observe the world waking up around us," she said as both of them took a seat on the floor and drank their beverages. Following the sporadic transports flying by, Taya wondered whether she would have chosen to stay in Urban Area One even if it posed no threat to her health. Would Uro be enough to compensate for the people who waited for her and loved her in Aire? If there only were a way to bring the two words together.

Resting in his embrace, she turned her head towards him and removed her mask. Their eyes met. "We may never have a chance to do this again. For once, I would prefer to cherish memories instead of fantasies." She leaned in, caressed his beard, put her lips close to his and waited for a second before coming closer. She had enough breath to last only one kiss. Everything else that could have followed was disturbed by the attack of dry coughing, after which she was forced to reattach the mask. They remained embraced on the floor, surrounded by the world that was oblivious to the hourglass of their love.

"We'd better get going. We need to arrive before your oxygen supplies run out," he reminded her. "As Aire is not listed on any of the official maps I have access to in my transport, I will need precise coordinates for my navigation system."

Taya hesitated for a moment. One of the main rules for all members of Aire was to never reveal the exact location of the community if exposed to strangers. Aire was not listed in the official global database of inhabited lands for safety reasons. But now, she had no other option than to share the coordinates with Uro. She knew she could trust him. 

# CHAPTER 25

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The electric-blue transport advanced at a speed that gave the impression to the passengers in the vehicle that it was the world around them that flew backwards as they stood still. Only a sudden turbulence alerted the mind to the true dynamic of their movement. The arid reddish soil surrounding Urban Area One was now behind them, and the vast uninhibited land strewn with occasional rocks and scrawny, short trees separated them from the upcoming ocean that divided the northern continent from the southern one.

"How are you holding up?" Uro turned his head to check on Taya, who was sitting next to him.

"I think my lungs have calmed down a bit," she acknowledged the absence of the pesky cough.

"What does your oxygen tank say? How long will it last?" he asked.

"Around five hours, it seems. These have a larger capacity compared to the ones I brought from Aire," she replied.

"In that case, after we cross the water, I would like to make a stop at one place before continuing our journey to Aire," he said.

"Sounds good." A few short moments later, the cough agitated her throat yet again, and red marks on her skin further increased the itching sensation.

When they could no longer see frenzied waves below them, Uro slowed down and idled the transport for a few moments before touching the ground.

"Where are we?" Taya asked as the doors of the transport lifted, exposing them to the potent sunlight.

"I wanted to show you something. I've been here once before," he explained, stepping out of the parked vehicle first. "The sun is strong now, we can only stay outside for a few moments."

Taya's eyes lit up at the sight of a beautiful beach covered with sparkly sand, each grain shining in the light before being quenched by the incoming waves.

"It's quite something, huh?," Uro asked as he sat on the sand and rested his arms on his bent knees. Taya joined him.

"Spectacular. Nature's finest masterpiece," she confirmed.

"It may sound silly, but somehow I know we will meet again, someday. If a man can cross the restless ocean, all obstacles can be overcome," he shared as his eyes searched for the farthest point where the water touched the sky.

"I would like to believe that as well. I know it may not seem that way," she said, pointing at the oxygen tank peeking out of the backpack in the sand, "but you have truly made me feel alive in the past two days we spent together. Thank you."

Their penultimate kiss would take place here, with the fresh ocean aroma and clashing waves being the only witnesses. When the transport took off after the short break, Taya got curious about the origin of the energy shield protecting Aire which also represented the main barrier between their two worlds. She knew the technology must have originated from the external world, but it was unclear to her why it was only used to protect her small community while the chain of Urban Areas continued to struggle with harsh climate.

"There have been plans to cover the cities with a similar energy shield, but that idea was abandoned a long time ago," Uro remembered.

"How come?" Taya followed. "Wouldn't it be possible to rebuild the ecosystem under the protective dome, like we did in Aire?"

"I am afraid not. To cover such large, populated cities like Urban Areas, the energy required to produce and maintain the shield would be unsustainable in the long run. Besides, Aire can count on fertile soil for agriculture and thus oxygen production. Urban Areas are built on arid lands where almost no plants can grow. If we isolated ourselves from the external atmosphere, we would have no breathing air at our disposal," Uro finished when his communicator on the wrist signaled an incoming call. It was his superior, Saf from the Ministry of Environment.

