There was absolutely nothing. No laughing from children playing, no chattering of people walking on the streets. There were no people working their jobs, or spending time with their loved ones. No more hopes, no more dreams. No more thoughts, or ideas. The only thing left was a trace of proof of what once was lay in complete ruins.
Aurelia stood on the barren cracked dirt with only an environmental suit for protection against the dry and thin air. The sky was sickly brown, flecks of ashed snowing down to the ground. The air had thinned tremendously, leaving little atmosphere left.
Others in environmental suits soon joined her on the surface, all chatting to each other excitedly as they unloaded from the drop ship ramp. Among them was a particularly large Raxth, Grand Commander Jezka. She spread her arms out and called out to the scientist.
“Ms Doyle! You have done a wonderful job. Truly you have outdone yourself!” Jezka exclaimed jovially.
Aurelia shrugged lifelessly, her back to the Guul scientists and soldiers. She didn’t turn to face Jezka as she didn’t want her to see the tears streaming down her face.
She really did outdo herself.
Aurelia’s eyes fluttered open the lights blinding her as she roused from her slumber. She rubbed her eyes to find they were wet, her cheeks damp. A memory she did not want to relive.
“The dock-master is requesting documentation for our stay.” Said Addison. A drone was standing over Aurelia, having just woken her up.
“Addison, I said you could handle it. Use my ID or whatever, give them what they need.”
“I would have, miss, but they are asking for you in person.”
Aurelia sighed as she got herself up. Sliding on her shoes, she got herself up and made her way to the loading ramp. “Send for Isobel please, I want to take her to see my friend.”
“You mean as damage control so he can’t be as mad as he would be if you were alone?”
“No, so I have someone to calm me down, lest I rip the circuits from your mainframe with my own two hands.” Aurelia retorted with a grin.
By the time Aurelia got to the loading ramp, Isobel was already waiting for her. The android had since tidied herself up, Putting together an outfit that fit her far better than the one that Aurelia found for her, and she noted curiously that the android had experimented with some makeup.
“Please tell me how it goes. I would love to know his reaction to you and Isobel, especially since you two are-”
“Addison, why are you like this?” Said Aurelia, exasperated.
“Because it’s funny.”
Aurelia opened her mouth to respond, but thought better of it. Instead, she gestured for Isobel to follow her down the ramp, where at the bottom on the landing pad, an Urian was waiting for them with a tablet in hand.
“Welcome to Aulxeod, do you have the appropriate documentation for your stay?” Said the Urian, holding out their tablet to Aurelia. She gave her cane to Addison to hold and held her wrist chip up to the device, before signing her name off. The Urian dock-master took it back, and with a nod, allowed them to pass.
Below the landing platform, the air was thick and mephitic, a smog thick enough to make Isobel choke with each breath. The noise of the streets was overwhelming, a deafening cacophony of pedestrians and vehicles alike. She looked over to Aurelia, who didn’t look at all phased by the bustle of the streets, or at least did nothing to show that she was bothered by any of it.
Aurelia draped her spare arm over the androids shoulders, and pulled her close. For a moment, Isobel could feel the mounting anxiety melt away, her mind entirely focused on the taller woman. Aurelia stared down at Isobel and flashed a cocky grin.
“Keep close, it’s easy to get lost in cities, especially in world-cities like these.” Said Aurelia. She then jerked forward, dragging the android along with her.
“There are so many people everywhere, the noise makes it hard to think.” Said Isobel nervously. Aurelia looked down at her, and noticed her violet eyes darting all over the place, scanning every face, every shop, every vehicle. Isobel could hear dozens of conversations at once, each word intangible yet coherent at the same time, melding together into an incoherent babble.
Aurelia then dragged the android into a nearby convenience store away from the bustling streets and took her down one of the empty isles. She stood in front of the panicking android, and met her violet gaze with her own, offering a sympathetic look.
“Are you okay?” Aurelia said softly.
“I-I don’t know. I can hear everything everyone is saying, every noise, vehicle, everything and there’s so many people-”
Aurelia hooked her cane over her arm, took Isobel's hand and placed it in her palm. She smiled warmly and then pinched the top of the androids hand. Isobel made an audible yelp as she yanked her hand away.
“What was that for?” She asked, looking up at Aurelia like a wounded puppy. The scientist responded with a grin and stuck her tongue out while giggling.
“Something called Grounding. I’m sorry for hurting you, but you aren’t thinking about anything else now, are you? Just the pain, and me.” Aurelia said, looking smug.
