Where the Sidewalk Ends (the story) - Part 7

Closing his eyes, Kayden manages another bite of the nearly tasteless protein bar before tossing it aside. He chews an absurdly long time before choking it down.

After having tried fresh food, it was nearly impossible for him to go back to the densely compacted rations the working class endured. Kayden was sure he’d lost several pounds since returning.

The month hadn’t flown by. In fact, each day was increasingly more torturous than the last. His only escape had been in sleep, where his dreams conjured the brief moments he’d spent beyond the wall.

But tonight he’d finally begin his shift in the section next to the server room's location. His mind is whirring with the information Einith gave him and the different scenarios they’d gone over before he left. No amount of planning could truly prepare him for what he might run into, but the act had helped to ground him then, as it does now.

“You gonna finish that?” The tired question jerks Kayden back to the present and he glances at the scruffy, sandy-haired kid hovering next to him. Dani, his bunkmate, nods to Kayden’s half eaten bar.

“Nope. You can have it if you want it.” Sliding the bar along the table towards Dani, Kayden moves over as Dani flops onto the bench beside him.

“Thanks. Crud, these split shifts are killing me,” he grumbles as he gnaws off a hunk of the bar.

Noticing Dani’s pale face and dark circles under his eyes, Kayden doesn’t doubt it. In fact, as busy as the mess-hall was tonight, the lack of conversation had him wondering how many others were being overworked.

Dani was a big kid who’d quickly outgrown duct maintenance. Currently, he was repairing various sections of track for the bullet train. The work was physically brutal, with minimal downtime.

“How long they have you slugging track around?” Kayden asks, feeling sympathy when he notices Dani’s roughed up hands.

“Another week, at least,” Dani grumbles before popping the rest of the food into his mouth.

Kayden nods, wondering what that week will look like for Dani if Kayden completes his task. When Verdant taps into Pinnacle’s communications, every computer screen, viewing monitor and announcement system is going to be relaying the truth about the outside world.

He just hopes that whatever happens will eventually help people like Dani live a more meaningful life.

“Doesn’t seem fair, hey Dani?”

The bigger kid gives Kayden an odd look. “Fair? Nah, it is what it is. That’s all. We ain't no one-percenters. What do we know about fair?” He snorts and shrugs before standing. “Better get some sleep before my next shift starts. See ya.”

“Yeah, see ya, Dani.”

And there it is. What this place taught people like him to believe. They aren’t the elite, so why should their lives be fair? Why should someone like him, like Dani, live with beauty? Live with fresh food, fresh air and blue skies. This city bred the working-class to keep the one-percenters happy and in their glass homes that towered so high above the world.

Kayden clenches his fists under the table. "Glass is breakable. We just need to wake up and see that we hold the rocks.” And it will be him giving them those rocks once he installs the chip.

Suddenly restless, Kayden jumps up, stowing his tray in the cleaning bin before leaving the mess-hall and rushing back to his bunk.

Pulling out his goggles, mask, vest and work belt from the trunk at the end of his bed, he puts them on with more eagerness than ever in his life. “Better not show up too early for my shift or they’ll think something's wrong with me.”

Leaving the dorm, he takes the ‘scenic’ route, avoiding the bullet train in favour of a brisk walk.

As people file past him, all he notices are their blank stares as they hurry to their assignments or back to their dorms. There was hardly any life in their gaze, and certainly no joy. How had he never noticed it before?

Because I was once like them. Unaware that there could be more. Or that I deserved more.

Now, more than ever, he’s determined to give the rest of the working class that knowledge.

Reaching the duct entrance hatch with ten minutes to spare, Kayden keys in the security code with deft fingers. He studiously ignores the security camera. With any luck, he would complete his mission tonight or the next.

This section only required the usual cleaning and preventative maintenance, so once he was done, he should have enough time to check out the server room. That would give him some idea about his next steps.

It would mean entering an area outside his work zone, but thankfully, the only security cameras were the ones at the main entrance to the ducts. If the essential work was getting done, and he clocked in and out on time, he doubted anyone would be the wiser.

The ducts are dark as usual, with the occasional bulb casting a weak glow that only illuminated a few feet around it. Kayden clicks on his headlamp and groans when he sees the grime buildup along several key lengths of piping. Obviously, he’s the first to step foot in this section in several months at least. “Fantastic.”

Ignoring the oily metallic smell of the place, he pulls his goggles down and sets to work. As long as he makes headway here, he’ll leave himself enough time to investigate the server room.

Why do the scheduled work at all? Why not simply head to the server room, find a way in, and figure out where the chip goes? He asks himself. “Because I need to take this part slow and not draw attention to myself. Scope the place out and go from there.” His answering mumble echoes faintly around him.

Einith said any connection port on the supercomputer would work. He just needed to get inside, insert it, and let the virus take its course. With that done, Kayden would book it for the tunnel.

A large greasy blob hits Kayden’s forehead as he runs the cleaning pole over the clogged pipes. Other than shaking his head to dislodge it, he ignores the uncomfortable sensation.

Feeling his shoulders cramping up, he decides it’s a good time to end the night's work. He has just over an hour before he’s supposed to clock out and return to his dorm. “Plenty of time to take a detour.” Sighing, he stretches out his cramped muscles before putting his tools off to the side.

Absently, his hand feels for the small package containing the chip that’s tucked into his inside pocket. He knew it wasn’t going anywhere, but that didn’t stop him from obsessively checking for it.

“Let’s see what we’re up against,” he whispers and moves towards the conjoining section’s entrance.

****

Laying on his stomach, Kayden holds his breath and pulls himself forward, closer to the grate. Watching the two technicians sitting at a desk directly below him, he clenches his teeth in frustration.

He can’t climb down without landing on top of them. Turning his gaze, he studies the room. It’s larger than he expected, so the limited staff surprises him.

At least that’s one thing in my favour. His eyes scan the room and the various computers and equipment that nearly touch the ceiling in some places.

Seeing a vent hatch across the room, he sucks in a breath. The vents were a lot smaller than the ducts. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but he should be able to wiggle his way through it.

With a game plan in mind, Kayden makes his way back to his section to grab his tools. Barring any complications, he’ll make his move tomorrow during his shift.

“I’m going to need all the ghostly help you can spare, bud,” Kayden grunts, imagining Jace's grin at what he was about to do. “Yeah, I’ve no doubt you’d get a kick out of all this.”

Kayden feels a tingle of excitement as he heads to his dorm.