Up we go

- What? - I asked doubting what I heard.

- You wouldn't make it out of here alone. Your fighting skills are weak. You are slow. Your strength is mediocre. - She accounted everything coldly. - Get up, girl. Your desertion is a big case, if you stall too much you're gonna get caught by someone way worst than me.

I picked her hand and she helped me up. I couldn't believe what was happening.

- Why are you helping me? Do you know that the penalty for desertion is death, right? Helping someone to desert is just as serious.

She completely ignored me and shaked my hand.

- I'm Nibba Serilli. Nice to meet you, miss Larpi Yatenni.

- Ni- nice to meet you too?

She turned her back to me and walked to the door. It really seemed like she wasn't going to kill me. For better or for worst, if I didn't accepted her offer, she would handle me to the planetary guard. If I accepted I would gain an ally.

- Let's get to the last floor and get out of here, then. - I started to pick my stuff from the ground. - Did you packed your things? Are you ready to leave?

Nibba looked back at me like I was stupid.

- Your plan is stupid. I told you I was going to help, so I won't let you use this course of action. Going to the surface will result in a couple of days of they hunting us and then we would get caught and... - she made a sign of cutting her neck and put her tongue out like she died. - Follow me.

I went after her and we went back to the line to enter the museum.

- Well, they won't be able to track us up there. - I started to explain my decision. - The city network can get our data, no matter where we are bellow the ground.

- Yes, and that's why YOU are going above. But there's a big fault on you plan. - She looked at me with her eyebrow up.

- We can't get out of the planet. I know.

We entered the museum tour. This planet had a primitive form of projection, they used glass walls to project the light, different from ho... well, I guess I can't call those planets home anymore.

We... They call themselves The Guarded Ones. It kinda makes sense, since the dictator is the person in the position of most power in the planetary guard. And it means that every planet was guarded by at least one garrison. It was hard to find a form of government different from a dictatorship on the more advanced populations.

The poorly made projections here were actually pretty much their state of art technology and I had to pretend to be surprised as we walked through the presentations on the museum. Nibba didn't even tried to hide her boredom.

- But I was thinking. If there are ways to get in this planet, there must be a way out. We investigated all of their traditions, history and tech. We know that nothing that they have down here could get a person in or out this planet.

- I'm amazed about how fast you accepted that we are now allies. I just kicked you ass a few minutes ago.

- Gotta tell you that I'm still coping with that, but I adjust fast.

The next projection showed the history of the population going underground. They used to live on the surface, but one day they drilled across a air pocket that had a strange bacteria that started to consume a very important gas. People begun to suffocate to death on the the surface so they needed to run away from it.

Funny how they remembered that but not how they created the chip.

Probably that was a classified information, available only for the higher powers. Out of my scope of research.

- Ok, I understand that I'm still going out. But how about you? You are already helping me just for not arresting me. How will I help you in your plan?

- Let's talk about that on the top floor.

That was a subtle way to tell me to shut up. I got that.

The last projection showed how the undergound cities started to connect and trade resources, but always maintained all of their self-sufficient plans on tip top shape in case of a city got breached and the bacteria entered and/or needed some level of isolation.

After that came the elevator. The guide explained its original purpose. Then we could take a ride to the upper floors.

- Everyone, step away from the door, please! - the guide said after we entered. Then he put a key in a tiny hole on the left wall before turning it. We could hear a series of clicks and then we started to move. - Up we go! - Remarked the guide.

- Indeed. - I whispered to myself.

The elevator was very slow, but also very steady. It didn't have any sudden changes in speed nor shaked. Seemed like it wasn't moving at all, but a displayer near the entrance doors showed that we were indeed moving up.

The guide started to tell a lot of stories about the building. Nothing that I didn't knew.

I kept looking to Nibba, and she kept a stoic face. Her hands were moving non stop, tho. Touching her purse, then touching her pocket, then touching her hair. Yeah. She was just as nervous as me.

When we reached the last floor, she stopped me before I left the elevator then approached the guide. They chatted for a little while and she returned.

- Wait for everyone to leave. - she whispered to me.

And then we waited. The guide turned to us and told us to leave. Nibba kicked him out of the doors and put the key on a hole on the right wall. Then turned it. The doors closed.

- Listen closely. Here's a data chip. - she put it on my hand. - It can't be accessed online, only offline. When we reach the door, read the chip and it will start to show you a trail. It will lead you to a series of safe spots on the surface. When you reach the last one, it will reveal the next phase of the plan.

What on the world was this?

- What door? Why can't I know everything now? How did you get that key? How do you know safe spots on the surface?

She processed my questions faster than I processed what was happening.

- The door to the surface. The data chip has te code to open it. You can't tell anyone what you don't know, I'm not helping you, I'm using you. I stole the key from the guide when I went to talk to him. And I've been here way longer than 5 years.

The elevator stopped again. The doors opened one more time.

- I'll find you latter. - I didn't move for a few seconds. - Don't make me push you out. - Nibba spoke in a sarcastic tone.

I couldn't tell if she was joking or not so I left. She turned the key again and the doors closed.

Bye, then.