Travel through the transference system vaguely reminded Elisa Woodward of that time when she went into cryostasis on the Dolya, the ancient colony ship whose mission went awry and ultimately landed her in her remote colony in the Messier 39 star cluster.
She relived one of her first traumatic experiences after that endless voyage; her seeing the streaks of ghastly bloodshot bruises on her skin. She imagined what she must have looked like on the inside at that time, as most of the radiation damage had been caused by her own decaying atoms that had failed to pass the test of time.
Time, time...
0.0389148300416... her mind calculated.
Percent!
Time of my existence not spent in stasis.
The transference process made the strangest thoughts come up.
Time, time...
One cannot rewind time...
But one can go back.
Elisa awoke abruptly in an immaculate arrivals cabin. The opposite wall displayed a spectacular projection of a savannah, as if viewed from a considerable height. Its swaying grass was caught in a crimson sunset. The scene was animated, and Elisa could make out herds of animals wading through a distant glittering river.
Stylized silver letters swirled in the breeze.
WELCOME TO EARTH
The dizziness wore off quickly. Elisa jumped out of the transference booth and the device closed behind her, readying itself for the next arrival. The cabin contained a small washing basin and a mirror. Elisa was pleased to find that her body closely resembled the short but athletic stature of her original. She noticed that this version's skin was slightly paler and more youthful in appearance than her original's biological 27 years of age, devoid of blemishes as it was. Her hair was still slightly moist.
The walls surrounding the arrivals booth were lined with a wardrobe containing finely cut clothes and shoes. Most of it was undoubtedly fashionable, but not to her taste. She looked for something practical and quickly settled on dark pants and a thin turtleneck shirt. A copper-colored collar caught her eye, so she removed her Provider dogtag from her neck and replaced it with some difficulty, as the collar's lock was fiddly. Browsing through the jackets, she selected a dark green faux-leather one with black trims and a zipper on the front. It felt comfortable and practical, with a useful layout of pockets. Elisa slipped her dogtag into the inner pocket.
As she stepped through the exit door, she found a tall and slender hostess awaiting her.
"Good afternoon, your notability. Welcome to Earth. Oyana for the Feudatoriate, to serve at your pleasure," she said curtly, in a well-spoken manner carried by a warm, ringing voice. The hostess radiated class and possessed an innate beauty by any standard.
Attractive sapphire eyes accentuated by bright green and golden make-up drew attention to her glowing round, dark-skinned face. She wore tall boots under a voguish ashen and beige robe held together by what Elisa assumed to be a blue and golden Feudatoriate badge at the shoulder. Her thick black hair contained a copious amount of small golden accessories and swirling filigree.
"Thank you," Elisa responded, hiding her discomfort. This hostess was a contracted disposable. Why have contractors on an already overpopulated planet?, she wondered, although she was relieved that there had been no abasing behavior.
"If your notability would follow me, please," the melodious voice asked. Elisa nodded and followed the hostess through a wide corridor and a lobby clad with precious veined black, bone, and salmon colored stone. Exotic tropical plants bearing yellow and pink flowers stood primly, lining the walls.
Stylish furniture was occupied by a colorful ensemble of people, many of them dressed in what appeared to be a diverse variety of elaborate, traditional ethnic garbs. Draped from the walls of the lobby were hanging banners that bore the hexagonal symbol that Elisa knew represented the Service Department of Conveyance, the organization responsible for operating the Transference network.
The far wall of the lobby was transparent and gave a vista to a spectacular view. Piercing through a silver cloud cover at least two hundred meters below were countless vast spires under a bright yellow sky. The view extended hundreds of kilometers, although the visible part of the cityscape did not reach that far.
Near the northern horizon, Elisa could see the thin curve of what she knew would have to be a launch ramp. This was a megastructure allowing vessels and cargo to be flung into orbit and beyond at a favorable cost. To the left and right of it, the thin purple refractive lines of beamed energy trailed in the direction of the sun, some of its energy radiating away in the atmosphere and producing a small amount of visible light.