Isobel rubbed her sore hand, but then she realised she was focused entirely on the pain. It was like all the noise that had been bothering her had fell away, her mind now directed at one thing.
“Yes. I feel better now, thank you.” She said with a nervous grin.
“It’s strange though.” Said Aurelia suddenly.
“What is?”
“Well, It’s not like I intentionally gave you social anxiety. I’ve noticed how you’ve been around others.”
“Is social anxiety a bad thing? Am I broken?” Said Isobel. She gave Aurelia a concerned look, unsure what to do with this information.Aurelia scratched the back of her head and gave a warm smile.
“Well, it’s not fun to have, but everyone has something. It’s proof that you are more alive than any machine. Mental Illness is just part of living. When we have some spare time, I’ll teach you some ways of managing it.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you, Aurelia.”
“For now, we should get some food while we are here, because after expelling my entire breakfast, I am starving.”
The pair soon left the store with bags filled to the brim with food, stopping by a taxi bay to catch a ride. A small, beat up car with a small sign on top simply saying ‘Aulxeod Transport’, pulled up beside them into the taxi bay. The door opened up for them automatically and inside, a human greeted them. There weren’t many humans on Valak, so it was somewhat comforting for Aurelia to see one of her kind here. Aurelia slid into the cab, groaning as she bent down, slowly sliding herself across to make room for the android. When Isobel tried to get in after her, the entire vehicle tilted heavily to one side. The operator gave her a surprised look, but then faced themselves forward without saying a thing about it. Once Isobel had seated herself down, the door lowered shut, and the operator spoke up.
“Put in ta’ place ya wanna go on the console, then put ya payment through.” They said with a rough accent. Aurelia typed in an address, and waved her wrist over the scanner. With a beep, she pulled her hand away and sat back in the taxi’s seat.
The vehicle began to move by itself, the traffic forming a gap large enough for it to merge into. The operator checked their own console, and practically choked on the air. They quickly spun around with a bewildered look plastered on their face.
“Ma’am, I reckon ya added a few decimals on the tip by accident.” They said. Aurelia shrugged nonchalantly, and continued to stare out the window.
“No I didn’t. All I ask is you do some good at least a bit of it.”
The city district whizzed by as they descended into lower, and lower reaches of Aulxeod. The lower they went, the dirtier the streets were. Once they got to the bottom layers, the streets were lined with boarded up shops and apartment complexes. The people down there wore bland and tattered clothes, contrasting distinctly with the top layer where everything looked new and orderly. Amongst the homeless and the poor, Cavitikan shaped drones scurried to and fro along the streets. On their shining breastplates were numbered in Raxth letting, the most common language in the galaxy. The taxi operator glanced at a pair harassing a homeless Milvine and shook their head in disdain. They scratched the back of their head and turned to face Aurelia once more.
“Ya sure this is the area ya wanna be in? Rich folk usually don’t often like commin’ down here.”
“Yeah. I have a friend that lives down here. He likes to keep to himself.”
The operator then scrounged around in a storage compartment and pulled out an old and worn business card.
“Here ya go. Not many taxis come down here. Gimme a call when you want a ride back up. It’ll be on the house.”
Aurelia took the card, the name ‘Casey Xenth’ was listed in big, bold lettering, their contact number listed underneath. The scientist nodded their thanks, and turned her colourful gaze back outside. Eventually, they stopped in front of a rundown apartment complex, where half the windows were boarded up. As they left the vehicle, the operator grabbed their attention once more.
“Careful ‘round here. There are more enforcers, and they ain’t a friendly bunch. They take underfolk just fer lookin’ at them funny.”
Aurelia waved at the operator, and the door closed behind them. Ahead of them lay a dilapidated and broken building. It was built around one of the pillars supporting the upper layers, cracks running down its walls, and water dripping from broken pipes.
“I guess this is it. Of course he had to live in the most rundown part of the district.” Aurelia said with disdain.
“Who is it we are meeting?” Asked Isobel.
“Just a friend. Well, more my ex-husband than anything. Actually he probably doesn’t consider me a friend and likely never wants to see my face again. So don’t expect the warmest of welcomes.” Aurelia chuckled.
“If he never wants to see you again, then why are we going to him?”
Aurelia flashed a serious look. “Because I need a plan and he is the man for plans.” She said, struggling to keep a straight face. Isobel covered her mouth with a small chuckle.
If you are worried that he won’t like you, don’t. He likes basically everyone.” She pat the android on the shoulder reassuringly.
“Well, better now than never. Let’s go in.”
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