Samuel

  The property fluctuated together with the city. Even inside the magnificent house, he could hear the howling of the wind. Samuel stood firmly in front of the door of the girl he was supposed to protect. He leaned against the wall, with his arms crossed, trying not to get seasick. So he distracted himself.

  Lena.

  He had never seen such a beautiful person. Clear, blue eyes and blonde curls. And then her figure. Curvy, but not too curvy. Petite, but not too petit. Not to call her attractive would be a lie. Even now, while the siren sounded, he dreamed of touching her lips. Yes, that was just a silly fantasy. As a resident of Level 4, and with a clearly recognizable mutation, a young dy from Level 5 would never consider him anything other than an employee.

  "Soldier!" One of the servants ran towards him.

  Samuel immediately took a stance. "Yes?"

  "An order from Mr. Whitebloom! I'm supposed to tell you that..." The hallway tilted to the side. Strictly speaking, it was Burgstadt, but for the two people, it seemed to be the hallway. "Ah!"

  Samuel caught the servant. An older man with gray hair. At the same time, he fought against the ever-worsening nausea. The wavering did him no good. And he held himself and the old man on his feet with difficulty, while the hall swayed back. A short cry was heard from the girl's room.

  "Miss!" The old man freed himself from Samuel's arms and opened the door in a panic. "Is everything okay?"

  Lena sat in front of her bed, from which she had apparently fallen. "Yes. I'm fine." A few of her objects were lying on the floor. The girl rubbed her head. On her p y a small figure, a miniature of Burgstadt, which had hit her head. Some blood ran down her left temple.

  "Miss!" Shaken, the old man knelt before her.

  "I'm fine," the beautiful girl repeated. "It's just a small scratch."

  "Miss?" Sighing, the old man stood up and held out his hand to the beauty.

  "It's okay", said Lena.

  Nodding, the gray-haired man went back to Samuel. "Of course. As you wish. However, I have to..."

  Once again, everything swayed. This time in the other direction. Lena and the servant screamed in fright, while Samuel pushed the old man against the door frame so that he could hold on tight and then ran to Lena. Or rather, fell. He held her tight, protecting her from a few books tumbling from one of the shelves in her room. One hit him in the back.

  "Uff!" he grumbled.

  "Thank you," Lena whispered. "I've never experienced a storm like this. It's always stormy here, but.... Ah!" The city swayed in the other direction. They heard the metal singing under the force of the storm.

  "What are the mayor's orders?" Samuel called to the old man, while he pressed Lena protectively to him with one hand and clung to the frame of her bed with the other. But even this threatened to be thrown through the room by the storm.

  "You should accompany the young dy to the shelter!" answered the gray-haired man.

  "Where is that?" Samuel was already pulling the girl to her feet. Together they staggered to the door. He had heard of the room, he had seen it too, but he didn't remember where exactly it had been.

  "I know where the room is!" said Lena before the old man could answer. She reached for the servant's hand. "Let's go! Where are my father and Mister Wang?"

  "Also on the way there!" said the servant.

  Flo

  "Damned shit!" Flo hid under the counter. He held his furball in his arms and pressed himself against the metal wall of his shelter. He heard a terrible crash.

  "Minnie!" he shouted. Between his feet stood the Minnie Box, which he had also taken under the counter. Open. Minnie sat in it and seemed completely unimpressed.

  "The outer wall was damaged. Water penetrates Level 3", the AI chirped in its childlike voice. "An evacuation may be ordered."

  "Evacuation?" That didn't sound good.

  "If the damage cannot be repaired quickly, the Levels 4 and 5 will be evacuated."

  "And we won't?" The wolf cat howled unhappily. He pressed a kiss on its fur.

  "Positive. The military is already on its way to look at the damage. If the leak is too big, Burgstadt will sink. My sensors have been damaged. I can't estimate the size of the leak."

  "Great!"

  "Negative."

  "And what should I do?" Flo didn't want to wait for death.

  "Go to the big pipes opposite the dump! At the former market", Minnie said suddenly. "And take me with you. Quickly."

  Icy

  "That's unfavorable." Number 5 stared at the water that entered the room. "Will the city sink? Minnie?"

  The high-pitched voice of the AI came out of one of the speakers. "I can't give any information about it. The leak is probably nearby. I can't calcute the exact position. Soldiers and craftsmen are on the way. I recommend leaving the room before the door can no longer be opened."

  Icy looked at Number 5. The shadow was already standing at the door and opened it without effort. "Let's go," he grumbled.

  From the outside, masses of water were already pressing against it. Immediately, the water poured into the room. Here only ankle-deep, but it must have been higher in front of the door since it had gathered there.

  "So it's serious." Number 12 nodded. He and Number 20 stood up.

  "The city is sinking." Number 5 didn't sound worried. Just like the AI, his voice was free of any emotion. As with all shadows.