Her guide paused to let Elisa admire the vista.
"Your notability finds the view elating?"
"It has changed considerably. For the better. Back in my time, we did not have structures as tall as these, and the clouds were not so white. Is one of those Cyrus, in the distance?", she asked, referring to the Solar collector near Mercury that powered much of Earth during her time.
"Cyrus is still operational, your notability. But in present times, most energy is gifted by the Providers. Earth would not have thrived without them."
"Naturally," Elisa answered. "Nothing ever seems to thrive without the Providers."
Her sarcasm was lost on Oyana, who smiled sincerely. "I agree wholeheartedly with your notability," she replied. "Would your notability care for some refreshments?"
"No thank you," Elisa replied, before turning away from the windows.
"This way, please, your notability," Oyana's pleasant voice directed, as she mustered another smile.
Elisa followed her through another series of corridors until coming to an elevator lobby. There was a security checkpoint manned by broad-shouldered guards in blue uniforms. Elisa only now noticed how nearly all the people she had seen so far had colored skin, while all the security officers were white, without exception.
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Oyana motioned that Elisa should go through the checkpoint first. She did and stood in front of the security desk and thought of removing her dogtag for inspection, but the officer gestured that it was unnecessary and instead looked at details on his monitor.
"Welcome home, your notability" he finally said.
"Thanks," Elisa replied as she went through.
Oyana followed immediately afterward and directed her into a large elevator. Two dozen people in pristine clothing were inside, waiting. The elevator rapidly sped downwards, but the journey still took several minutes. Elisa eyed the people around her, noticing how each wore elaborately decorated dogtags.
The doors finally opened into a domed terminal hall at least half a kilometer across. Elevator shafts were surrounded by escalators both up and downwards, leading towards the public transit capsule platforms below and the aero platforms above. On top of six raised pedestals placed at strategic intervals above the teeming crowd, Elisa spotted enforcers of the Compliance department in full combat gear.
"Expecting an invasion?", Elisa asked her hostess above the noise of the relentless shuffling masses and intercom announcements.
"Riots, your notability."
"You need SIX Compliance enforcers to deal with riots?"
"No, your notability. Earth is garrisoned by Compliance."
"Garrisoned? What does that mean?"
"Effectively it means enforcers on every block, your notability."
"You don't have to say 'your notability' in every sentence."
"As you wish."
They cleared the checkpoint and made their way towards the escalators. Elisa was surprised by how colorful people dressed and how spotless clean the terminal plaza was. More exotic plants lined the spacious walkways.
"How many enforcers?"
"To my knowledge there are roughly fifty million enforcers garrisoned on Earth."
"Fifty million?! Each carrying ordnance that can easily reduce one of these sky-rises to rubble?"
"Precisely. That is why there is at least one on every block."
"That is like a gun to everyone's head."
"I am ashamed to say Earth has repeatedly upset the Providers, your notability."
"What happened?", Elisa asked, surprised. "These people here, they look far more civil than what I was used to... Not like rioters."
"The people that are present here are citizens."
"Who is rioting then, the contractors?"
Oyana froze, a shocked and hurt expression staining her previously happy face.
"I'm sorry," Elisa said, and Oyana instantly composed herself.
"The helots are rioting, your notability."
"Helots? I haven't heard of that stratum before."
"There was much turmoil in the aftermath of humanity’s subjugation. Since integration was a lengthy process on Earth, the Providers withheld full citizenship to the masses. Everyone was merely granted helot status, and most of them still are such. Citizenship remains extremely rare. And without citizenship, it is not possible to leave Earth on one's own accord."
"So most people are stuck here? This is not what happened to our colony. How are the relations between Earth and the other human worlds?"
"At Feudatoriate level, I am pleased to report all is well. However, the helot masses remain discontent. It is, as you say, a powder keg. The tiniest spark, and there are riots."
They rode up the escalator and were politely greeted by a uniformed Feudatoriate pilot, who ensured they were seated before closing the door of the vehicle.
