It was supposed to be a party. Two days ago, when brothers Bradley and Brodie Miller had finally saved up the money to visit Union Heights, they came to celebrate. They’d enjoy the beach, play some volleyball, and get some drinks. They never imagined what was coming.

Brodie lost track of his brother in the confusion of their big day out. He asked passersby if they had seen him. Meanwhile, Bradley, atop GEB tower, had gathered quite a crowd of onlookers. They witnessed a horrific sight when he plummeted to the city streets below.

At first, it was assumed to be suicide or tragic accident. Sad, yes. Horrifying, certainly. But sadly nothing out of the ordinary in a big city like Salvation City. However, investigations soon detected the presence of something more at play in this awful incident: magic.

Even after its classification as the fifth fundamental force of nature and the accompanying rise of Masaru[*] as the seventh mega-corporation, magic remains a mystery. It defies many of the strict rules that bind the other forces; its influence is usually limited to magically resonant areas, and it seems actively hostile to technology. It doesn’t fit into our worldview. So we block it out. Ignore it. But that day, it would not be ignored, even at the top of the Heights.

Bradley did not jump or fall from GEB Tower. He was pushed. Not by a physical being, but by a magical entity: a spirit.

Spirits are the most common type of magical being. They are incorporeal, made entirely of magic. They gather around magically strong areas like the Undercity, seemingly harmless and alternately treated with amusement and indifference by the residents. It’s rare to see them travel far from these havens. Reports of sightings elsewhere are hard to confirm, since they do not appear on video recordings.

Travelling to the upper districts and pushing people off buildings is unusual behaviour. Masaru investigators theorised this spirit may have been bound in some kind of object and brought from elsewhere. The potential involvement of a malevolent entity or even a ‘rogue mage’ – that is, a mage not registered with the Masaru corporation is a possibility being considered.

The Masaru representatives stated their intention to track down the perpetrator[†], and withheld further details, citing the ongoing investigation. Wards to block spiritual incursion have been established across the various corporate buildings in Union Heights. After I prompted them, I was assured that wards for other buildings in the neighbourhood are to follow.

At time of writing, the investigation into Bradley Miller’s death is still ongoing, and I urge anyone with knowledge of this incident or relevant expertise to co-operate fully with the investigation.

I headed back to the scene of the crime. I suppressed a shiver down my spine as I walked past where he landed, the pavement long scrubbed clean by the nightly SWEEPOs. As I looked up at GEB tower[‡], I was left with more questions than answers.

What possible motivation did anyone have to kill Bradley? I could find no ties to any known mages, nor anyone with a grudge against him.

Why weren’t we prepared for malevolent magical entities like this? Will it happen again? Why do I – do most of us – barely have the language to describe what happened here?

As things stand, our relationship to magic is governed by the Masaru corporation. They warn us of the dangers of unchecked magical potential, while offering products, services and consultations to bring that magic into our lives. Meanwhile, other groups emphatically reject Masaru’s influence, claiming they seek to monopolise and control the potential of magic.

As I stood in the hole left behind by Bradley Miller, it was clear to me that the dangers that Masaru warn of, at least, are not fictional. And yet, we can’t subcontract away our understanding of such an inseparable part of our world either. If Bradley’s tragic fate has taught us anything, it is that danger can strike when you least expect it.

For my part, I’ll be borrowing some books from Masaru’s Library in Union Heights, now open to the public.[§] And I’ll be learning from every source I can, even down in the Undercity, where the relationship between people and magic seems very different from the city proper. And I’ll be sharing what I learn with you – we’ll figure this out together.

For now, though, the Undercity has more pressing concerns. Water and power shortages are still affecting the underground, and for those who are able to donate, the link will continue to be provided below.

_{[*] Want to know if there’s a little magic in YOUR life? Buy a Masaru™ Magic Tester today! Take your receipt with you to receive 20% off your Mage registration fee.
[†] See beyond the veil with the Masaru™ Spirit Detection kit! Results not guaranteed. For recreation only.
[‡] GEB Tower. Still open. Still reliable. Feel your stress levels plummet with the GEB Cube Green Tea range!
[§] Want to learn more? The Masaru Library is open daily. Ask about our Runic: The Reckoning booster packs!}

Welcome back to Down from the Heights. Today, a reader saw fit to let me know “I can read it without it making me want to puke!”. You’re welcome. I do it all for you.

No risk of that for me this morning – I had to skip breakfast to make it to the morning presser. I tried not to let it spoil my mood as I idled in the line at the unassuming, unmarked offices that have become the new headquarters of the Corporate Response Operations (CRO) force. I noticed they had Astral mercenaries handling the patdowns. I wondered if they hadn’t been fitted for new uniforms yet.

In the end, we all filed in. One side of the room was packed with what looked like mercs, freelancers, and corporate representatives scattered about. I sat in the corner, with the rest of the press.

Jereslimah, CRO’s negotiator and representative, launched into his prepared speech. Citing last year’s development review, which showed a struggling economy, increased crime and rising unemployment, he said that the Board wanted to abandon Hellion.

