The Phoenix Fallacy Book I: Janus Read Online Free Page B

parts of Cerberus abandoned and forgotten.  Manufactories sat idle with technologies deemed irrelevant or forgotten.
    The lift jolted to a start once more and Janus stared in wonder at the heavy machinery and rising city around him.
    Norm nudged him, “Here, lad.  Put these on.”  He handed Janus a wraparound visor.  “I found these a while back.  Why anyone would have thrown them away is a mystery to me.”
    Janus stared dumbfounded at the hideous slitted sunshade, “Er, thank you Norm.  What are these for?”
    “Your eyes are unaccustomed to the sunlight; you will need them.”
    Clara had turned to see what Norm had given Janus.  “Thank you, Norm.  Are you sure you don’t need those?”
    “No, it is fine.  I think Janus is going to need them more than I ever did.  He has never been exposed to direct sunlight, has he?”
    “No, he hasn’t.”  Clara looked worried, as if just realizing.
    Janus gave Norm an irritated look, “I’ll be fine.”
    Norm ignored him.  “Make sure you wear those whenever you are outside, otherwise your eyes might get damaged.  You should also cover up as much as you can, as you are sure to get burned if you stay out too long.”
    “Thank you so much for your kindness, Norm,” Clara gave him a glowing smile.  Janus turned away, exasperated.
    “Attacks have been stepping up lately,” Norm said quietly, dropping his voice to but a whisper as the tired workers filed slowly onto the lift.  The lift departed again, and Janus perked his ears up, always eager to hear more about the world outside.  From the corner of his eye, he watched Clara lean in towards Norm, stealing a surreptitious glance at Janus.  “Why?  How many attacks have there been?”  Janus shifted his weight to place himself just a little closer.
    The lift stopped on one of the military levels, letting off a group of repairmen.
    “I have heard of at least ten.  Mostly just minor Cerberus territories.  The Overlords are blaming the Mercenary Legions, but it is rumored to be the work of one of the other Corporations.”
    She whistled, “Wow, there haven’t been that many attacks in a long time.”
    “Yes, since before the time you found Janus,” Norm said, biting his lip in worry.
    Clara stared out at the city as the lift rose steadily.  The fog and smoke were slowly becoming brighter.  Streams of light cascaded from above.   Absentmindedly, she turned to Janus, “We’re passing E-level.  H-level is next.”
    She smiled at him and then turned back to Norm, resuming her whisper, “I just hope that it doesn’t spill into the main city.  I’ve heard that can be horrific.”  Janus strained to hear.
    Norm nodded solemnly, “Yes.  But for now, it is just a problem for the corporate Executors.  Hopefully though, the Corporation will start looking for more soldiers soon.”
    “I hope not.  I know you and I are safe from the draft, but Janus isn’t, and the last thing he needs is an opportunity to mouth off to a Corporate official.”
    “Yes, but don’t you want him to have more opportunity?  And there would be less people picking through the slums!”
    “I don’t want him sacrificing himself for a Corporation that has done noth—”
    Suddenly, the lift exploded through a layer of cloud and a blinding light cut her off.  Janus struggled to shield his eyes from it.
    They had reached H-level.

Chapter 3: Beyond the Slums

     
    The depthless dark of Cerberus had given way to shimmering gilded towers of glass and marble, crowned in wreaths of white, while angelic statues and spires lifted towards a bright blue sky.  A sudden warmth suffused Janus’ skin, and he pressed closer to the edge, struggling to absorb every glorious ray. 
    The lift slid silently into the station at H-level with Janus squinting upward towards the sky, unaware they had reached their platform.  Sunlight streamed through the H-station’s glass dome.  Gold-fluted columns reached from floor to ceiling, shining