After the aero zoomed out of the hangar, it was immediately surrounded by fog, restricting visibility to a few hundred meters at best. At least that hasn't changed. Welcome home indeed, Elisa thought. She glanced out of the window. Row after row after row of imposing, densely packed ranks of tall, unappealing condominiums jutted imposingly out of the gloom.
At set intervals, the pattern broke to a riot of color as they flew past an amenity block. The craft ascended, rising above the cityscape, filing into an orderly traffic pattern. The recognizable pattern of urb-blocks kept repeating below. The world as a wallpaper, Elisa thought. Every so often, the monstrous foundation of a sky-rise could be discerned, towering seemingly endlessly upwards before vanishing into the clouds.
Water rippled over the cabin's windows. Even though there was no rain, the air was so laden with humidity its contents latched onto the craft.
Not much time passed before the aero descended towards another sky-rise hangar. Elisa estimated they had traveled less than twenty kilometers. After passing through another busy terminal hall and another security checkpoint, Elisa and Oyana found themselves racing upwards once more. This was no express elevator. There were frequent stops along the way up, people milling in and out, paying them little mind. Finally, the doors slid open and they walked from the elevator landing area into a vestibule that rivaled the transference station's lobby in opulence.
"Ah, weeeelcome and good eveninnng," a well-groomed red-haired man in a black suit and a bowtie greeted them. His drawn-out voice rang through the otherwise deserted foyer. "The notable ser Woodward and estimable Oyana, 'tis such a pleasure that you grace us with your visit. Ah, Lonza for the Corzant Pension, at your service," he introduced himself, broadly smiling throughout.
"Thank you," Elisa said.
"If you would go this way, my most esteemed guests, you will be shown to your suites."
His white-gloved hands made a broad gesture towards the main corridor, yet he made no move to lead or follow. Elisa went ahead regardless. She did not have to proceed far before another black-suited, red-haired man appeared around a corner.
"If you would follow me please, most esteemed guests..." he said with a smile and familiar wide gesture.
"Ser, are you also Lonza?", Elisa asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Oh, you grace me too much, your notability. Indeed, I am Lonza, for the Corzant Pension."
"If I say something to you, will the other Lonza back there know?"
"We share our experiences immediately, your notability. Lonza will know."
They arrived in a splendid foyer dominated by a marble and gold stately staircase covered in red carpet. The place appeared quiet. Elisa had more questions.
"Could you tell me at which capacity the Pension is operating, Lonza?"
"Ah, your notability. We are currently only operating at 7.2% capacity."
"On such a populated world, that seems awfully low. Is there an explanation for this figure?"
"There is indeed, your notability. The Corzant Pension is contracted exclusively to the Feudatoriate. We serve their short-term visitors. Regrettably, the number of visitors has been dropping steadily year over year."
They ascended the stairs to the first floor landing and went into a corridor to the left. Approaching from the other end was a grey tabby cat with prominent white paws and a blue collar.
"Good evening, Linzi!" Lonza spoke in greeting to the cat.
The cat raised its tail, but otherwise gave the humans wide berth. After they passed, it rolled its back onto the carpet.
"You keep animals here?" Elisa wondered.
"It pleases me to inform your notability that Linzi has been a member of staff for two hundred and forty years, entertaining our esteemed guests," Lonza replied cheerfully.
Elisa was surprised and couldn't help but ask the rhetorical question. "Your cat is immortal?"
"Indeed, your notability. The Providers extend their grace to beloved pets."
Elisa stopped. "Lonza, how old are you, if I may ask? This particular instance of you, I mean."
"I am six, your notability."
"And what of the oldest current instance of Lonza at the Pension?"
"Eleven years and five months, your notability."
"Do you see my point?"
"I'm afraid not, your notability," Lonza said, smiling helplessly.
Elisa paused and thought, but did not know what to say.
"Please take us to our suites, Lonza."
"My pleasure, your notability."