Losing In The Sky
She pulled her coat up and over her neck to shield from the breeze coming from the fresh autumn air. The airship that was preparing to lift off, with it’s massive propellers, didn’t help either. She stood on top of a building surrounded by even larger, taller buildings of glass and concrete. The platform at the top of the Thompson building was specifically built for the Saint Sherrie to land and take off. A small cocktail lounge and diner sat at one end of the platform, while the occupants exited and entered the massive flat space where the ship would land gently.
The Saint Sherrie was a mid size airship. A large bronze blimp covered in massive steel wires and covers to protect it from any unknown objects in the air, it held a two story compartment on it’s belly. The compartment stretched all the way from where the blimp curved up to a point and to the back where it curved into the massive propellers. Large windows spanned across both sides and a viewing deck on the back was in open air with mesh covering so that no one had any unfortunate accidents.
The passengers lined up to start boarding. Grabbing a burgundy brief case she joined in and made her way to the long ramp that let into the passenger cabin.
“ID and ticket please” A stewardess asked. Her uniform was dark purple, tight to the figure, but the fabric was heavy and luxuries. A mini version of the Saint Sherrie adorned in gold sat on her left breast. Upon her gold hair, which was pulled up, was a dark purple pointed flight hat that had gold rims.
She flashed her ID and then produced her long ticket.
“Pleasure to have you flying with us Amelia Sterling” the stewardess smiled and motioned her towards the ramp.
Amelia stepped forward and flashed a smile before her heeled feet ascended towards the airship.
The cabin was first class, what wasn’t in Ilum Metropolis. Gold and white, mixed with blacks accented everything. Large statues of men and women sculpted in perfect form melted out of the marble that ran up columns between the windows. The seats, which were a combination of single seats and couches, where all plush leather that had been treated to never fade or break down. They were an off white, which was pleasant to the eye and lit up in the golden sun. The windows, were crystal clear, anti smudge and would project a small amount of heat to keep the cabin warm when they reached the higher altitudes. She could see small vents above each window which were used to keep the cabin pressure stable and comfortable for the guests. Near the front of the cabin was a massive bar that rose up and through the floor to the next level. It held all the liquor and cigarettes one could dream of. There were a few stools that accompanied it. Behind it was a spiral staircase that led to the upper floor of the cabin, which was a copy of the bottom floor. In the back there was a single door to a view area that was open air. The door, once the airship got to a certain height, would lock for passenger safety.
Amelia moved towards the stairs and wrapped up them to the second floor were she took a seat on one of the couches near the middle of the floor.It sat on a step up from the seating in front of the window so that all seats had a clear view. A small table ran either in front of the coaches or was built into the arm rest of the single seats. The last remaining passengers made their way in and the airship awoke and lifted off into to the sky and above the sprawling metropolis.
Amelia had remained alone on the couch while the rest of the cabin had filled up. She stood up and looked around. What she sought was not up here. Maybe down below. She grabbed her case and moved to the stairs spying all the guests. Drinks were flowing already and the cheers came when they reached the sprawling white clouds. She caught a glimpse her self in one of the mirrors over the stairs. Her black pants came up to her waist and straightened all the way down to her ankles where they were folded once. A small waist belt wrapped around her just a over her hips. A white blouse billowed out of the pants from her waist and hid under the long black over coat jacket which had its collar pulled up. Upon her hands were white knitted gloves with a small gold diamonds on the dorsal. Her lips were marked in black and make up done in natural tones. Her eyes, striking, sharp, focused. Green emeralds peered from them, hunting. Blond bangs laid swept across her forehead, long pieces of blond hair framed her face and the rest was pulled into a pony tail held together with a black scrunchy that shined when light hit it. She smiled at her reflection, made a small adjustment to her hair and continued down the stairs.
When she reached the front of the bar she spotted them. Two men near the back of the cabin in a half rounded couch next to the windows. She approached keeping her eyes fixed on them, when she got their seats, she walked past, stopped and then moved to open side of the couch and sat down.
Both men immediately turned to her.
“Hey pretty lady, what can we do for you today?” the man farthest from her smiled. He was lean with a thin face. Blond hair slicked back. He wore a dark green suit that looked very expensive.
The other man elbowed him in the ribs hard.
