The War of Civlar Read online

CHAPTER 6 - FLIGHT QF-204

  “Airbus QF-204 if ready for departure,” the loudspeakers announce cheerily.

  Nancy looks around at her fellow passengers that now made their way casually towards the aircraft. Unlike the regular crowd, this particular flight was full of lawyers, psychiatrists, various specialists and technicians. Very apt, considering that this was not a 'regular' destination.

  Their aircraft, the UI-9, was considered small by conventional standards. This added further to the feelings of trepidation now welling up inside her. However, she knew that she needed to visit her grandson and this was the only way in which to accomplish that goal.

  As with all airports in Civlar, there were no immigration or customs and Nancy thankfully found herself seated in the comfort of the cabin within moments. She heard the doors closing and compressing, the engines firing up and then the slight shudder of the fuselage as the craft began to hover its way to the top of the Dome. They proceed slowly towards the airlock. As the great gates crash behind them, the external gates open, and the craft accelerates out into the polluted Earth. She looks back at the 10 turrets towering above the dome as they slowly disappear into the distance.

  She clasps her hands and produces a long sigh. This is noticed by a flight attendant who promptly walks over to attend to the comfort of her passenger. She's seen this kind of thing before, and she knows exactly what to say.

  “You need not worry, madam, our aircraft is made out of the same materials as the Dome itself – and you don't seen and viruses of Nanos in there do you?” she smiles.

  “I know my fear is illogical,” Nancy chuckled, “but I'm still scared.”

  The rest of the 2 hour flight to the outskirts of Civlar would be quite enjoyable. Although she had passed her prime with respects to enjoying the in-flight benefits and partying she did manage to have a few conversations with the fellow passengers and watch half of a movie.

  Towards the latter part of the flight, something strange started to happen. She had noticed the worried expressions on the faces of several flight attendants and some hasty scampering by the crew. Immediately her previous paranoia returned to her and she called upon an attendant to explain what is happening.

  “What's going on?” Nancy whispers.

  “There is a lady who had fallen asleep and ... she isn't waking up.”

  “That's bizarre, will she be alright.”

  “Of course – our medics are looking into it as we speak.”

  After some minutes, the commotion appears to end. Curious to discover the conclusion, Nancy steps up and walks towards the front of the aircraft and begins to make inquiries. Being slightly nosy was one of the benefits of being elderly.

  “Heroin overdose, would you believe?” laughs the attendant.

  Heroin?

  “Yes, it struck us by surprise too. The medics thought their equipment was defective – but the auxiliary tests confirmed it. She's awake now; we gave her some revival drugs.” She pointed at a drowsy looking woman sitting near the front row.

  Although heroin was not illegal, it is considered to be crude beyond belief. Nobody uses it. It seemed extremely odd – no doubt the TV crews would be waiting upon landing to put it on the “Darwin Files”. Perhaps she’d get some prize money, if people thought it was the funniest of the season.

  “What happened?” Nancy asks quietly to the female passenger.

  “Ahhh... I'm not sure, I fell asleep. But, I didn't take any heroin! I think there might be a rapist on board....”

  “Terrible!”

  “Yes, the police have been notified at our destination, but just keep it between ourselves. The best chance of capture is to let him think he's not been detected,” informed the flight attendant overhearing the conversation.

  “Well, he's chosen the right destination, hasn't he?” exclaimed another flight attendant.

  They reached their destination.

  The procedure for entering the other Dome would be quite different from leaving the previous one. Again, a set of airlocks were involved, but this time two turrets were poised directly at the aircraft. The decontamination process had started. While the air outside started to glow hot, the windows closed to save the passengers from the blinding light. The process took three minutes and the air started to return to normal. The viewing windows opened again, now that the blinding light of the decontamination mechanism had been removed.

  “Scanning for contaminants,” announced the pilot.

  Everybody groaned. It took longer to scan for contaminants than the flight had taken. Every atom inside the aircraft was analyzed by the remote scanners at the airport. All the time, the turrets remain fixed on the aircraft.

  Back at her own seat, Nancy sees that the woman in front of her now looked nervous. She was wearing horns on her head and was quite young and fit. She is glad that it was not just the elderly that was afraid of flying.

  CHAPTER 7 - WORKERS OF THE REALM