  "Possibly. At least it stinks," replied Number 12. "If the water washes out the stench, I will be grateful to the storm."

  "As if you could be grateful", Number 20 reminded him.

  "Number 100? Are you coming?" shouted Number 5 over the noise of the city threatening to sink.

  "Of course." Icy nodded and followed the higher-ranking Shadows. The four left the secret room together and left it to the floods. Level 3 was more than ankle-deep underwater, higher in some pces. Where it could not drain away. And it rose very quickly. If all the water were to penetrate into the engine room, Burgstadt would sink. Explosions were also to be feared if the boilers of the steam-powered city were damaged.

  A few inhabitants of the Level ran through the corridors in fright. No one paid much attention to the four pale figures with the sinister masks. A mother carried her child to one of the simple dwellings. Everything swayed.

  "Let's split up. We are looking for the leak! Help may be needed," grumbled Number 12. Then he looked at Number 5. "You're going with Number 100. Try to find out if the city is being evacuated! Judging by the height of the water, it is already difficult to return to Level 2. If it is evacuated, you will have to take the escape pods on Level 5. Leave the city with Number 100. He is a promising soldier. We must not waste his talent. He is the first shadow of the third generation! A prototype! As Shadows of the government, we will follow, if a rescue of the city cannot be prevented. Until then, we are obliged to protect Burgstadt from destruction."

  The water was now up to their knees. Icy suspected that there must have been more than just one leak. "Yes, Sir!" He saluted, while Number 5 just nodded.

  The fact that his talent was important was only a pretext. He was to continue to guard Number 5 since the Shadow was suspected to be part of the rebellion. Icy was aware that he was a new kind of cyborg. But he had never heard that he was indispensable.

  "Come!" Number 5 pointed in the direction in which an iron spiral staircase connected the Level with Levels 4 and 5. An emergency exit. "Let's go!"

  Icy followed the Shadow.

  The water level rose steadily. In the meantime, there were hardly any inhabitants left on the streets. "Arm. Stay in your homes. There is no need to worry. Wait for further orders!" the siren now bred. "I repeat. There is no need to worry."

  No need to worry? Icy knew the evacuation protocol. They tried to prevent panic. As long as possible. Level 3 was left to death if the city was to sink.

  The two Shadows arrived at one of the elevator bars. A family tried to open it and take the elevator upstairs. But the gate remained closed. The elevator was out of order, as required by protocol. The path to the stairs also locked automatically. The staircase was only usable for the Military and the Shadows. They carried keys that opened the lock.

  But they were not allowed to help this family.

  Again the ship swayed. A loud crash was heard. As if the metal were being torn. The family fell into the water. One of the children was washed away. In the direction of the two Shadows. Icy grabbed the child, who was no older than three, and brought it back to the family with difficulty.

  "Help us!" cried the mother, and hugged her child. Icy just shook his head.

  "Number 100?", Number 5 called out to him. "Don't waste your time with the civilian popution! I have to go down to the b. I just got a message. Hopefully, I can still reach the stairs. For our cause! Go ahead. Level 5!" Then Number 5 turned around and disappeared.

  Icy raised his eyebrows. What kind of news? What... Error! He looked after Number 5 almost amazed. Anyone who wanted to get to Level 2 had to take a different route. Should he follow him? Or should he go to Level 5?

  Error. He had received two orders that contradicted each other.

  To keep an eye on Number 5, unnoticed, and go to Level 5. Alone.

  Error.

  He couldn't do both at the same time.

  Error.

  Finally, he followed Number 5. After all, following him was his job. He was not allowed to attract attention. But the higher-ranking Shadow was very nimble even now. Icy followed him effortlessly, but he kept his distance. It was better if Number 5 didn't notice him.

  Take the elevator there! The writing appeared in his field of vision. Icy blinked. There you will meet someone. Take him with you.

  What? Who had sent him this message? Minnie?

  But this also contradicted his orders. Who had sent him this? Could he ignore this?

  Or…

  Just now, Number 5 turned to the stairs that led down directly to Level 2. For security reasons, this was on the other side of Level 3. There was also a secret elevator, which also connected all Levels. The use of this elevator was only allowed to those who were allowed to move on all Levels. Just like the hidden stairs. Both were hidden behind rge pipes that carried steam out of the city. But before he even could follow the other shadow, Icy noticed a person running towards the pipes.

  Purple curls, a slender figure. The boy carried a rge bag with him, in which something was moving. Icy raised an eyebrow. Instead of following Number 5 to the stairs, he ran towards the boy. He grabbed his hand and dragged him to the elevator.

  "Come with me!" Icy didn't understand why he was saving the boy again. Something just told him that he would regret it if this boy died.

  Was the boy meant? Am I supposed to take him with me?

  Why?

  "What?" the boy stammered and stumbled after him through the water.

  sasi