59. A Huge Inconvenience

        It wasn't long before the pressures of the Culloom Disaster began to affect each and every Cog of the Empire's Great Machine. The Coming War was scary for both those working above and below, every day the tabloids told of greater threats and underground assaults being waged against their city. Fears were escalating quickly amongst the aribu, there was no way to avoid it, everyone was terrified, the massacre had been an incomprehensible disaster, no one could imagine the terror the poor students had to have faced, it had been the worst attack the empire had ever suffered. Tabloid headlines of Aquilla's terrorism was a daily reminder; the threat was real, the crews were racing against time to secure the island, every department was stressed.

        

         Zara had never considered the reality of war in her lifetime, let alone imagined how such an event could affect her lowly position in the Infrastructure Department. Even though she wasn't employed to use pen on parchment, she enjoyed her new job assisting those who were. She found the pace exciting, her job was interesting and in some ways it had it's own unique perks. She was never chained to a desk like those who were employed to use a pen. Her job was to print and prepare their drawings, to replenish their supplies, distribute their plans and assist the technicians with their surveys and field measurements. No day was ever the same.
         Printing the plans gave her exclusive access to certain insider knowledge, too. She was one of the first eyes to see preliminary plans, project pitches and unpublished information, little did she know how valuable that information would be some day.

         Tucked away at the back of the department, she worked the big printing press with professional skill, ensuring each print was perfect before releasing it to the world. While the parchment disappeared into the rollers working their magic, she could take a moment to relax. Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the office, the printing room was a retreat from reality, a place her thoughts could wander free.

         Naturally curious, she studied the maps and drawings on the walls, interested in learning more about the world she lived in. Today her gaze landed on a site plan for Mount Ekar... She moved closer to take a better look... There were plans to develop a new gold mine? She checked the scale, calculating... It was massive!

         A little confused, she examined the plan again, Aquilla's lair was marked very close to the site... She checked the title block, it made no sense, why would they even consider something like that? Didn't Aquilla incinerate anything in sight? Was it a huge inconvenience that Aquilla lay on top of a huge gold deposit?

         Suddenly the idea of war seemed a little convoluted. She studied the date in the title block, pondering the significance of the gold. How could the gold not be a huge factor in the tensions with Aquilla?

         Captivated now by what she knew not, Zara let her attention wander from plan to plan, there were building plans, plans for colonization, bunker plans, framed recently and hung by the door... New Pyramids? She moved closer to read one of the titles... Ebar? A New Empire? The rumors floating around the office were true… The Coming War was part of a bigger plan? She moved closer to read the footnotes... They were designed to withstand a natural disaster?

        

         Although she loved the freedom to leave the office, one of her least favorite jobs was to deliver the plans to the construction yards. The construction crews were a rough bunch, mostly Nefilim, they often gave her a hard time. Plans were one thing, but if she was bringing them revisions, she always got an earful, as if they were all her fault.

         Aside from the psychological torture of the work yard engagements, the journey to and from the site was a perk, depending on the weather. Every delivery was a chance to ride the train and walk the halls of the headquarters, sometimes she would steal a few moments to visit the paintings in the lobby, taking a moment to be grateful, to remind herself of her blessings. She stopped to admire the painting of her king, heart filled with gratitude, pondering his power and might. How much he had given her... In the end, the pain of the last ten years seemed a small price to pay for all she had today, her beautiful apartment, her exciting career... She wanted to thank him in person, she wanted to tell him she loved him...

         'Love is Evil!’ Hedena's words echoed in her mind like a bad dream, reminding her of her own stupidity. Instantly she coiled inside, why did she feel this way if it was wrong? Was she so badly flawed? If she was so badly flawed then why they had used her as a Breeder? Nothing made sense.

         Naturally, her gaze was drawn to Doctor Seton's portrait… Once again Doctor Seton's eyes seemed to animate to life. Zara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, catching her runaway thoughts before they ran away completely. But just as she turned to leave, she noticed there was a new painting on the wall. Curious, she walked down towards the portrait at the end. But when she saw who it was, she almost dropped the plans.

         "Nolan?"