The district of the Third Ring is barren compared to the scenery of the Inner Gardens. Not that Ster has seen much of the lush landscapes that decorate the Citadel. But she has glimpses sometimes, when the maintenance tunnels that run beneath the district are blocked for construction. Then she gets to walk outside, ever so briefly, on the way to the power station.
Like other Spark plugs in the graveyard shift, her job is to keep the lights shining in the Citadel. All she has to do is stand next to the generators and focus to keep them running. It’s better than meaningless gruntwork, and it’s only reserved for those who can control the Flux Negation Field steadily to avoid power surges.
“Spark ID?” the operator asks at the station’s first checkpoint through a set of blasted speakers.
“Number 7–9–9–5 — Lightbringer,” she responds monotonically. The operator dutifully checks the chart and lets her in.
“They’ve been ramping up security after the incident,” the operator says. She doesn’t recognize him, but it isn’t uncommon for the Architects to mix up schedules to keep Sparks from being too acquainted with each other.
“Just do your job and you’ll be fine,” Ster thinks to herself.
Ster arrives at her station and is confused, “Is the relay routing power to sector 1–1–3–8?”
“3–2–2–9…” The operator whispers.
“That’s the Third Ring, operator.”
“Keep your voice down!” He points toward the Ordinal standing guard outside the room. Then explains, “The incident… The hospital needs power to tend to the wounded. I take full responsibility.”
Ster hesitates, but begins channeling the FNF. The generator spurs to life, filling the room with a metallic purr as energy flows stealthily toward sector 3229 in the Outer Rings.
It didn’t take long for the Ordinals to notice. No matter how much the Operator pleaded, the full punishment would be implemented. And as they dragged his corpse out, Ster bogarted his mask. A mask that would, for many, be a symbol of the Revolution.
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