“If this keeps going, investors are going to ditch the planet, shut the lights off on us, recall all the resources that run the city and close the warp gate behind them. That leaves the half billion people living in the city damned to die a slow death,” Jereslimah said. “ Where are they going to go when the food runs out? What’s going to produce the power needed to provide clean water and a safe place to sleep? These are the questions we don’t want to have to answer – how do we save a half billion lives?”

“CRO is the answer”, he said.

It was difficult not to think of the Undercity, where clean water and power had already been shut off that morning. 

He outlined a combined security force backed by all seven mega-corporations, Union, and the galactic development committee. Jereslimah described the problem facing the city as “people setting back the progress of society.” and that his enforcers will “catch criminals, to keep our people safe.”

I was struck by the intense language. Jereslimah was spelling out a prophecy of doom – the fall of our very planet. CRO was positioned not as a mere function of government, but as Hellion’s saviour from a potentially apocalyptic fate. The Board’s spokesperson, when later asked to comment, stated that there are no plans or deliberations being made that would include the abandonment of Hellion.

Jereslimah continued to pitch this new anti-terrorism force as a source of both jobs and justice. He hoped CRO would grow from their initial limited mandate within Salvation City to operate planetwide. With the co-operation of the Union High Court, he told us, the new agency will operate under the authority of the Corporate Board.

The exact remit of this force, and how it would work, was questioned by those present. Would CRO handle corporate malfeasance? Corruption? What about when a corporation’s official initiatives broke the law? The new CRO head pointed to a recent arrest of an Avalon pharmacist turned drug pusher as an example of their commitment to internal investigations. “We want to make sure the corporations are working for the betterment of the planet – otherwise the planet just becomes a money sink – and what’s the point in investing in a money sink?” How this would work on a larger scale, and whether CRO’s remit would go further than protecting investments, was left unclear.

That’s far from the only challenge facing this fledgling law enforcement operation. With many recruits drawn from existing corporate security, will residents see a new vision for the city, or a new coat of paint on security forces that the Board have already lost confidence in?

Jereslimahs’ words on trust were uplifting, but sadly light on detail. He spoke of the Undercity as a state working for independence instead of a homeless camp, and said he approached their leaders seeking an extradition agreement. Yet he preceded this with a rather alarming claim of “criminals coming out of the sewer system and radicalising hundreds of individuals on our city streets” without evidence.

Despite his hardline rhetoric, Jereslimah said that CRO’s success could justify investment in terraforming in Hellion, even giving the planet a rotation. “That’s going to melt the glaciers, tame the windstorms, finally give us an ocean, and a night sky to look at. Who’s with me on that?”

But, well, what about the people who aren’t with him? What happens when this vision faces opposition? At the start of his speech, he alluded to Salvation City being a “hotspot for civil war”. If people resist this vision of progress, what steps will CRO take to enforce it?

There are positive signs. A willingness to talk to the Undercity and Scrap Towns; A preference for less-lethal force, and an insistence that CRO would not be armed for war. Jereslimah stressed the need for economic development – this is to be welcomed. But is fighting crime the sole answer to economic woes?

I spent the rest of my day between the Undercity and Row 32 and I didn’t hear a lot of concern about crime. Some might think the power outage would give the cover of darkness to ne’er-do-wells. But instead of thieves, murderers and – worst of all – radicals in the streets, there were neighbours pooling supplies, providing spare food and water, and checking on each other. 

These are the real people who inhabit Hellion. If CRO wants to be trusted, it will need to get these people and their neighbours on board.  Earning that is going to be hard. CRO will need to align themselves with the real concerns of the people of the city through community meetings. CRO representatives will need to leave the riot shields at home and when they make promises, follow through.

The Corporate Response Operations chief said this organization is our salvation. But if they already believe they have all the answers, they may not be asking the right questions. I’d suggest they start with a simple one: How can we help? 

But hey, maybe I’ll end up eating CRO.

I’ll once again, for my friends in the Undercity, attach the donation link below for anyone who wishes to help them out, in this critical hour. The courage and resilience of the people of the Undercity has been truly incredible to see. And even in these trying times – they still find time for a Sick Fucking Jump.

Ouch.

Hey there folks. A lot has been going on lately – but we’ve got a real treat for you today! I managed to sit down with Trident’s very own Maxamillion Stillwell! Many of you will have first seen him as the smile on your screens behind the Trident Idol, Mey, but he didn’t stop there! Popping up here, there and everywhere, Max has travelled all over the city, signing contracts and meeting talent, as well as fronting 2 Trident Galas! (I guarantee he did a better job than me on that count).

Max was kind enough to share a drink with me in the basement bar in the Trident HQ. I was keen to learn more from someone who had already explored so much of the city and met so many people!

First thing, you’ve been away for a little while – out of the public eye. Care to share how you’ve been spending that time?

Well, alas, I don’t really know myself! I seem to have stumbled into something strange in the Undercity, something involving time. I’m not really sure! In fact, I’ll be talking to Masaru about it and they will be able to help me soon. But that’s all I have about that.

Is that related to your own trips to the Undercity recently?
No. I’ve been trying to reconnect with our wonderful contact Lilith, and I’ve found out today she has a wonderful assistant as well, who is very well versed in making magical clothing.

