24. Gunpowder & Silk

        "These are the Studios." The next stop on Dell's Tour of the Underworld was more like an industrial scale Fine Arts studio. Models and engineering plans were laid out on tables as far as the students could see, projects, machinery and tools filled the space between tables and walls, debris scattered the floors, colorful reference charts hung on the walls, prototypes and marketing promotions decorated the shelves exposing centuries of genius and design. The skills and achievements of both students and employees were on display here. It was like a museum hidden from sight.

         Dell stopped at the entrance, without leading them in too far into the space. "It is here in The Studios that we manufacture and design the physical materials and technologies that serve the empire. Here we produce the glass and metal products, we even manufacture fabrics and materials like foils, vellum, silks, and many other items for the shops and manufacturers alike."
         So far the students were impressed with the Underworld facilities. Eager to see more, they followed Dell as he made his way back along the hall to the Hub and down another tunnel.

    Nolan was noticing that the main artery tunnels had a train track running down them and wondered, how far did they go? Where did they go? He scanned the walls for signage and spotted a faded plaque above the mouth of the tunnel they were walking down.

         "Fina...?" It made him think for a moment... Did the tunnel go all the way to the Island of Finnias under the sea???

         Moments later the rumble of a train rang along the tracks approaching the students from behind as they walked down the gentle grade toward the lower University Chamber Complex. Cautious, they stood back to watch it pass, there were only a few passenger carts, mostly empty; a few aribu were riding it but no scary caboose this time.

         "There goes the train to Fina" Dell announced as it rumbled by. "You'll get to ride it soon enough!"

         Dell paused the group outside a nondescript steel door with a small round window. "Your access keys are programmed to unlock any door registered to your classes, but only some of the classrooms allow 24 hour access." He unlocked the door and invited the class inside. "This classroom has Limited Access. Due to the dangerous nature of the Underworld, we have tight security. After hours activities are encouraged but closely monitored, and only in designated areas..." As the class poured in, gathering on the upper stair platform, they had a balcony view of the Machine Shop. He noticed them notice the painting of what looked like an ancient Dogon King, dusty and faded on the far rough hewn rock wall, blackened with soot. "There really is no reason to be afraid of the dogons running around down here because here, we have developed methods to keep them under control. This is where the magic happens: the Sensation Chamber."

         The Sensation Chamber develops this technology? Nolan had no idea... He scanned the room with wonder, everywhere students were working on fascinating things. In one corner they were experimenting with lighting and projection, in another, they were using electrical gadgets, sparks of electricity crackled and buzzed. Some were wielding glowing swords at each other, illuminating the chamber with flashing lights. In another corner they were mastering physical tricks, like juggling and body flips, another group were trying to eat fire. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a white rabbit hop along the shadows against the wall… It didn’t look well at all…

         "Do you hear that?" Bell elbowed him sharply. Bell was a relatively new friend, they had met in military camp, an experience Nolan hoped to forget.

         "No... Hear what?" Nolan cocked his ear, strange and muffled screams faintly echoed from beyond the walls... "Oh..."

         "This is where you will be attending your Arts and Illusion classes." Dell announced. "I'll bet you never knew these classes were so important for the safety of the Atlan Empire, did you?"

         Arts and Illusion classes? Nolan glanced at his friend Josh, another unwilling military camp survivor, questioning. But Josh was just as lost, it was all very new to him too, he thought they were here to study evolution and economics.

         The tour continued without a chance for idle chat about subject matter. Dell led the class out of the chamber and continued down the hall through another set of doors. As they entered the next chamber the sound of roaring engines overpowered his voice. "This is the Engine Chamber." Even with raised voice it was too loud to be heard without huge effort.

         The class glanced around the Engine Chamber, it was another enormous work shop, filled with machines and mechanical contraptions which were nothing short of works of art. The ancient generators which still ran today were like museum relics, painstakingly maintained they made such a noise it would be torture to work here. Nonetheless there were work stations, bookcases stacked with research samples and reference tablets were amazing to behold.

         "Wow..." Nolan felt like he was in wonderland. Scrolls of engineering drawings were stacked in bins, the unmistakable smell of explosives hung in the air, noise and dust aside, so far this was his favorite chamber, the smell of gunpowder sparked his flame. But there were no students or employees here today? The empty work spaces were curious. Aside from a few pigeons pecking the floor of their cage, the tour was the only life in the room.

         Too noisy to be heard inside the chamber, Dell explained the vacant chamber as they walked down the hall to their next destination.

         "The Engine Chamber doubles as a Special Project workshop" he explained. "It's not always that loud, it's only like that during the daytime hours. It's a private workshop for the advanced students. All of our top secret innovations are hatched there. Presently our biggest push is to get the vimana's airborne. There are some exciting developments happening, good career opportunities are still available for the right talents. Some of you may even end up working on that project yourselves!"