Last Train Out
Irene pushed a button that is flush with the polycarbonate housing just beneath the windows. A faucet appeared after the small door was yanked off to a side. She held the canteen to it, and water flowed out of it for a brief moment before stopping altogether when the tube itself became near full.
She pushed the button again and the door closes. She took another capsule. Six months ago it wasn't like this. Kevin pushed for a patch on her for a time that made it tedious. The sickness and the routine wasn't any less so— but here she is again.
It was no big deal. Fear of heights. Nothing else. What professionals didn't tell her is exactly what the drug did. Both a suppressant and a stimulant. It's something that shouldn't be given to her, yet she relies on it every now and then. Sometimes she takes it for the sheer thought of cold comfort— other times mere seconds away from panic attacks and mortal shock.
She was rather thankful that she even had a train to board. In all likelihood the trains may stop, but, they were at least smart enough to not toss everyone into a massive panic. Much like last time. Everyone was already in a panic. There's no reason to induce more.
It was her favorite activity to stick her ear against the glass window as the train blew through the state and began drifting slower to avoid disturbing the residents that live close to the rail. The hyperloop ebbed and flowed through the yellow line as it crosses through the golden state's various suburban locations.
Irene didn't want to go home.
She looked at the half-eaten, previously vacuum-sealed pack of salt crackers strewn across a table extending from the wall of the cabin. Kevin sat his small hologram cube close to the window to get a clear image. He was too focused on the video. The crackers can wait.
"They have closed up Anaheim." Kevin murmured under his breath with his eyes still glue to the screen projected atop the glass.
"What did you say?" She treated herself to one of the crackers.
"Law enforcement have claimed all of Anaheim. Shut it down, quarantined. Everyone entering, leaving, all inspected like we're all convicts. If we're leaving just a few minutes later, we could have easily be forced to humiliate ourselves. They wanted to make sure we are not Bearists." He turned to her. "Police in cahoots with the federal government. As they should. They don’t exactly want to send in the National Guard when it’s election season.”
“How can they shut down the city like that? People live there. People demand respect. People need their homes."
Kevin laughed a little.
"There was a change, ten years ago, to our state constitution, largely in part, due to the film industry and those who happened to live there. They pushed for a little amendment. In the proposal they added a small line. 'Every respective county, under a declared state of emergency, has the right to take appropriate measures to minimize the loss of life and the destruction of property.'"
"Sounds fair to me."
"But in effect, it’s up to them to decide what to do. They can use this, Washington or Sacramento, to shut you up like this if they wanted.”
"So are they muffling all of Anaheim?"
The Films buzzed with three headlines.
Anaheim City Government Votes Unanimously to Declare Curfew on City, Blanket Arrest Order Issued for Civilians Out on Streets After 11 pm
Bearists Gather on Streets in Defiance of Order, Sporadic Shots Heard
Governor Stanton Sighted in Orange County as Various City Governments Collectively Proclaim Curfews
Irene shook her head.
“Oh, it’s gonna come for you. I promise. Politics comes for everyone. Maybe not me because I know how to stay out of trouble.” It was met with her chuckling. “But those with power, they want to use it when they can. Meanwhile I just want a life undisturbed.”
“We’ll see.”
Both films vibrated.
Disembark at your stop now.
Sync Metro California - June 21 22:54
Lakewood Suburbs
The train slowed according to a gradient, and the doors slide smoothly to a white-lit station. Some on the steel chairs stood up to get on, but more got off. The escalators sloped down to a larger hall that contained all sorts of dynamic directional plaques hanging from the ceiling. The large displays on the side of the hallway changes between commercial to commercial, while others stayed static and displayed a lifeless sheet of notice telling passengers that the orange line were to be suspended until Anaheim leaves lockdown.
One screen flashed red briefly before an orange circle representing its analogous line rolled onto the screen marked with a white X to signify Service Suspension.
Irene and Kevin leaned against their heels and they began rolling across the grey tiles.
Exit B up ahead was portrayed in a similar manner. An arrow pointing left dominated the left end, an elongated orange circle inscribed with "14B" followed it with a small space buffer, and the name of the exit, "Mayfair Park".
The two friends wheeled out of the metro station.
"I guess this is it, Irene. If you ever get light-headed again, just call me."
"Oh, I can take care of myself." She held in her laughter while she retorted.