It's taken forever I know…just tons of end-of-year schoolwork plus I wasn't sure how I wanted Zion to be…so yeah it's sorta short but I wanted you to have something to chew on and the last chapter was pretty long…
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The gate to Zion ALONE was impressive. Two huge metal doors and on either side gigantic pillars even with statues. They were old and worn, chipping and crumbling away, a look at faded grandeur.
"Zion used to be a sort of vacation place." Edrahil explained, "It was meant only for the rich, a place to escape. It's been modified since then, to serve as the last city."
"Who would WANT to vacation underground?" I asked.
"Well, it was a new thing back then, and a large amount. But once war got on they discontinued use of the city. That's why the machines don't know where it is. It was named Zion meaning heaven, the perfect place to vacation. If you look around there's metal and rock, almost everything metal has been added. The gate was added, but the pillars stayed." He looked back over to the gate as is started to open, "Zion is still vacation for people like us."
The gate slowly opened and we eased through. Bright artificial light flooded the huge hanger. Huge Greek style warriors lined the walls; even waterfalls came from the walls running down to pipes beneath the ground. This was juxtaposed to the metal ceiling, and landing pad. A control tower was in the center along with several buildings. Machines controlled by men were lined around, a few with men inside waiting for an unexpected attack.
Zion had nine levels I was told. The first one being the hanger and first line of defense, the second was technical support and more defenses. The third was the orphanage and the workplace where stuff that machines couldn't make was done by hand. Level four was for residents, level five had the main market, council/meeting hall, and things like pools with waterfalls, even a small garden where the last few precious plants were still alive. Level six and seven were residents, and level eight was the main meeting room. Most of the residents could fit there; it was the last defense, if attacked that was where the residents would stay. It was the old grand hall, a place you could party, and can still party. The last level, level nine was the machinery, what kept Zion alive. Machinery that filtered and circulated air and water, kept it a reasonable temperature, all that good stuff. The true heart of the city was machines, ironic isn't it?
I packed up a few things, just some clothes and small sculpture Mouse made me. In case I had to leave, he had said quietly before shuffling off, odd kid. Then we walk down the ramp leading outside. I wanted to be in the very back but Edrahil had me in the middle.
"Welcome back Apollos," said a man walking to meet us, two people on either side of him. "Or is that the right word?" Edrahil stiffened, "freed another without consulting me I see? I assume you would like to keep them too. Please try to remember that I never allowed that, but unfortunately the council did. I don't believe in Oracle's, Apollos, it's a fool's hope, what we need is power, not children."
"I feel welcome already, Zarofe," mumbled Loki. If anyone heard them they didn't say anything. So this was the general, I didn't like him much.
"I am in charge of my crew; you are in charge of your fleet. Decisions like who to free are not yours to make, they made me Captain because they trust my decisions." Said Apollos calmly, looking straight ahead.
"And they made you General to keep you away from the crews," add Loki in a mumble. Once again everyone pretended they didn't hear.
"Well where is he? Or she?" snapped the General, well sorry if I'm not tall! Apollos moved back to reveal me. "What is your name?" he barked.
"Araval, sir!" I said back, not quite wondering if I should have said sir, but safe then sorry I say.
"Well hopefully we will get you off that ship and away from bad influences in a jiffy," he said no more and turned to walk off. What a warm welcome. "I'll see you in ruins before I die Apollos!" Zarofe called back.
"We love you too, Zarofe," said Loki sarcasm so thick it could frost a cake.
I now could look around, we were on a kind of rise, and there was a bridge leading to the central tower, Zarofe had just gotten halfway through, we picked up our stuff and began to the bridge.