Consensus: Part 1 - Citizen

Rena wouldn't slow down until they were all well inside of the city, with no indication of pursuit. Fields of dirt and rusting metal contraptions, surrounded by chain-link fences, gave way to concrete buildings with broken out windows. Then old brick structures appeared, with faded business signs and peeling paint. The structural beams of the Canopy were lower over the Outskirts. Most citizens were grateful that it shielded the city from the harsh environment. Channeled rainwater to useful locations. Provided warmth for everyone who lived beneath it. To Rena, it felt like a cage.

As they moved inward, the ceiling rose higher above them. The air grew warmer. The streetlights on every corner began flickering to life now that the sun was down. Broken sidewalks and crumbling asphalt gave way to maintained streets dividing neighborhoods of single-story houses.

Kirti lived farther in than either Dal or Rena. By the time they reached her place—an apartment in a fancy, three-story brick building with carved stone accents—she seemed to have recovered from the afternoon's unusual event. Her large, brown eyes had cleared. Rena couldn't even tell she'd been crying. Her long, black hair looked as straight and beautiful as ever. Even her clothes were still immaculate.

"My parents are going to kill me," she said, looking at the 000 on the back of her hand.

Rena brushed at the dirt on her own pants. There were stains on the knees that begged for an explanation. "I'll give you some of my credits."

"Me too," Dall added.

"No. That's alright. I should have known better than to ..."

To leave the city? Rena wondered. To go out into the Barrens? To hang out with you? To make friends below my rating? Kirti's unfinished statement left an awkward silence, and Rena wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the rest of it. "I'm sorry."

Kirti didn't acknowledge the apology. Instead, she smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles from her thin, white jacket, took a deep breath, and turned to walk up the front steps. When the ornate door closed behind her, Rena looked over at Dal.

His lips were pressed together. "She'll get over it."

"I hope so."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, heading back out to the neighborhood where they both lived. Rena looked up at the framework of the Canopy. The metal lattice structure was slightly darker than the semitransparent panels revealing the dark gray of the cloudy sky above them. In another hour, none of it would be visible. That was Rena's favorite time of the day, when it felt like there was no Canopy at all. No enclosure to hold her. No ceiling to indicate how far away from society's center she really was.

"How did you do that?" Dal asked, breaking the silence.

Rena didn't have to ask him what he was talking about. She'd been wondering that herself. "I don't know."

"I mean, those guys were huge. And dangerous."

"Yeah."

"So? Why didn't you run?"

"Why didn't you run ... and get the police like I told you?"

Dal brushed his shaggy, blond hair away from his eyes. "The police don't patrol the Outskirts anymore. It would have taken me an hour to find someone. And then I saw that guy grab you."

"He was about to let us go when you came barging in. I had it under control."

"How?" Dal asked, turning to walk sideways so he could face her. "That's what I don't understand. How could anyone have a situation like that under control?"