"Uro, why are you not in the office?" he asked with his typically angry voice. Uro immediately recognized his failure to come up with an excuse for his absence in advance. In the rush before leaving Urban Area One earlier that morning, he had only managed to inform the Ministry of a personal issue that required him to take a day off. He remembered that Saf was scheduled to leave the city on a business trip, and he believed his one-day absence would not be noticed. But he could not think of any specific justification to offer to Saf now.

"Your silence is the confirmation, then. You are with Ms. Renks. The two of you were spotted leaving the hotel early this morning," Saf continued accusingly.

But before Saf could order him to return to the office and assign him with yet another mission to foreign lands, Uro shook his bracelet with the right hand and in a modified voice pronounced, "Saf, you're breaking up. The signal is weak. I will contact you as soon as the signal is back." He pressed the central button and the display in his metallic bracelet switched off. Taya hoped this incident, which undoubtedly was a result of Uro's determination to help her get back to Aire, would not cause serious consequences to his career. He, on the other hand, didn't seem agitated at all. It appeared he was accustomed to Saf's frequent outbursts of anger.

A few hours later, with no heavy winds, storms, nor toxic rain in sight, the transport was safely approaching the land matching the coordinates of Aire. Seeing for the first time her hometown from a distance, becoming bigger as they came closer, made her appreciate her life and her community more than ever. The new feeling of homesickness gave her a much-needed sense of belonging.

"So, there is no way to contact you through your signal receiver?" Uro asked for the second time, with apparent disappointment in his face.

"It appears so," she replied. "We can only pick up the informative and entertainment programs through personal receivers. The energy shield blocks all other frequencies. There is only one device in all Aire that can establish communication with the Global Assembly and only when the secret frequency is adjusted by both sides. I only know that the signal is always masked so that it can not be detected by potential enemies and traced to the location of Aire. But I will look into other options. I have never had someone in the external world to communicate with before. I am sure we'll find a way," she smiled softly to him, sensing his sadness at the inevitable moment of upcoming separation.

"How will they know you have arrived? Someone needs to lower the shield to let you come in," Uro asked.

"There are sensors all around the edges of the shield. Once I come close enough to the border, the system will alarm them of my presence," she explained.

The transport landed on the ground some hundred meters from the transparent dome reflecting the sunlight. Through the shield they could only see a blurred image of short houses and green fields.

"I cannot thank you enough for all you did for me." Taya tried to hide tears once she got out of the transport and removed her mask for the last time. Their lips touched for the third and last time before each had to return to their own world.

"Like you said, we'll find a way," he struggled to keep his eyes dry as well. He took her in his embrace, holding her tightly until her cough reminded him that he had to let her go. Her legs moved on their own, taking her in the direction of her home. Her mind and heart wanted to stay, right there, frozen in that embrace. As she slowly distanced herself, she kept his hand in hers until the very end, when their physical separation marked the end.

"We'll find a way," she repeated, while he watched the woman he loved walk further away. Uro was left alone as Taya became smaller and smaller in the distance. The sound of the wind and rolling rocks kept him company until the energy shield suddenly collapsed and Taya turned around for the last time before crossing the border. When the dome rose again above Aire, Uro got in his transport and set the coordinates for his home.

# CHAPTER 26

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Kwayn did his best to keep short the time between the signal reception and his arrival at the border. The security camera showed a female figure standing by the edges of the dome and he knew it must have been Taya. He dragged his tired and ailing body as fast as he could, but the mysterious illness that had by now affected one-third of the population in Aire had taken a heavy toll on his health. When he came close enough to recognize Taya's face through the rays of light surrounding Aire from all sides, he pressed the commands that deactivated the shield for no more than five minutes. When their eyes met, they both stood in surprise. When they had last seen each other, they were two adults in perfect health. Now, only a few days later, they had been reduced to weak, sick bodies. Their diseases had little in common, yet the consequences were similar.

"Taya, what happened to you?" he asked, just as she was about to ask the same of him. "We were so worried about the delay."

As they walked towards the city center, Taya recounted briefly her stay in Urban Area One, the circumstances that caused the delay of her return and the health problems she had experienced. But more than anything, she wanted to know what had happened in the meantime to Kwayn. He looked frail, pale blue in the face, and drained of energy.

