Build Sequence Is Key

Offices

On their way Cecelia checked inside a pair of large double doors, "Looks like you have missed orientation. The new crop must already be settling into their new dorms. Come on, this is better anyway. You will probably need your Jubilani fixed or just reset."

Jason followed along down the hallway. He noticed that they were following a straight hallway, but that the cross cutting corridors curved and that the farther they went in the more and more curved they were.

"Almost there." Cecelia commented, now she was acting more put out having to go so far to deliver her cargo, "This last part of the walk is the most boring. There won't be any crossing halls for a long time."

"Nice." Was all Jason said.

Eventually they made it into a huge cavern. The hall ended in a terrace with a guard rail where you could look out onto what for Jason was mind boggling for a few minutes. At first site it looked maybe like an inside out beehive. But then Jason saw that intermixed between the huge hexagrams there were also pentagrams, so more like an inverted soccer ball. And then looking more closely he realized that each of the shapes were actually filled with smaller geometric shapes cleverly nuanced to blend within the pattern of the whole. In the center of the space was a dark sphere, just floating detached from any support structures. Thousands of people and what seemed to be cars and trucks crossed the gap or took a chord between two points on the surface.

"Yeah, this always gets the newbies. Maybe it was worth it to guide you this whole way, just to see the look on your face."

"Yes, this is incredible. Just how big is this place? And what is that thing in the middle?" Jason couldn't contain his wonder.

"Ha! Welcome to space station Refugee! And this is the catacomb, isn't it wonderful!" Cecelia's pleasure at describing the catacombs was evident, "You are probably thinking that it looks like a soccer ball, but if you look closely you will find that it is slightly different. A soccer ball has twenty hexagrams, but the catacombs have thirty."

Jason raised his eyebrows at her, "I will take you for your word on that one. But Catacomb? Why is it called Catacomb?"

Cecilia smiled wider, "Because when the first refugee's came here, traveled here, if you know what I mean the space station had been abandoned. They say that they had to reclaim the station room by room. This being the center of the station this was the last part of the station that was repowered. It was dead for many generations. Plus it is kind of romantic, right, reclaiming the heart of the station."

Jason watched her as she looked out over the catacombs. She hid it, but he could see a tear well up and overflow down her cheek. "It seems like you love this space station, don't you?"

"Yes, I love it. I should love it," Cecelia pointed to her own body, "since I am the living embodiment of the space station."

What she said was so confusing and out of context that he wanted to ignore it. Laugh and play it off like a joke. But as the moments went on he looked at her and his suspicion slowly started to win over his emotions.

"Just kidding!" Cecelia said with a laugh, "I mean how great would that be to be the heart and soul of a huge space station like this."

Not being able to say anything, still. Jason frowned.

So she continued, "See that pentagram over there, that conglomerate is currently reigning. We just need to flag a taxi to take you over there." Cecelia stepped over to the rail and leaning waved her hand to attract a taxi, "Don't worry I will pay for it."

"No wait!" Jason stretched out his arm to pull down hers. A taxi, way too on the ball, had already seen her intention and even though she brought her hand down before he could touch it the taxi came anyway.

"Wait," Jason was breathless despite not having done anything that was physically taxing, "Wait, you meant what you said just now. You are the physics embodiment of the station."

Again she dismissed it, "No, how could anyone be a physical embodiment of a space station? I was just kidding! You better get in your taxi. Oh, and don't worry. Once you get off over there, they will immediately see that don't have a system. They will take care of you for sure."

The cheeriness and promptness with which she was trying to get rid of him now only made him want to dig in his heels. Jason turned to the driver and waved him on, "Go ahead, I'll catch the next one."

But the taxi driver shook his head, "I don't think so sweetie. She flagged a taxi over and I am not leaving her with you alone."

Frustrated Jason wished that the one time he needed a taxi driver without a conscious was the one time he got one. Or maybe they all are trained to be this way on this space station. He didn't know. "Fine." Jason said and turned back to Cecelia, "The thing is that I believe you. I don't know why, but I am really do. And I don't think you would have said something like that unless you wanted me to know. Isn't that right?"

She shook her head, "This isn't some romantic version of an Isekai, where the first woman you meet is the damsel in distress. I don't need you, so just get in the taxi and get out of here."

"Fine, maybe you don't need me. But I bet I really need you and that there really is something I could do for you. Something you want?"

"You just aren't taking the clue. I am done with you. So your a little impulsive and stubborn. I don't care." She gestured again her hand guiding him to get in the taxi which she now opened.

Jason didn't know what to say to regain the initiative in the conversation.

The taxi driver grew inpatient while Jason was just standing there and swiped to turn on his meter, "Listen bub, you are on the meter now. Give the girl a break. Get it, let's get out of here.

Rolling his eyes at what the driver said Jason gave in, "Fine. I'll go." But then he turned to Cecelia, as an after thought and a joke, "But, I would have happily been your loyal servant!" White light seemed to burst like an aura from the center of her being blinding the taxi driver, but Jason had said the last while looking away. He missed the reaction and instead walked over and put one foot in the car.

For his part the driver shook his head and and seemingly recovering himself mumbled something under his breath. Jason sat down on the back seat and then reached out to close the door.