Disenchantment 

Luca and I stand side by side. He's traded his normal lab coat look for a more casual black and blue suit and tie. The words STM projecting around his arm. Shadows whiz across us as we ride the elevator onwards to the old Supreme Leader viewing area - the sky pad. In the elevator police officers surround us. Masked in tinted helmets and black and crimson leather. They stand ready with their rifles cocked.

The clear glass walling of the sky elevator enables me to see the world below me. Through sharp padded shoulders I can spot a Ferris wheel start up before it slowly disappears downwards. I follow it passed the bodies of officers all the way to my feet. I watch as it becomes a tiny speck, a far-off depiction of happiness along with the citizens that litter the ground below.

When the elevator doors finally open, a hostess greets us. A burly police officer emerges and walks through the elevator. He casually pushes her aside and scans the area. His helmet gives him a grimy distorted voice as he barks out orders to his fellow officers. They fan the area, the sound of their boots and weapons echo through the sky pad, before standing at attention. The hostess dusts herself off before chirpily directing Luca and I towards the only table on the sky pad. The burly officer stands at attention to my right and salutes me. I stare at him and then past him, briefly making eye contact with a floating sign off the sky pad that reads; 'Sovereign Nova Konn Amusement Park', before I pass by. Waiters flood out the doors of the sky pad restaurant holding platters. The moment Luca and I sit down our table is drowned in trays displaying colorful foods and drinks.

I grab a glass of water and stare at the horizon filled with nothing but the far-off grey metal walling of the dome. From the corner of my eye, I notice Luca, he stares at me with narrowed eyes before he stares at the glass of water in my hand.

"You know you don't have to be here, doing this."

The uncertainty in his voice almost catches me off guard. A wave of cold wind seeps into my bones and I shuffle in my seat before turning towards him and saying.

"I know, I want to. The amusement park was dedicated in my name and is only open once a year. I need to be here for my people."

A few years ago, there was nothing but gloomy skies and misty horizons. Synthetic to Save-for citizens with their heads down and clinging to their coats. It always proved to be a turbulent task to get my mother to see it, but Callihan could. The people were perturbed, feeling they were born in purgatory. A feeling that always came around this time - winter. Callihan used his connections to the Anthropology Ministry and was able to construct this amusement in my name. All it toke was a word from me. But the irony of it all was that I had never been to the park, not once. An Anthropology lacky was sent to give the opening speech and cut the red ribbon. Back then I thought nothing of it, however these days I tend to contemplate on the past and have a sense of wanderlust, sparked by curiosity and fear, for the future. Maybe at the expense of my present. Feelings aside, I know it is the logical thing to do. To be here, with my people. Anticipated and prompt, ready to take care of them.

"Well, I guess this was expected. Seeing as you are not going to be here for too long."

We stare at each other.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Your Ascecion Day," He says, eyes blinking, "it's not getting any further now, is it?"

With a quick rise, I make my way to the glass barricade. My hands grip the cold metal railing and stare down at the lively amusement park hundreds of meters away.

"A word and all of this was done. When the preparations were completed by the Anthropology Ministry, Callihan approached me and said; 'can we go ahead?' and I said 'yes'. Just like that all of this was built. I saw my people in distress and instead of being hardened I chose to help. You might be thinking, 'that's quite simple'. It's the small things that turn a frail snowball to a fierce gargantuan ball of destruction - it's the small things. Only the Konn's understand that. We alone can be incorruptible servants of the public. We alone can live forever."

"I guess everyone wants to live forever, either through a statue or a suicide note." Luca says joining me by the barricade. He looks down and asks, "have you ever been on an amusement park ride?"

"No."

He lets out a soft chuckle.

"Neither have I."

"I imagine being a STM scientist doesn't give you much free time."

He nods and stares at the sky. The grey clouds slowly filter around the morning sun.

"They look so real and far off, don't they," He speaks. I follow his gaze and nod, "if this sky pad were to somehow keep going, we'd see how close the sky truly was. The artificial panels and LED lights just floating above our heads. The warmth on your skin from the 'sun' and shadows cast on your face from the 'clouds'. Like you said I'm a scientist, but you don't have to be an engineer to appreciate the beauty of this intricate deception."

The artificial sky encompasses us and creates a feeling of delusion. The longer I stare at it, the more disenchanted I feel.

"It's not too late to try."

"Try what?" I ask.

"A ride here. When was the last time you relaxed? You owe it to yourself. You'll be in some room somewhere making decisions for humanity, without any chance of fun or relaxation."

The officers stationed around the sky pad cause me to let out a soft chuckle.

"How?" I ask in disbelief.

"In the restaurant over there. How do you think we'll all get down in case of an emergency? Waiters and people like us to ride in one elevator?"

"So, one elevator for us and one elevator for them?"

"Exactly."

"They'll raze the amusement park trying to find us." I say.

"No, they won't," He says waving me off, "One ride, and we'll be back." His suit flickers in the wind as he proceeds to the restaurant entrance. The sky almost waves at me before I follow him inside.