Gus meandered, not wanting to be too obvious about slipping back into the tunnel system in case anyone was following her.Only when she was sure no one was watching did she make her way toward the entrance she and the other two had come through earlier.From there it was a quick journey down several levels.
She emerged on deck twelve.The border of the slums.
This time she didn’t try to avoid attention as she strode down the center of the causeway, moving with purpose as she headed toward the elevators.
By this time of station day, the crowds had thinned out, leaving Gus’s path unobstructed.She reached the elevators easily.Then almost wished she hadn’t when she noticed the two roughs leaning against the wall opposite.
Lookouts, Gus suspected.
They were making no effort to disguise their interest in those getting on and off the elevator.They’d report back to their bosses if they noticed anything—or anyone—that didn’t belong.
Like Gus.
Inhaling deeply before releasing the breath just as slow, Gus gave herself a quick pep talk.This was good.Attention was what she wanted.What she needed.Even if it felt kind of like wearing a shirt woven from prickle burrs.
Out of the corner of her eye, Gus saw the moment the smaller of the two men took notice of her.The boredom vanished from his face as he straightened slightly.
Swallowing hard, Gus forced herself to stay the course, heading straight for the elevators and pushing the button to call the lift.
That done, she stepped back and waited as a few others joined her.
Gus counted to ten in her head before letting her gaze wander here and there.Nothing too obvious as she pretended to people watch.Another quick peek out of the corner of her eye showed the roughs had lost interest in her.They’d returned to their study of the crowd, no longer watching to see what she’d do.
Or was what they wanted her to think?
A hum announced the elevator’s arrival.
Gus stepped on, saying the level she wanted in a low voice before shuffling to the back of the lift as the others waiting stepped on and gave their destination.It wasn’t until the doors were closing that one of the roughs looked at her again, meeting her gaze briefly before glancing away.
Damn.
She hadn’t meant to do that.Her gaff did answer the question of whether they were as aware of her as she was of them though.
They were.
She was betting as soon as the doors closed, they’d take off to inform their bosses of the stranger who’d just taken the elevator from level twelve.
Every informant on the station would be on the lookout for her now.
At that thought, Gus retreated until her back touched the smooth wall of the elevator behind her, not caring as those on board gave her strange looks.
Calm, Gussy.This was what you wanted, remember?
That’s right.It was.She just hadn’t expected the level of anxiety that would accompany success.
Gus took several more fortifying breaths before she forced her back away from the wall.Just in time for the doors to open on her stop.She didn’t meet anyone’s eyes or apologize for her strange behavior as she followed the rest of those getting off on deck nineteen.Better known to most as the Government District.
Security was at its strictest on this level.People may have treated the order of rule and law as more of a suggestion than an imperative elsewhere on Titan, but not here.
That was in large part due to the offices that the Consortium and military’s representatives kept on this deck.As well as the presence of those departments responsible for the station’s critical functions.Things like life support.Propulsion and spatial monitoring systems so the station didn’t get hit by a stray asteroid.Or a piece of wreckage from the site of humanity’s largest space battle against the Tsavitee.A belt called the Falling.It was where countless ships, both human and Tsavitee, found their end.
Every so often a piece of wreckage found its way into Titan’s backyard.Likely as a result of some salvager cutting corners or dumping the items they wanted to slip past screening with the intention of retrieving later.
All kinds of weird things happened and it was that department’s responsibility to make sure nothing threatened Titan as a result.
Since deck nineteen was where Titan hosted important visitors, some effort had been made to turn it into an attractive space.Its layout resembled that of an actual city with buildings constructed along its exterior walls and around the spine.Green areas had been set aside and walkways added.Trees and other plants flourished, brightening up what would have been considered austere otherwise.
Gus bypassed the military and security offices, ducking right and under the low hanging branches of an ornamental whistle tree.A variety renowned for its pretty buds and the sound it made when the wind stirred its limbs.Sticking to the path despite a desire to wander, she headed for the interior of the level.A place called the spine.So named for the mile long shaft spearing through the heart of the station.