“I didn’t think it would be a pretty lady doing the deal with us, times be changing I guess.” The man also smiled at her. His skin was a dark brown, hair shaved and close to his head. He wore a beige suit, like the other man,it was expansive as well. His eyes shone deep amber. He pulled out a red envelope that was rimmed in gold and silver and placed it on the table. He then motioned to her. Amelia heaved the brief case on top the table keeping her hand on the handle.
“All in a days work, please count the money in the envelope” She smiled.
“You got some nerve - “ The thin man started.
“Of course” The man said keeping his eyes on hers. He opened the envelope and fanned out the bills and started counting slowly. The man next to him fidgeted looking down at the money.
“Two million Julies, just as the price was agreed upon.” he stuffed the bills back into the envelope “and now, the brief case”
Amelia slid the case over still holding the handle and held out her other hand. The man placed the envelope on it and she pulled it to her and let go of the brief case. There was a visible sign of relief from the gentleman as he pulled the case in front of him. He unbuckled the clasps and opened it. There was silence between the two men as they peered inside. Slowly, the man closed the brief case and moved it off to the side.
The man in the beige suit nodded and pursed his lips “I see we made a mistake, in this brief case there should be a Fullium Transmitter. When I open this case, I do not see a Fullium Transmitter. I see a bunch of junk.”
“No, there is a Fullium Transmitter in there” Amelia leaned forward onto the table “It just needs to be put together” she flashed a grin “Terms, gentlemen, are very important”
The man laughed deeply “Lady you made the last mistake of your life, Riley, do what you do best”
The man in the green suit stood up and reached into his coat. Amelia jumped up and vaulted over into sitting area behind. A shot rang out from a pistol and hit the table besides her. The ships alarm rang and startled at the noise and change in vibe, the passengers sprang up and chaotically sprinted away from the three. Amelia peeked out where Riley was, she pulled her own pistol from her long pocket on her coat. She peered back at the viewing deck door then a quick glance at her watch.
“Come out lady, we only want to have a little chat, a one sided chat”
She shot in the direction of the two men, they both ducked and she stood up and sprinted towards the door. She took another few shots to keep them down. She reached the door and took aim for the handle. A shot rang and hit the wall next to her, she flinched a bit, but she busted the door open. Air crashed into the cabin and debris of cigarettes, napkins and discard coats swirled around on the lower level.
“Is she crazy!” she heard the man in the beige suit scream.
The viewing deck was surrounded by a mesh that was blade resistant. Normally blade resistant. Amelia pulled out a serrated dagger, its blade glowed blue and vibrated at high frequency. The mesh sliced easily. She glanced back. The two men were fighting the wind at the door to the viewing deck. Riley was trying to stead his hand against the gale.
“Pleasure doing business with you two” Amelia shouted and stepped up on the railing. Both men stared squinted eyed at her. She then fell backwards into the golden sky.
“Almost didn’t make it there” Amelia brushed through her wind blasted hair “I thought you said the rope would automatically catch when I grabbed onto it?”
A man pressed a few button a on control panel in the large cockpit. He turned and pulled his mopey brown hair back off his forehead “It was” he then rose and moved towards her “At least it always had before, on “ he coughed “lower force targets”
“mmhm” Amelia shot an annoying look towards him “One of these days, Milo, my death will be on one your gadgets hands”
Milo took off his large circular glasses, wiped them on his shirt and then pushed them back up his nose “My gadgets, keep you alive”
They both laughed and she tossed the envelope to him “The Rosset Gang isn’t going to be happy”
“When are they ever” Milo flipped through the bills “But what would they need a Fullium Transmitter for? Building an underground city?”
“Not sure, half those parts don’t work and the other half are to a discarded train. We can worry about it another day” Amelia got up and yawned stretching into the air “for now, I am going to get some rest, let me know when we get back into town”
Milo finished counting the bills and threw the envelope to the small table to his left.
“You got it. Ilum, The Golden City, coming up”
This story is inspired by the old art deco future cities example - Popular Science magazine/November, 1939. Amelia’s last name is a reference to Roger Sterling from Mad Men. The concept is supposed to a heist in the clouds. I enjoy the whole overly rich tones of Art Deco and that style. Making everything lavish, but sustainable and unfading would be the way to do it. I think for the style to work, everything needs to always be in a tip top shape. I always go back to the anime Big O as well when thinking of Art Deco and metropolis’s. That show had a great art style and architecture to it.
The man in the air ship at the end, Milo, is a reference to the character from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Fantastic movie from an age lost.
Hope everyone had a great 2022! Let 2023 be epic!
Safe travels into the future everyone, cheers~