“Yeah, Shaun. I don't know why you're getting overly jumpy. We’re tough cookies,” Havok said in my head, and damned if it didn't make me chuckle.
“Do you even know what cookies are, Havok?” I responded playfully.
“I know you eat them, and I know we’re all tough cookies in our little group, here.”
“Fair enough, pal. Fair enough.”
Elyek cut our conversation off, exclaiming we were at the Epsilon Tunnel transport hub. A long, hotdog-shaped, windowless capsule was hovering in a metallic furrow. I couldn't see how it was suspended, so in my head I opted for magnets. Not that it mattered any more. I didn't understand one percent of the shit I saw these days. I had hoped gaining Mental Clarity would help, yet it turns out a clear mind doesn’t mean you just suddenly know stuff, like I hoped it would. What it did mean was that anything I saw and learnt from now on should actually stick there. Theoretically, I should have much better retention and be able to use that going forward.
I was brought out of my usual meanderings by Ember saying, “What now, Elyek? Do we need to pay for tickets, or something?”
“No. They’re free to ride. We just need to get on.”
We did as bid and stepped on to the big, metal hotdog through one of eight sets of doors. The instant those doors closed, we were off like a rocket.
It was a pretty cool experience, and I felt the sense of being watched fade. That was until we had to get off and cross over to another hotdog. As soon as we were back in the open, my senses flared up again. This continued to happen each time we changed tubes. The final hotdog wasn't in the transport hub of this dome; we had to head back, out onto the streets. The differences in the outer habitation domes were remarkable. Clearly, the very lowest of the low eked a living out here. It had me concerned for what conditions we would find the Veiletians living in, if they were yet another tunnel away.
Although I knew the Veiletians were very secretive, I was not prepared for the next transport hub location. Elyek led us down a scruffy, trash-ridden street and into a derelict-looking building. It could have been mistaken for a dilapidated factory unit if it hadn't been so small.
Once through the doors, we were led down some stairs up to an empty desk. Elyek walked over. They lifted a necklace, which had been invisible only seconds before, from their neck and over their head, and placed it down on the desk.
“These people are the best of friends. I will stake my life on their honor,” Elyek spoke to the air in front of them. I was quite proud of the fact that the penny had dropped for me already; there was obviously an invisible Veiletian behind the desk. Whoever they were, they were being a wanker, because they didn’t answer. Just as I had that thought, I heard a bolt unlock from the door behind the desk. Out walked a fucking Veiletian! I felt tricked.
“Elyek! How amazing to see you again. We heard reports that you had been taken as a slave for an owner on Weka Four?”
“Nuwista. It is good to be back here once more. I had been held as a slave; however, these fine friends rescued me from that life, and we have had quite the adventure since. May we be permitted passage to the haven?”
“You have vouched for them, so you may all pass. They remain your responsibility.”
“I accept that. May I request one addendum? My captain here would never intentionally harm or endanger our people; regardless, he is an Onnekus and his path to positive action is not always direct.”
The Veiletian, known as Nuwista, gave me a long, hard stare, “I will let the eldest know, and it should be taken into account if anything untoward happens.”
“Thank you, Nuwista, I hope to meet again before we leave,” Elyek said.
“Me too. I am truly overjoyed that you were not taken,” Nuwista replied, while pressing a button to reveal the doors of a hotdog.
“Cheers, Nuwista,” I said as I went through the doors. Everyone followed me, with Elyek finally entering and the doors closing. This hotdog was smaller than the others that we had been on.
Entering the Veiletians’ hidden dome, the difference was stark. There were not as many people about. The place was immaculately clean, and more like a small town than a city. There was no one around at all; it felt like a ghost town. Elyek took the lead once more, leading us through half-a-dozen streets before we reached the gates of a large mansion-type building. It even had stone in its architecture, which was odd, as everything else we had seen so far was metal and glass.
“It’s so much quieter here,” I whispered to Ember. “Plus, I don’t feel like I'm being watched anymore.”
“We won’t be seen here,” Elyek offered, having overheard me. “The rest of the domes in Arus have an extensive security network, despite the fact that it is a smuggler's moon. However, there are a few dark domes where there is the utmost privacy. Now, before we enter, I feel I must warn you again. We’ll still have to be vetted to enter the Elders’ Headquarters.
“I will continue to do all of the talking. It would be unwise to make a communicative mistake here. This is one of the largest enclaves of my people, outside of the Veil itself. Most are unwelcome, as it is a highly secret location. As I have said before, my people are often hunted and captured as slaves. Please act accordingly. They will
