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The Elysian Archives

NIGHT SHIFT

Gavin stood in the dimly lit surveillance room trying to keep his back straight. His shift ended three hours ago but the big alarms had gone off everywhere and he had to stay while all the others were busy trying to keep the crowds under control. As soon as the TSYGAN transmission hit the broadcasting networks there had been panic. Just minutes after that the people of Elysion One almost got the ears blown off their heads as the alarms started. The deafening sound signaling everyone to hide away in the safety shelters underground. Gavin tried not to think about what they were supposed to hide from. He was stuck down in the mines outside of Brightholme and all his attempts to reach his superiors to find out what all the fuss was about had only made his hope sink even lower. The communication lines were overloaded and he had to accept that nobody would care enough about him to give him an update on the situation.

The surveillance cameras showed very little of interest. His job was to guard the train station that was used to transport minerals from the mines to Elysion. A dirty, boring job that barely covered his rent. He tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes while questioning himself once again why loyalty to his employer was more important than his own personal safety. It was kind of sad really, how his job was the only thing that really mattered in his life and the job was as dull as the grey concrete walls around him.

A brief flicker from one of the screens caught his attention and the security guard leaned closer to it. He stared at the monitor showing one of the trains. The platform was empty and the only thing moving was a plastic bag slowly dancing around in the draft from the ventilation ducts. Gavin sighed and was about to turn away just as the screen flickered again. This time the monitor went black. Anxiety hit him immediately and he checked that his weapon was still in its holster. He felt kind of silly. It wasn’t as if his weapon would have just walked off on its own and a blacked out monitor wasn’t uncommon in the mines. Their technology was sadly outdated compared to what they had back in Elysion One. Still, the anxiety wouldn’t let go of him as he stepped out of the little office and out onto the platform. Cold fluorescent lights made the place look scarier than he remembered. Gavin spent every day of the week patrolling between the trains but the current situation wasn’t exactly normal. He pulled up a flashlight and looked around nervously while walking towards the platform where the surveillance camera had decided to die. Platform four. The alarms echoed from a distance and spread through the train tunnels, turning the sound into a wailing that didn’t help him feel more comfortable.

Come on old man, you can do this... This wasn’t the time to start acting like a frightened intern. Gavin forced himself to walk up to the camera with a stern gaze and determined steps. Well, he would have gone to check the camera if it had still been there. Only a cut cable sticking out of the socket showed where it had been.

“Who did this?!” His voice didn’t sound half as steady as he had wished it would and the only response he got was a little echo and the rustling from the plastic bag when it swished by him. He squinted at it, annoyed by its little plastic dance. It felt as if it was taunting him somehow.

“Ah, I apologize for stealing that thing but I needed to get your attention.”

He spun around so fast he almost lost his balance. A small figure stood above him on top of the train. The voice told him it was a woman but he wouldn’t have been able to tell. Her features were concealed by a hood and she carried a weapon so huge that it was difficult to imagine her even being able to lift it.

“Stay right where you are. You are trespassing!” He pulled up his gun and pointed it at her, trying not to show how insecure he felt.
“Yes yes, trespassing, I am aware of that. As I said, I wanted to get your attention since this train has to be disconnected from the platform. I’m going to need it you see.”

“W-why would I want to help you? Just who are you anyway?” He kept his gun pointed at her but she stood there casually with her hands in her pockets.
“Don't recognize my voice? It has just been broadcast on every single monitor across Elysion One. Maybe you’ve been so busy working the night shift that you missed it?"
“It’s... you? You’re her? I mean, Tsygan?!” He suddenly couldn’t decide how to act. Gavin felt dizzy. Tsygan was the fear of the Elysian Security squads that were unfortunate enough to patrol around Brightholme but he didn’t know if anyone had actually seen her in person. She was so small. He had expected some shadowy, tall villain. The woman in front of him could have passed as a kid if you didn’t see her face. She observed him coldly with pale eyes and he found himself staring. People claimed large packs of her “rats” controlled the streets at night, wearing hoods and the TSYGAN mark on their backs.. Several security squads had been brutally beaten up and some had been executed in the name of her revolution. Gavin did not intend to be one of them.

“I don’t have a lot of time so would you kindly disconnect this train for me now?"
“Do you really think I’d just help you do that? You’re a wanted terrorist and there is an enormous reward for bringing you to justice!”

“Ah, yes. I guess that is one way to look at it. You may call me a terrorist if that makes you feel better about yourself. I am simply trying to bring some truth and freedom to where it belongs. To the people. To let every single individual have their own freedom of choice. The Foundation does not want the individual. They want the masses. They want us all to stare right into their bright lights and feel safe while listening to their pretty little lies. Let them decieve us all and make us think we live in paradise when in reality it is a cage. But I’m not here to discuss politics. Go on, do what I tell you to do or I’ll just get you out of the way and do it myself. It will just take a little longer if I have to crack through the security system myself. You have a passcard. Use it.”

Gavin stared at her while debating with himself. He had no idea if this woman would be able to make reality of her threats. She was alone and he was almost twice her size. Thoughts of what he could do with all that money he’d get for her ran through his mind.

“Fine. I’ll help you.” He lowered his gun and walked off towards the control panel that would release the train from its locks. He heard a soft thud behind him as she jumped down, landing on the platform. She followed. Good. He’d have to be close if he wanted to have a chance. He wouldn’t get nearly as much for her if she ended up dead but the Bright Foundation would celebrate him as a hero for her capture.

“Hurry up old man. It’s in your best interest to just get this over with quickly.”
Gavin threw a glance at her and fumbled with his passcard. She sighed impatiently. That’s when he turned to grab her by the collar. He was prepared for a fight but she looked indifferent as he held his hand tight around her neck and his gun pointed right between her eyes.

“I can’t let you go on with this shit you’re doing. I don’t know what you want with this train but you won’t be going anywhere. I’m taking you directly to security base.” He tightened his grip just in case she decided to start resisting but she didn’t.

“It would have been so easy for you to just help me out. Now it’s too late.”

He was about to respond when a sharp pain shot through the back of his head and his vision blurred. Stumbling down onto his knees on the platform he heard the footsteps of several people around him. Gavin squinted up at the woman now standing over him with a look of disappointment on her face. Walking up behind her was a group of people dressed in dark, dirty rags. One of them held a metal pipe. Her pack of rats... Of course. How could he have been stupid enough to think she'd walk around alone. The rats moved to stand behind her and Tsygan gave him a slightly apologetic smile.

“This isn’t personal old man, you were just in my way.”