She arrived by train, a long bullet of light sitting low on a single concave rail, pushing forward through the city with a barely detectable buzz. A dome of warm glow welcomed her at the end of this journey. The station, from afar, reminded her of a lone shell lost on land far away from any sea. It was busy with travellers coming and leaving, full of kind, smiling faces, rustling shoes, and children laughing. Some of the passengers were pleasantly lost, perhaps waiting for something or someone. She wasn't in a hurry, always on time, making sure everything was as planned earlier.

As the people passed in a rush, her eyes wandered in an admiring notion, gazing upon the complicated murals and mosaics of the station. The fading night sky opened above through brilliant honeycomb glass, both sheltering and inviting beyond at the same time. Pax let her mind roam through the perfectly irregular pathways of dreams, allowing herself to breathe in all the colour and light for just a few more minutes.

Beyond the station, on its northern side, grew a young forest patched with shallow ponds that led to the administrative district. The path was light and fresh; the smell of wet grass lingered in the air, accompanied by the soft light that diffracted the shadows scattered everywhere after the night, pushing them back into their otherworldly refuge. A young forest, patched with shallow ponds, stretched beyond the station's northern side, leading to the administrative district. The path was light and fresh, the damp earth carrying the fragrance of the dew-laden grass.

White, ever-blooming magnolias and silver weeping willows danced an ethereal ballet between dark, heavy cedars. Blue-eyed grasses and multi-colored hellebores guided the wanderers, their colours still tainted by the ghostly shade of electrical lamps. As the dawn grew stronger, they would gasp and release a wisp of prismatic smoke, refracting the light for a few spectacular seconds.

Polished stone slabs led the way through this infant jungle, almost perfect squares on each step, but she made a great effort not to step on any of the cracked ones. It was more than a walk; it was a gentle dance, a long-forgotten child's game.

It was quiet, the air motionless as it awaited the new day to assert its power. An occasional siren or the roar of a big engine in the distance would break the spell. After a while, she began to hear distant voices. Like a birdsong growing louder, they accompanied her steps, luring and promising. She could distinguish the words and give names to the voices. Now, away from her serene hideout, the figures and faces became clear as she left the park and neared the government buildings and the crowd of people.

But she also noticed that it wasn't just a unified crowd of people. There was a second group, still half asleep but already prepared to disrupt this ceremony. Protesters had gathered at dawn, wanting to be heard, wanting the security forces to notice them. The agora was planning to open the stellar dome to allow anyone to come and go at their will. The dome protected the safety of the colony from enemies. They thought we were safe, and even the recent tragedy didn't suave their minds.

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"Captain on the bridge!" A broad, tall man with rough but handsome features shouted enthusiastically. Athamos Terra'es. He made sure it was loud enough for everyone present to turn their heads in her direction. Embarrassing.

"Thanks, Atho, but not yet." She pulled the man's cap down over his eyes, gladly accepting the joke. He replied with an infectious grin and gave a bow.

"Why else do you think we are here?" Another voice caught her attention as a woman behind the pair spoke. She was also tall and well-built but still showing all of her female charms; long ombre hair like exotic streams flowed over her darker skin, full of golden threads and gems, creating a breathtaking scene. Her name was Ino Vearstton. Pax embraced her and greeted with a few warm whispery words of female confidence.

"You look like a nebula of colours!" Pax gasped as she admired her friend. "Doesn't she, Atho?"

She directed the question to the smiling jester, who oddly took a while to answer. Pax could see he was pressing his tongue against his teeth, looking for an answer.

"Never saw anyone more spectacular!" He finally agreed fiercely. Pax knew about his and Ino's growing feelings for each other, but they pretended to be oblivious about it, thinking nobody has noticed. The woman accepted the compliment gladly.

"This is such a grand day; we know you will get the promotion. I heard the committee was also impressed with your results in the forensics investigations, and in my opinion, all of this..." Ino tried to encircle the crown, buildings, and the whole celebration, with her hands. As she moved, a thousand colours gleamed on her like waves. "All is just because of you! The rest is just a prelude to the main event, and yet you hide under veils, my dearest friend!"

It was very true, as Pax was a beautiful creature of gentle, light complexion. Her eyes had the colour of the clearest turquoise, and her hair seemed to have captured the golden rays of the sun. Yet, despite all this, she hid under a grey lace veil. Ino gently forced it down, revealing a gleam of gold, dazzling in the morning sun.

"You know, a little lipstick won't hurt anybody..." Her lips turned into a disappointed line, as she tried not to remark on Pax's simple cut white dress. It was appropriate for the occasion, and the material gave out a light glow, but it wasn't stunning. And today everyone wanted to look their best in front of the Aeronautic and Space-flight Academy committee. But Pax, she always seemed to take a shy step back, although her heart jumped to the front rows. Yet, despite that, if needed, she was strong-headed when it came to voicing her opinions. Finally, the time came when they had to join the crowd and its wild current into the building. It was loud because of the protesters, but they kept their distance for now and behaved with respect. For now.

Pax looked around, conscious of the crowd.

"Is everything under control here?" Soldiers created a long line that separated two groups, kinetic shield batons in their hands.

Ino shrugged. "Politics. They don't want this city-nation to be open to the outer worlds."

"Why would they? We have been under the protection of the Union for centuries."

"It's all politics. Best to keep away from it." Atho smirked. "They know what they are doing. If not, the military will step in to remind them."

"I hope you are right. With all the stuff going on right now, the last thing we need is a coup."

"The politicians will make a vote in two days. Don't worry." Ino added as they moved. "After that, all those nationalist freaks will be shut down."

With a quick glance behind them over the human wall, they saw a random flare light appear.