City's End

Jalabia watched the engine on fire. They were a small city and, unlike the larger ones about to go airborne, this was their only engine.

The turbine spun at high speeds within the inferno and despite their impending doom. Jalabia couldn't help but admire the beauty of it.

The sound of boots clanging against metal drew his attention and he turned to see who was approaching. Dressed smartly in official work attire, whose green colour popped the more under the light of the flames, was the leader of the first and only Engine Wing in the city.

"Engineer General Raymond reporting, sir!" He hailed with a sharp salute causing Jalabia to smile.

"At ease Raymond," he said, "What's the engine's current status?"

"Well it's currently burning sir."

Jalabia laughed. "I can see that, Raymond. I'm asking for data. What's the official report?"

Raymond took off his cap and tucked it into his armpit. The heat was getting to him and his bald head was always the first to go. Droplets of sweat had already begun gathering on it.

He wiped it dry and for a second he considered putting his cap back on but decided against it.

"First compartment," Raymond began, "Is all but gone. Damage levels are almost reaching 99%. Salvage predictions are terrible. Functionality of all Type a devices have stopped. There's 35% compromisation in the Second compartment. Salvage predictions remain optimistic, but with how things are going the guys at Recon aren't sure the predictions will hold true. Type B devices are functioning fine for in most parts of the city, there's partial functioning in about 12% of the city, and 1% of all Type B devices have stopped functioning. There is a marked deterioration in the outer shell of the Third compartment, around 40%. But apart from that, no other damage has been incurred on it. System-Chrysalis Recon thinks it's not necessary 5o tender in a salvage predictions. Type C devices remain 100% functional through out the city."

Jalabia shook his head. "The Wrenchers are definitely going to feel the brunt of this once everything blows over."

"Not to seem rude, Consul," Raymond said, "I think the correct phrase would be 'if this blows over'. With the way things are going I don't think we'll make it."

"Well, Raymond, we will make it." At that moment an explosion occurred. With a mighty boom, the entire city rocked to it's mobile foundations. The lights above their heads flickered. The device attached to Raymond's wrist beeped. When he looked at it his face darkened.

"That was the first compartment, sir. It just gave way. Damage to the Second compartment just spiked to 70% and the Third compartment has been breached." Raymond paused for a moment and focused on the data appearing on his wrist device. Then he continued. "And it's collapsing fast."

"Regardless," Jalabia carried on undeterred, "We'll come out of this alive. Battered, beaten bruised, but alive. Alive and better. Better and ready to carry face the next challenge."

"Sir, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we are done for. At this moment we are sitting ducks. Our moment and defenses are gone. So not only are we unable to fight back, we are unable to run away too. Food systems will soon shut down and our stores aren't big enough to last us a long time. And if things continue as they are well soon lose visibility and communication.

"We can barely survive another Gale, I don't know if we can survive a confrontation, talk less of win one." Raymond paused for a moment. He was slightly breathless after the rant and he was feeling emotional.

"I'm worried sir," he said finally, "Worried and scared. I'm worried that we might meet our end and it wouldn't be swift. That it would be slow and painful and torturous and—"

"Well don't worry." Jalabia cut him short. "Don't worry about anything. That's my job. Your job is to follow my instructions. Leave the worrying to me. I'll make sure that no matter what happens no one will suffer. Do you understand."

It took Raymond a while but finally he responded. "Yes, Consul."

"Good," Jalabia said with a nod, "Now let's carry on. Has Recon any clue as to the cause of the fire?"

"Yes," Raymond nodded, "They said the fire is electric. It was caused by improper handling of power lines in the First compartment. Some of them believe there was foul play involved. There are talks of a traitor in our midst."

Jalabia thought of it a while before giving a shrug. "Not a far fetched idea. And if I'm being honest, one I agree with."

"What do we do now?" Raymond asked.

"Tell the Wrenchers to extract, organise and distribute food materials for as long as food systems are down. Have 5 of them do it, the rest will be needed elsewhere. Apart from that, there really isn't much we can do, except wait. Wait for the fires to die down and then we'll pick up from there."

Raymond nodded and left to go and carry out his order leaving Jalabia once again alone on the bridge passage. Jalabia turned to face the flames and continued watching it burn. Its beauty mesmerised him even as much as the damage it caused made his heart to tighten.

Had this been a bigger city the loss of one engine wouldn't have been as life threatening. Most of them had at least 3 engines. If one were to catch fire a simple rerouting of power lines would allow them to have 100% functionality at the cost of slightly overtaxed engine. This would have allowed them to take their time to fix the engine without inconveniencing their citizens too much.

Some cities that were about to go airborne even had the luxury of discarding engines with slight problems. They boasted entire System-Chrysalae devoted to building of new ones. Some could even afford to regularly replace their engines with newer ones.

Jalabia sighed. They were no where close to reaching that level and they could only settle for the scraps left behind by those cities. Life wasn't fair and there wasn't much he could do about it except grow. Grow to the point where he could be the one who discarded and not the one who picked up.

Jalabia let his mind run wild for a while and imagined what it would be like going airborne. Having legions under his command. No longer having to clash with others. Not being limited by their bulky movement equipment. Instead the were free to roam the skies, moving as they pleased.

Of course he would keep Raymond as one of his Engineer Generals. He had been with him long enough for Jalabia to know he could trust Raymond with his life. Perhaps he could make Raymond his second-in-command, keep this his trusted aide by his side.

However there were times, days, moments when be felt like the Raymond he knew wasn't the real Raymond. That it was an imposter who had wormed their way into his city and his life. An imposter who had come with the sole aim of bringing about his destruction. He would catch Raymond sitting and talking to himself. A normal thing or so it seemed.

But in his guts he felt something else, that information, sensitive ones were being carted away. And in this gut, this same guy that told him that they would come out of this alive, held fear. Fear of this man he knew as Raymond. Fear that a close confidant was also an enemy.

But the feeling passes and Raymond returns to normal. He knew he should be cautious but he couldn't do it; bring himself to suspect this studious reliable man. Yet he had to or he wouldn't have peace in his city. And it was an Engine Consul's job to uphold the peace of the city.

The fires raged a long while and for a moment it seemed like it wouldn't end. Yet it did. The flames died down and the smoke cleared up. They might have lost their engine, but apart from the explosion of the First compartment they all still possessed their lives.

Raymond walked up to Jalabia in the aftermath. He wished to salut but Jalabia stopped it. Silence passed between the two before Jalabia spoke. "Report."

"The first compartment was hit the hardest. Damage was extensive and the salve index came back as 2.1. The Second and Third compartments are much better. The Second compartment has a salvage index of 8.3. Recon is happy they don't have to do much to get it running again. We were able to secure 63% of the Third compartment but the damaged part has a Salvage Index of 0.75. It may take a while to restore full functionality."

Jalabia nodded. "Tell the Wrenchers to scrap the Second compartment and prioritise regaining mobility. Once that has been dealt with you can return for more instructions."

Jalabia had already made up his mind to make the decision. Food might have been necessary but movement takes preeminence. Once they got that going, everything would fall into place and they could begin growing again.

Raymond nodded and turned a way to carry out the order. Yet as he left, Jalabia couldn't help it. The feeling came back and he stared warily and sadly at Raymond, who was too busy discreetly whispering discreetly into his uniform to notice.

"Come in HQ, come in. The plan was successful."