"Oh Taya, I'm afraid it's not just me. A lot of people are experiencing the same symptoms of poisoning. We just can't figure out what is causing it. And that is preventing us from finding the cure," Kwayn explained.

"What about Professor Elro?" she immediately asked, remembering that when she left, he was already in a bad state.

"His condition is very serious. Together with other critical patients he has been transferred to the hospital. Since yesterday, he's been mostly unconscious." Taya's blood turned cold. She had more questions than Kwayn could answer. They both lacked strength.

Two tired bodies walked up to the main square, from where Taya went to her house, hoping to find Marti. She pressed her palm against the door to unlock it, and soon she found herself in the living room hugging her surprised friend, who had been anticipating Taya's return ever since she had failed to come back at scheduled time the day before.

Much to Taya's relief, Marti was among the two-thirds of residents who still hadn't experienced any symptoms of poisoning, and was fully involved in taking care of the growing number of sick. Taya had just enough strength in her muscles to walk up the stairs and abandon her body to the comfort of her own bed while Marti sat by her side, listening and recounting the events that had taken place on both sides of the world. The trip in the transport, the meeting with the scientists, the strange inner lake, the second encounter with Uro, their first date, the delay, the sickness, the hospital, the first kiss, the departure, the second and the final kiss. With so many things to say, Taya sputtered the words incoherently while Marti tried to follow.

When the confusion had completely overtaken her mind, Taya fell asleep and woke up the next day, just before the dawn. Opening her eyes to familiar surroundings felt both comforting and strange at the same time. Her body was there, but her mind had strayed somewhere else. The whole day and night of uninterrupted sleep had significantly revitalized her health and calmed her irritated lungs. The inflow of oxygen had brought back the glow to her face. She finally unpacked her bag and placed the snow globe she had received from Uro by the window to remind her that somewhere in the distance, he was still there, waiting for her, she hoped. When Marti woke up, she knew there was no time to waste. Together they left the house, heading in the same direction.

Taya spent the whole day familiarizing herself with the alarming situation in Aire and offered her assistance in the hospital that to her surprise resembled the crowded medical center she had visited in Urban Area One. The sense of emergency left her with no time to reminiscence about Uro anymore. Her home and safe haven had become a hostile environment, much like the world she had come back from. When she saw her mentor, Professor Elro, lying unconscious in the hospital bed, almost as pale as the bed sheets underneath him, she realized the full threat this inexplicable illness posed for the whole community.

Going through the narrow hospital corridors, she stopped and talked to every person that crossed her way while she waited to be assigned with a duty. Every person she encountered just shook their head and repeated, "I don't know." In fact, nobody had a clue about the source of this mysterious poisoning. Nothing like this had ever happened in Aire before. The scientists in the laboratory where Taya was eventually asked to volunteer worked day and night analyzing the soil, crops, air and water, but nothing unusual was found. The situation was worsening each day as more people experienced symptoms of poisoning and no cure was in sight. Following her shifts in the hospital, Taya immediately resumed her duties at the inner lake, as most of the staff had fallen ill or were taking care of their sick family members.

As the days went on, it became evident that no one in the community was immune to the spreading disease. It was merely a matter of time before all members would fall victim to this inexplicable scourge. Quicker than the illness itself, the panic and desperation spread among the usually calm community. Long and heated debates took place every evening in the meeting room in search for the potential solution. Many believed that their only hope was to ask for urgent aid and medical assistance from the Global Assembly, while others intuitively feared their intervention could lead to undesired results. The presence of people from the external world in Aire was only allowed on rare occasions, to limit the danger of new bacteria and viruses entering the community with the visitors. It was feared by some that any new bacteria introduced into Aire could be lethal to the already-sick members with weakened immune systems.

The lack of consensus stalled the decision making and increased the tension between the people pushing for one of the options.

However, Taya had one advantage no one else in the community could count on. As the panic spread among the residents, Taya found fragments of inner peace by the lake, which, if it weren't for her, would have been abandoned and oxygen production suspended. Here, surrounded by the calm green water, she sat for hours alone in silence, observing the still world around her.

