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many people milling about.
    Frowning, Dwayne glanced toward the wall. “Just be careful today. Something doesn ’ t feel right and it ’ s not just the storm.”
    The monorail train rushed into the station, g lid ing to a quiet stop. The doors on the sleek white train slid open and the waiting commuters surged forward.
    “Whatever is going on, we ’ ll deal with it,” Maria said.
    Dwayne smiled slightly. “We will.”
    Together, they moved toward the train, their shoulders brushing as they walked. Maria wanted to touch his hand or have him wrap his arm around her, but discretion was best. Inside the train, most of the seats were occupied, so she found a corner and grabbed hold of the strap above her head. Dwayne joined her, holding onto the pole beside him. The doors closed with a hiss and the train lurched into motion.
    The storm raged over the city, sheets of rain falling in great bands. Maria peeked out of the window and saw that most of the streets were empty. Lightning sliced across the sky as thunder rumbled.
    “It ’ s right over us now,” Dwayne noted.
    The buildings of the military complex rose higher than the rest of the city. They were ugly, dreary buildings, with black windows on only a few floors. The complex hugged the high wall and occupied a good portion of the southern part of the city. The government buildings nestled closer to the center were more impressive with sleek glass faces and more ornate styling. The capital building strongly resembled an elongated pyramid. The only ornamental garden in the city surrounded the capital. All the other parks or gardens that had been part of the original design of The Bastion had long been turned into housing complexes after the gate failed and the survivors from the valley had taken refuge in side the walls . As the train swept past the only part of the city Maria found even remotely attractive, she turned her gaze away. The building only reminded her of the p resident ’ s speech full of empty promises.
    “We ’ re both in a mood this morning,” Dwayne mused.
    “It ’ s the storm,” Maria answered, even though they both knew it was much more than the weather causing them concern. The Constabulary was going to be hard pressed to bring the President ’ s speech into reality. No president of The Bastion had ever made such bold promises before.
    Dwayne gave her a slight smile that made her want to press kisses to his lips, but she fought the urge by looking at her wristlet. Just a few more minutes and she would be on the wall.
    There was a sharp inhalation of breath from nearby, and then several people let out gasps of surprise.
    “Look!” a man exclaimed, pointing out the window.
    The commuters flooded to the sides of the car, faces and hands pressing to the glass. Being taller than most of the people on the train, Maria simply had to stand on tiptoes to peer over their heads.
    “Dwayne ! ” she gasped.
    “I see it.”
    A tiltrotor was swooping low over the city heading toward the capital building. The last tiltrotor Maria had witnessed in the air was the one that had rescued her a year before. Soon after, all the air craft had been grounded due to lack of fuel. Her heart sped up at the sight of the black shape moving across the sky, its rotors repositioning to land.
    Several people clapped just before the train swept into the main terminal of the city. Excited conversation filled the air. Quite a few of the commuters were already tapping away on their wristlets with great excitement.
    “What does it mean?” Maria wondered aloud.
    “I ’ m not sure,” Dwayne answered, the lines in his face deepening.
    The monorail train slid to a stop and Maria reluctantly started toward the doors. Dwayne dared to lightly press his hand against the small of her back as they shuffled along at the rear of the crowd. The mood in the train had been muted until the appearance of the aircraft and now the ecstatic expressions and joyful chatter seemed oddly out of