The acoustics of the passageway were unsettling, to say
the least. Likely it was unintentional, as the tunnels were never
meant for walking, but this did little to reassure either Lisa or
Gerald. Neither of them dared to talk, instead sharing their
trepidation with each other via short glances. Oblivious to all of
this, the personal communicator on Lisa's wrist continued to convey
Alice's voice.
"I wish to warn you of this now, so that you are prepared
when you reach the other end of this tunnel. Neon Colony is not at
all like the colony you have just left. Life is very different
there. Though I try my best to prevent lawlessness and needless
deaths, the residents of this colony are far less..." the massive
computer seemed to falter for a word momentarily "civilized, I
suppose, than you are accustomed to."
The bit of personality which Alice had let leak through
was lost on Lisa. She was too busy staring over at Gerald. He was
returning her horrified stare, the same thoughts coursing through his
mind as hers: Lawlessness and needless deaths?
"What do you mean, deaths?" Lisa demanded sharply, shock
having overcome the eeriness of the tunnel.
Alice paused. "Lisa, you will find Neon Colony to be
nowhere near as populated as your home. Shortly after Interdiction
was broken, a group of fanatics staged revolt. Though their numbers
were small, they were fiercely determined, and in the chaos that
ensued, they found it easy to convert others to their cause. They
offered faith, where everything else was chaos. The mission of the
colony was forgotten. The fanatics wiped out all opposition, and
turned their back on me and the rest of the Europa."
Lisa stopped in her tracks. "You said one of your criteria
for letting us cross was that we'd get along with these people! And
now you're telling us we're likely to get killed?"
"That is not the case, Miss Neff." The computer seemed
happy to be able to relate at least a little bit of good news. "The
current colony is a great deal less hostile toward both me and
outsiders than its factional predecessors. They will likely take you
as converts. I believed that your life would improve in this colony -
almost everyone who arrives here is seeking the same thing as you.
Opportunity. Here, you will have it. Gerald, you can create
buildings and structures here, as the extensive damage suffered during
the revolts still has not been entirely repaired. Lisa, you have the
insight of another culture altogether. However distrustful of
outsiders they may be, they are as eager to hear of something new as
you are."
Lisa and Gerald shared another glance. Both were
uncertain, but they couldn't turn back now. If Alice said they were
safe....
"You are very close to the exit." Alice added. "I would
like to add one final bit of advice - do not consult me via this
communicator while others are within earshot. Let them believe that
it is meant to keep you in communication with your family. It would
likely disturb them to know you speak with me."
Lisa shivered to herself, a sudden feeling of mortality
coming over her. If Alice didn't want to be found out by these
people, chances were good that there was nothing the computer could do
to protect Lisa, if it became necessary.
She started walking forward again, Gerald walking next to
her with a very still expression. Leaving was turning out to be far
different than they had thought.
The passageway had been curving slowly, it seemed. They
hadn't been able to see the entrance to Neon colony until they were
nearly upon it. With not a little trepidation, the two walked into
a Corridor that looked almost exactly like the one in Helium Colony.
Looking forward, Lisa could see where the tunnel would have continued
on through Neon Colony.
It was the first real, physical evidence of what Alice had
been saying - the far end of the corridor was blocked off. Debris was
piled in front of the far entranceway - a loose collection of girders,
molten metal, and other items Lisa found she couldn't identify. She
shivered, and hoped Alice was right, and they would be safe.
Regardless, they had decided to come this way.
Aside from having two exits, the corridor was no different
than the Helium Colony corridor had been. It took very little time to
locate the maintainance stairway which would take them back up to
ground level.
"Lisa, I want to go first." Gerald said, moving to
intercept Lisa at the stairway.
Lisa blinked at her friend. "What?"
"I want to go first. In case there's someone up there..."
he trailed off, looking somewhat sheepish.
Lisa felt the urge to yell at him. What, she needed
protection now? "Gerald, that's stupid. Alice will -"
"Shh!" her friend said abruptly. "Weren't you paying
attention? We can't count on her help. The people here have turned
their back on Alice, and we're going to have to at least pretend that
we're doing tha same."
Lisa looked at her friend strangely. What was going on?
Why was he suddenly so serious about everything?
He's worried about you, she thought to herself.
He's afraid that something's going to happen if you're not careful.
That was absurd, of course. Nothing was going to happen,
she could take care of herself, and she didn't need Gerald looking
over her shoulder.
There's more to it than that, and you know it. her
mind countered. She shook her head, not willing to entertain such
ideas. "Fine, go ahead." she said, deciding that it wasn't worth
arguing the point with Gerald.
Gerald nodded, a bit uneasily. He didn't seem quite sure
that Lisa had, in fact, given up the argument. God, she wasn't going to
have to argue him into leading the way now, was she?
The moment passed, however, and Gerald started up the
somewhat narrow stairway. Lisa followed, her thoughts whirling as she
tried to put everything together. Things were changing a lot faster
than she preferred - even Gerald was changing.
Gerald was already at the doorway which, in their colony,
would have taken them to one of the main promenades. Lisa could only
hope that the colonies were designed similarly. Otherwise they'd get
lost rather quickly.
Gerald had been trying to open the door while Lisa had
made her way over to him. It was clear he had met with little
success.
"It seems to be locked." Lisa pointed out. Her remark
earned her a glare from Gerald, followed by a sigh.
"I don't understand - the one in our corridor didn't lock
from this side." He tapped the keypad impatiently. "I don't know if
there's a way through."
"I could ask -" Lisa cut herself short before Gerald did
so. They couldn't ask Alice for help, she knew. But it certainly
would come in handy.
Gerald nodded as Lisa stopped her statement. "Good. Now,
do you think you might be able to work around this lock? I know you
know a thing or two about electronics."
Lisa looked annoyed. "I know a thing or two about Expert
Computing, not electronics. Sorry, but unless that keypad's got a
keyboard, integrated debugger, and immersive screen, I can't do a
thing about it."
Gerald frowned, taking on an air of false offense. "I
knew, I just thought I'd ask. Maybe you picked it up on the walk
over, you never know."
Lisa laughed, feeling a little bit more of the old
friendliness come back into the situation. "Thanks, Gerald, I needed
that."
"Hey, no problem." He turned back to the keypad, punching
in another combination.
With an audible click, the door swung open. Lisa felt
tempted to hug Gerald in excitement. Instead, she just jumped and
shouted "Gerald, all right!"
Gerald looked confused as he turned his gaze to the newly
opened door. "But I hadn't finished entering -"
He was cut off as a uniformed man, barely older than Lisa
herself, walked through the door, holding what looked like a
police-issue stunrod ahead of him.
A moment of silence passed, before the guard said what
they all had been thinking.
"Holy shit!"
[Neon] Log -
Contents -
[Neon] Part II
Geocities