Author’s note: This is a continuation of last week’s article, which was the seventh installment of this story. Any comments are welcome. This is an episodic story, which means you the audience have an opportunity to influence some things. If there are any events you want to happen or prefer to avoid, do say so. This tale may just go in that direction. Now, back to the story.

The trip was uneventful for Vise. Kyumi, on the other hand, was surprised by the diversity passing by the windows. The slums were atrocious to look at, screaming of a lack of decent infrastructure. Yet as they approached Churolp, the Industrial district, a massive wave of greenery went by. The traveler was awestruck by the sheer amount of plant life located here, in the central sphere of the NAUTILUS. Vise explained that Shassorstig Grove was planted and maintained because Churolp produced too much smog and other pollutants for the NAUTILUS itself to process and cycle. And once the monorail entered the industrial district, Kyumi understood why. Towering structures of factories, smelteries, and assembly lines as far as he could see produced horrifying amounts of noise and smog. “People here live?”

“Here,” Vise said in a measured tone, “people survive. Not much living happens when you man the forge for most of your waking hours and need to wear some sort of mask so you can see and breathe properly.”

“You here from?” Kyumi asked as he motioned to the mask Vise has worn the entire time.

“Me? Nah. I’m not from around these parts.” Turning his head away in thought, he adds, “It’s going to be about a thirty minute wait for the next train to arrive and take us where we need to go. You hungry?”

“Sustenance good. Where find?”

“Kiot’s Place, ‘when you need a quiet place’,” Vise replies in a sing-song tone. “It’s in the station and even if it’s full, the owner will get us something. He’s a friend of mine. Well, I say ‘friend’. He owes me a few favors for introducing him to his wife.”

“Vise curious individual is.” Kyumi opens up a hidden hatch in his chestplate and pulls out a black rectangle. Grabbing what appears to be the top and bottom, he opens it up. Instantly, the booth where he and Vise are sitting lights up in a bluish hue as streams of data flow outward. Vise panics as information moves faster than his eyes can process. Kyumi ignores him. Instead, he grabs a few leaf-like tabs and begins inputting the knowledge he has learned thus far. When finished, he closes the book and puts it back in the compartment. Now that he is done, Kyumi looks over at Vise, who seems to have adopted a strange resting position with his knees pulled up to his chest as he stares quizzically at the titan.

“Never. Do that. Again.”

“But catalog---“

“I said never, damnit!”

Author’s end note: Part eight is now completed. Another show of appreciation to Charlotte Tapp and all the work she has put into this project. She is still doing her best to provide art, and is working hard behind the scenes. Again, criticism and comments are encouraged. Next week will be part nine, stay tuned!