One morning, as the sunlight glittered on the lake's surface, she noticed a beautiful specimen of the familiar bright yellow butterfly with red lines painted on its thorax. The descendant of the first species of butterflies Taya herself had introduced into Aire some time ago demonstrated a series of acrobatic spins in the air before distancing itself from her and moving closer to the water. Taya meditatively followed its elegant choreography with her eyes and marveled at its grace as it danced, seductively supported by the air. Suddenly, as it came dangerously close to the water, the butterfly announced the end of its final dance with a desperate flap of wings in an attempt to save itself from the fall. Taya got up from the ground and ran closer to the edge of the lake, unsure of what her eyes had just witnessed. On the surface of the water, she spotted the yellow smudge of the once-poised butterfly rapidly dissolving in the water at an unnatural pace. She remained in the same spot, puzzled, observing the scene that she hadn't seen before. Why did this butterfly die as soon as it came close to the water? she said to herself, acknowledging that the algae, the only inhabitants of the lake, showed no signs of decay. The water in the lake had already been tested and no traces of toxins were discovered. Taya had no answer to this enigma. Was this just an isolated case and nothing more?

The persistent questions soon clouded her mind. She knew she had to set her thoughts free and clear her head. Gazing at the steady lake, she allowed frustration to find a way out of her head and soon all the thoughts drifted away as she closed her eyes and peace pervaded her mind. There was no sound, no movement around her. She stood still connected but not involved with the world around her. As soon as her eyes saw the light again, another butterfly flew over her shoulder and, like attracted to a magnet, it advanced towards the water on the other side of the lake. Taya rushed to follow it until they both reached the opposite bank. Here she witnessed the same ritual, which ended another butterfly's life. She needed no further clues nor proof. Something clicked in her head and she could see it clearly now. She knew that in some inexplicable cosmic way, the butterflies carried a message she could not ignore. The water for some reason lured the fragile butterflies into instant death.

She looked around, but she was indeed the only person at the lake. But somebody needed to hear about this. Instinctively, she stretched her legs and ran towards the meeting room as fast as she could.

"It's the water, something's in there!" she repeated as if someone could hear her. When she opened the door of the round building with a curved roof, she was surprised to find it completely empty. Debates and meetings took place in the main room, and it was fairly unusual to find it unoccupied.

From here she ran to the hospital where she knew the biggest concentration of people was. "It's the lake, I've seen it!" she shouted as she walked down the overcrowded hospital in search for the doctors and members of the scientific staff.

"Taya, what is going on, are you all right?" Zil, her childhood friend and doctor, noticing her frantic rambling and stopped her.

"Zil, I know what is causing the sicknesses. I've seen the butterflies at the lake," she said, gasping for air and making little sense of her statement. "We must call for an emergency meeting. There is something in the water that is polluting the air. I've seen butterflies die off as soon as they came in the proximity of the water."

Her words echoed in the community hungry for answers, and in only a few hours, the urgent meeting was scheduled. Yet in the council room filled to the last seat, not everyone was convinced of Taya's theory, especially those involved in the design of the lake.

"There is nothing toxic in the water. If there were, the algae would be the first to show signs of sickness," argued one of the scientists.

"I cannot explain it, but I know what I saw. Somehow the water is polluting the air. The butterflies must be particularly sensitive to the changes in the air composition. You must see it with your own eyes," Taya insisted. Soon, the whole crowd left the meeting room and walked up to the lake, where, in small groups, people distributed themselves around the edges of the water.

"This is ridiculous," "There is nothing here," "We are just wasting time," could be heard from various voices as they stood waiting for something to happen. A hundred eyes fixated on the lake but could only see peaceful water and algae floating on the surface. Just when the crowd was about to confirm their suspicion towards Taya's claims and leave the lake to carry on with their busy schedule, from the bank where the control room stood, one woman shouted, "I see it too, a butterfly just flew by and all of a sudden fell into the water." Dozens of people rushed to the other side to witness the phenomenon.

By the end of the day further analysis of the water was conducted, but again, no proof of hazardous substances could be found in the water or the air surrounding the lake. Yet as the health crisis fed the growing desperation, it was finally decided two days later to dry up the lake and cover it with fertile soil in an attempt to rule out any potential cause of the outbreak. It was a painful decision indeed, to destroy something that had required so many resources and much dedication to build. But they had no other choice. The medical supplies were already scarce from treating the increasing number of patients, and it was only a matter of time before Aire would be forced to resort to the last option and plead for the Global Assembly's help, which unbeknownst to them, would mark the end of their independence.

