Finally! After years of diligent study and hard work; after thousands of long nights in front of monitors in quiet libraries; after half a dozen or so menial jobs to keep it all going; finally: Hallium City at last!
Mick's eyes were wide as he took in the aerial view of Hallium. The impossibly tall skyscrapers of the Corporate District jutted into the sky. The tallest vanished into the clouds like mountains. Smaller auxiliary structures were like foothills leading to the centralized collection of corporate headquarters.
Surrounding this commercial hub were Hallium's other districts and zones. To the north was the Industrial District, full of factories and plants, many of which continually belched thick ribbons of black and gray smog.
The eastern and southern parts of the city were the Residential District. It was made up of many apartments and tenements. Mick's new home was somewhere in there; a small apartment in a huge building.
None of these areas were of interest at the moment. After years of dedicating his life to pursuing a career in interplanetary shipping it was time for a vacation.
'Some badly needed me-time', he thought as he eyed the western portion of Hallium: the Social District. Mick was sure the more 'vanilla' areas of the Social District were fun but he wanted something a bit spicier.
The jet made a wide arc around the city as it descended, making a smooth landing on a strip just outside the Social District. This part of the city never slept. Almost every structure was lit up. Old-fashioned neon lights were abundant, as were more modern digital and holographic billboards.
Mick entered the airport and ran his bracelet over the nearest scanner. He took a seat and waited impatiently. He watched as more passengers trundled from the jet. Most were suffering jet-lag and the stress of a long flight.
After about half an hour the automated luggage cart finally appeared, coming to a stop in front of the rows of seats in the lobby. It was immediately surrounded by people who, much like Mick, just wanted to get their things and be on their way.
He grabbed his single suitcase and sluggishly made his way across the lobby toward the exit. Once outside the cool air refreshed his senses. He pressed the call button at a transport kiosk and waited for the cab to show up.
'Hopefully it'll have a human driver', Mick thought.
After another half hour of waiting the boxy black and white vehicle hovered to a stop near the kiosk. The driver called through the open window, "Am I here for you?" She was maybe in her lower thirties with jet black hair and hard blue eyes.
"I hope so," Mick said, appreciating the low-cut top she was wearing, showing the creamy white swell of her breasts.
"Well, I do, too," she said, "you're the last one for tonight. I'm exhausted. Where ya headed?"
"Stellman Apartment Complex Seven," Mick replied as he entered the cab. He ran his bracelet across the scanner on the back of driver's seat. It intoned its approval melody.
"Good to go," the driver called back. "I bet you're one of the graduates, right?"
"How'd you guess?"
"Well," she replied, "you're as wide-eyed as a deer in headlights, for one. For another, you're barely in your twenties, only got one suitcase, and - no offense - you're going to one of the rattiest apartments in town."
