Lena

"Lena? Dear? Come in!"

The door to her father's office was open. He had called for her. And as usual, he sent Mina, who complained about being treated like a servant. Yet she was part of the government!

"It's impossible!" she had snorted. Lena laughed about it, as so often. Still, she was a little nervous. What was it all about?

"You called for me?" Lena yawned tiredly. It was still very early. She was wearing her pajamas. A pink nightgown with puffy ruffles on the collar. "Did something happen?"

"Not yet." Her father looked at her worriedly. His bald head shimmered in the light of the old light bulbs. He wore a silver and white suit with a colorful tie. On his nose were small glasses with dark red lenses and a golden frame. An equally gold chain was attached to it, decorated with patterns that resembled tiny gears. His eyes underneath were as blue as Lena's. But that was the only thing they had in common. He looked tired. However, Lena was not surprised, as he was sitting in his office much earlier than usual. Normally he was still asleep at this time.

Just like her. She wished she could still sleep. Her private lessons usually took place in the early afternoon. She rarely visited an actual classroom. Mostly for certain exams or at school festivals. Her father didn't want to isolate her too much from her peers. But her safety as the mayor's daughter took priority. Whenever she was allowed to enter the school grounds, she was accompanied by guards.

Hardly anyone of the same age wanted to talk to her.

"Not yet?" Lena yawned and sat down on a chair that stood in front of her father's iron desk. He sat on a red upholstered chair, which always reminded Lena of a throne. On his desk were vast quantities of papers. A casket projected some surveillance images into the middle of the table. Shimmering blue, the hologram showed one of the alleys on Level 3.

"Well, Minnie has reported suspicious activity."

"Minnie?" Lena spoke very rarely with the city's AI. Most of the time she spoke directly to Mina. "What did she observe?"

"Soldiers who meet and talk in dark alleys."

"Nothing more?"

Her father smiled. "Nothing more. Nevertheless, I sent a few city guards to the base to question the people concerned. All men and women of the lowest rank."

"And then?"

"Then? Well, if it was a mistake, they have nothing to fear."

"And if it wasn’t?" Lena grimaced. "Are they going to be in the cells?"

The cells. These were some iron cages next to the city's engine room. Those who landed there had to endure the noise of the huge gears and the strong smell of oil every day, non-stop. In addition, the heat of the burning stoves, which were used to heat all the oil and tons of water, to move the legs and all the gears of the city. Just one night there led to nausea and terrible headaches. Unlike the workers in the engine room, the prisoners received little protection against the noise and smell.

Nothing more than an iron wall, but it didn't help much. Nevertheless, the smell wafted into the cells, and the iron walls were made to vibrate by the steam engines. Nobody wanted to eke out an existence in this prison.

"I think that would be appropriate? Depending on the severity of the case?" Her father bent over his desk and stroked Lena's light hair. "You have always cared a lot about our residents. This is good. In two days we will reach the last village before taking the waterway to the island. There has also been some unrest in the villages recently. Especially in this one. There were some problem reports."

"Unrest?"

"Well. The dome of the village is defective. Poison penetrates the village. The air is toxic and the harvest is already affected. A few other villages report something similar. There were outbreaks of violence among some citizens. Some of our mechanics will check on the dome there. Supported by the military. Other cities take care of the other villages. But we are the closest to this one."

"Oh." That was frightening news.

"But, since Minnie has reported suspicious activity on Level 3, and such reports have also come from a few villages, I will double down on our security measures. In a few hours, you'll meet your new bodyguard. Unlike our guards, he will always stay by your side. There is also said to have been suspicious behavior in this village. The AI there is asking for military support. During the repairs, the soldiers will check the residents."

"Do you think they are planning a boycott?" asked Lena. Bodyguard? I am already protected non-stop. Monitored! Whenever I want to leave the house, a whole swarm follows me! "That the report about the broken dome is a trap?"

"Oh, the dome is broken. There is no doubt about that. And yes, Mina, my brothers, and I assume a planned attack. And now get ready for the day, dear. I have to work. And your lessons are waiting for you. For the next few weeks, you will stay away from the school building. You only get private lessons."

"Dad?" Lena tried to calm down. All of this was worrisome. But she needed to ask him something important.

"Yes?"

"Did you have breakfast?"

"Not yet." Her father was already staring spellbound at the hologram in front of him.

"I'll bring you something."

"You're a sweetheart!"

"I know." Shaking her head, Lena got up and made her way to the kitchen. Her father often forgot breakfast.

Sofian Goldbird.

This name was passed down from one clone to the next. The four other clones were called Soel Goldbird, Socrate Goldbird, and Soan Goldbird, and their ruler was known as Ferry Goldbird. Their names were once chosen by their creator and gene donor: Elrik Goldbird.

And they all resembled each other like eggs. Lena knew pictures of Elrik. If she didn't know better, she would have taken him for her father. And they all regularly forgot breakfast. This was also known about Elrik.

Lena sighed. Her life seemed almost macabre to her. It seemed unreal. Like a story. An eerie fairy tale.

A maid was already waiting in the kitchen. Surprised, she looked at Lena. Her green eyes sparkled friendly. She stood next to a wide-open refrigerator. "Oh! Miss! I was just about to bring you your breakfast." She pointed to a richly laid tray.

"Thank you." Lena nodded. "Where's breakfast for my father?"

"Already in his bedroom. I have already brought it there earlier. Yours is now ready. Pancakes. Very fresh, as you like it. Why are you awake already?" Normally, Lena was always woken up by the maid who brought her breakfast. But that morning Mina had woken her up.

"Good." Lena nodded again. "From now on, please always bring it to his office. Otherwise, he forgets it."

"What?" The servant shook her head. "But the Lord made clear instructions..."

"To his office. Thank you. I'll get my breakfast right away." With these words, Lena left the kitchen to get her father's breakfast from his bedroom and bring it to him.

Thoughts were buzzing in her head. What her father told her worried her.

A new bodyguard... Who always stays by my side? Always? Even if I have to pee? No, thank you.