A week later, when the last remaining traces of toxins in the air were neutralized by the oxygen produced by plants growing throughout Aire, the patients showed first signs of recovery and eventually the mysterious contamination of unknown origin was a matter of the past. Only the once-beautiful lake, the pride of the whole community, now filled with black earth, enshrined the painful memories of a failed dream in the collective consciousness. 

# CHAPTER 27

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The weeks and months passed and the life in the small, isolated community of Aire slowly returned to normal. Eventually, all the patients healed from the poisoning, some with mild side effects and others with none. It was never discovered what precisely had caused the dangerous outbreak other than it presumably originated from the water, which placed a heavy burden on the shoulders of all the people involved in the inner lake project. To maintain the oxygen production after the lake had been dried out, new crops and trees were planted in the area once rich in water.

Taya's daily routine revolved around new challenges and roles inside the community, only her thoughts never really settled down after her return from the external world. Her busy schedule included assisting Professor Elro and teaching junior classes in addition to completing her own studies.

But most of the time, her mind was somewhere else. Everyone noticed that there was something different about her ever since she had come back from her mission in the external world, but only her close friend Marti knew the truth. They spent many sleepless nights discussing Taya's experience in Urban Area One and together thought of the ways Taya and Uro could reunite, or at least find a common communication outlet, but there was little progress. Taya tried many times to adjust her signal receiver and contact Uro, but each attempt concluded in frustration. The energy shield around Aire blocked the outbound signal transmission each time, like she feared it would.

One lonely night when memories overpowered her, she sneaked in the central meeting room where the only communication device potent enough to reach the external world was kept, and against all regulations, tried to contact the Global Assembly. Without any prepared excuse, she intended to ask for her call to be forwarded to Uro's communicator. But she failed to take into consideration that the communication could be established only when both sides adjusted the secret frequency, which was known only to the senior members of Aire's Department of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the Global Assembly.

Kwayn and Naris of the Department never learned about Taya's affair in the external world but they suspected something must have happened when Taya inquired about the possibility of a visitor coming to Aire on two separate occasions. But they could offer no other answer than the disappointing one dictated by the inner safety regulations.

Eventually she recognized a new opportunity in the guardians who traveled each month from the chain of Urban Areas to Aire to pick up the oxygen supplies and healing herbs. When the next delivery was due, she skipped her classes and volunteered to deliver the supplies to the border where the transport awaited. Once the energy shield collapsed and she found herself alone with two uniformed men, she handed them a small envelope containing a chip with an audio letter she had recorded for Uro. The months they had spent apart made her feelings for Uro even clearer to her. She wanted him to know how much she missed him and that not a day went by without her reminiscing about the three days they had spent getting to know each other in a city that without him would have seemed like an alien planet to her.

If we never get to feel that spark of happiness together again, I will still think of you every night and remember you by your smile, she ended the letter.

The envelope was addressed to Uro Est, the Ministry of Environment Headquarters, Urban Area One, where it was indeed delivered, but it never got to Uro's office. Instead, the content of the chip was heard by the three man surrounded by darkness who continued to feed their ambition with new, sinister plots. When next month no reply came with the guardians' transport, Taya feared she was left alone to cherish the feelings they had once shared for each other.

One night, when the endless black canvas in the sky was lit up by more stars than Taya could count from her window, she finally decided to put her worries away. She knew fear only interfered with her dreams, and the Universe saw the lack of faith as a sign of hesitation. There was nothing she wanted more than to see Uro again. To hear his voice and touch his lips one more time. If it was only a matter of time, she could learn to be patient. She had all the time in the world. Her memory of Uro would keep the dream alive.

Somewhere in the far, foreign land, the same comforting feeling found a way to Uro's heart as he observed the sky from his hotel room before surrendering his mind to sleep. He only wished he had something other than a recollection of Taya's face and a distant memory of the three days they spent together to remember her by. He hoped that the snow globe he gave her could sometimes catch her attention and remind her of what they had. There was no way of knowing. Only hope. Until they meet again.

The night advanced, and their desires became fully aligned. Only the stars were running late, too busy fulfilling easier dreams of other lonely hearts. 

# ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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If you would like to get in touch with the author of Aire please send your email to contactbookaire@gmail.com and N.C. will make sure to reply to every comment or question you may have regarding the book. 
