EXCOLO: GUARDIANS

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Chapter 1: Another Beautiful Day in the Dome

It is early evening as I leave my office, sunset streaking through the Dome, the pale glow of the Gate coming from the east so that there is light from both sides. I love this time of day. The clouds are scudding fast, and I think there may be a storm tonight. I find myself regretting I do not have any particular reason to go into the Outer Districts tonight. The city under the Dome is very graceful, of course, but I like to be in the open air.

However, I have arranged to meet a friend for a drink, and so I stroll the three blocks from the university to Illyria, a bar popular with academics and the artistic crowd. As well as Guardians, of course. There is something of La Belle Epoque to the warm wood and soft lights. I absently tap the bust of Shakespeare for luck as I come in - his forehead is worn from thousands of patrons doing this, though no one knows from where the tradition originated - and I find a table. I flip through an e-newspaper on the table viewer as I wait for my drink to arrive. I minimise The Excolo Times; it is a worthy paper, well written and reputable, but I am interested in The Recorder. We are keeping an eye on some of its reporters.

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Lex calms everyone in his usual easy and efficient manner, and asks me to help keep everyone quiet. It is him that I focus on; his calmness and his determination. That is what I focus and project on those around us, overpowering their fear and their pain. My own head is beginning to hurt, a slow, steady throb, but I do not allow it to stop me. This is our duty. This is why we are here.

As I work, I think that I see Madame Voronin slipping out through the doors. But I do not let it trouble me. All of my thoughts, all of my energy, go into what I am doing; pushing Lex's calmness, Lex's confidence, into the frightened minds of the crowd.