It was late in the eastern Upperworld morning when a black military aircraft which had been acquired by Governor Logan in the nighttime, dipped low into a ravine carved deep into the surface of the Upperworld, the remnants of nature from long ago when water chiseled pathways upon the face of the planet. The craft made a rapid descent into the hollow of the ravine as the governor took a quick glance out his window to see a twister churning in a waltz of destruction on the fiery wasteland in the distance. With a glance forward, he spied a pair of mammoth mechanized doors implanted into the side wall ahead at the curve of the mighty chasm.
As the shuttlecraft approached the doors, the giants separated with a rumble that shook the surface, causing the red dust upon the outside ground to scurry in a circular cloud with the escape of the synthetic atmosphere that was within the hanger bay. The craft entered the cavernous Washington Shuttleport, touching down with a quick squeal of thick rubber upon a metal surface. When the ship had berthed and the hangar had pressurized, the governor disembarked swiftly.
Governor Logan began his journey downwards without pause, ignoring the pleasantries of two men who stepped forward to greet him. He boarded the elevator quickly, and as it began its descent, he anxiously watched the illuminated numbers that counted down the time to their arrival at the first level. When the countdown arrived at the number one, the cylindrical housing whirred once more and the doors before the governor rotated to the open position. Governor Logan stepped out.
Washington was the smallest section of the Unified Territory’s Underworld, housing only those that held high dignitary status, and those whose jobs were to cater to the dignitaries. It was an ornate place, and, as Logan generally did upon visiting the heart of the government he was a part of, he took a quick glance down the grand staircase of limestone and marble that led from the platform where the elevator had deposited him to the main concourse called Government Gateway. The view from the platform provided an opulent vista through an open expanse where fountains shot high up from decorative basins of white stone, accenting the elaborate facades of government offices that were seemingly carved into the surrounding walls.
Logan, however, had no interest in that part of Washington, and so
he turned to where a small transit station stood at the side of the
platform. It was there where a vehicle waited that would carry the governor
further inwards to the place know as the Central Core, the highly guarded
sanctuary where the highest of leaders called home, a place ancient
in structure yet sound as the strongest of fortresses.
Leaving behind the men who had accompanied him from the shuttleport
without a word of thanks, Logan walked briskly towards the awaiting
transport, entering without invitation.
The unique vehicle was unlike any found elsewhere in the Underworld territories, stark white and rounded with windows of clear glass adorning the circumference. Logan sat on one of the plush seats of deep blue velvet that were beneath each of the windows, offering a quick glance at two Enforcers that stood at attention at the center of the vehicle, uniforms of blue that matched the upholstery within the transport. The doors slid closed and the vehicle began its journey.
The first part of the voyage was quick, the craft sailing upon a track on the ceiling high above Government Gateway before swiftly entering a wide tunnel at the far wall of the concourse. The craft’s velocity intensified, barely noticed by its passenger until the speed then began to slow deep within the dark tunnel. This was the part of the journey which always piqued the governor’s interest, and so he turned to watch through the glass of the windows as the vehicle entered a housing which shined with the glittering white of many lights upon the cylindrical walls. With a series of clicks and whirrs, Logan smiled displaying his desire to someday have this transport as the entrance to his own office.
With a final loud click, the transport began a downwards journey, lowering itself like a smooth elevator, the lights of the surrounding cylindrical housing rising passed him for the several minutes that it took to travel to the Central Core of Washington. Logan turned his glance forward at that moment when he knew the unique transport would be exiting from the housing and watched as the final row of lights passed, disappearing above while the craft continued to sail downwards, now upon a track that towered within another expansive cavern.