This is related to your new show, right? Can you tell us a little more about that?
Yes! Thread of Wonders. Which is going to be, luckily – I don’t know why this is the case but, many people in the Row and Union Heights seem like they could model their own clothing! Lilith is a tailor, she makes wonderful clothing, and we’re going to help her show it off. We’ll be doing short form content, she’ll talk through her designs and then we’ll get that out to the wider planet!

A chance for people to try out a different look.

Indeed! The second show that I’m actually quite excited about is starring our good friend from Row 32, Jimothy! It’ll be called The CEO of Sex. It’s sort of a nickname he has down there – and he’ll be giving dating advice! I think it’ll be quite wonderful and scintillating. Those are currently in the works.

So he’s got this reputation, and we’re helping him share his wisdom?
Apparently he’s a ladies man! You too could be a smooth operator like Jimothy!

That would certainly be quite the feat.

You’ve met all sorts of people – gone all sorts of places, from the Wasteland to the Undercity – what have you learned from meeting all those people?
I think each different area has something interesting about it. The Wasteland is pretty in its own way, and the people are unique and straightforward. People in the Undercity can be very distrustful, but if you get to know them they can have hearts of gold. The Row…well, it’s the Row…and again, often mistrustful, but there’s so many interesting stories. No matter where you go, everyone you talk to has an interesting story.

You’ve always been a cheerful presence on our screens. Do you ever get upset?
I never used to! But, I just care so much about my Trident family that – certain things can get on my nerves. (He looks over to the bar, where FL0UND3R is speaking with other Trident employees). I very much am very fond of our FL0UND3R unit. He’s sort of like family to me!

Well he does call you uncle.

That’s true!

The two of you used to work up in the Upper City. How are you settling into the new role? What do you think of the new location?
It’s beautiful! There’s so much love and effort put into the architecture around here, that’s for sure. I love our new facilities here at Trident, it’s a veritable playground, and we plan to have lots of fun with it.

Right. We’ve got a lot of events planned both here in the Trident bar, as well as other venues. Have you had much chance to enjoy the beach?
I have! But well, you see, part of my uniform while working in the Upper City, I was required to keep seven identical pairs of what I’m wearing now – so my wardrobe was not very varied! So I’ll have to see about getting a swimsuit made…technically I suppose I could designate one of these suits my swimming clothes…

That doesn’t sound like a comfortable option!

Rounding things out here – with all this – what does the future look like for you? What’s next for Maxamillion Stillwell?
You know – I’d say anything! With this new opportunity comes a new chance at life – who knows! For the longest time I had no time to look for a relationship – so maybe I’d want to…see about that?

Maybe you could take some advice from the CEO of Sex?
You are quite right! I’ll have to see if Jimothy can introduce me to some ladies…Sorry – what was the question again?

What comes next for you?

Oh! Well, there’s plenty of shows on the docket. I plan to start looking for contracts in various parts of the city – and bring us all together with the love of entertainment! With this whole power outage and stuff going on in the Undercity and possibly parts of the Row – I feel like people will need work to get through that. So, what better place to provide opportunity than entertainment! It works for us – and if it kicks off, even better! A win-win.

And I suppose in hard times, everyone could use something to relax to.
Everyone from the person working in the scrapyard up to a CEO! Everyone loves a good story – that’s for sure.

———————————————————

So there you have it! Thanks again to Max for sitting down with me, and to all those reading this for sticking with me! Please do check out the CEO of Sex and Threads of Wonder, coming soon! I hope to do more interviews like this with all sorts of people to start bringing their stories to life. So if you have a story to tell please, get in touch! You can find the donation link for the Undercity attached to this post, same as the last.

To get to the Undercity, you have to row. We paddled our boat down a flowing water pipe. I said nowhere was off limits when I started this column, but I felt my own limits being tested. Max Stillwell, my colleague in conch, rowed in time with me, supervised by our FL0UND3R unit. Together, we passed outside of the world we know – a world of laws, products and schedules – into the semi-anarchic Undercity.

Residents eyed us with suspicion as we arrived. I could hear them whisper about us as we passed. The architecture in the labyrinthine tunnels is nothing like the rest of the city – no prefab parts or city blocks. Everything here is carved or cut or crafted by hand – or by magic. Runes and symbols glow ominously on some walls, while plants that look large enough to swallow a person whole loom at the entrance to ‘the Grove’.

They say there’s magic in the air here. On the docks, all I got was the faint whiff of rotting eggs, surely the hydrogen sulfide produced by the water treatment plants above. That unpleasant odour is about to be replaced by the stench of dirty water – as the Galactic Union redirects the flow and the pipes run dark.

The Undercity was built on illegally siphoned water and power from other districts, which fueled the enclave’s growth from a shanty town to a full-fledged settlement. This year, it became too big to ignore.

On behalf of the Galactic Union, Governor Rhapsodia offered to integrate the district into Row 32. But after violent clashes between Masaru and locals, any goodwill has seemingly disintegrated on both sides. 

So they cut the cables. Union declared their intention to stop the flow of power and water in two days. The Undercity Council has responded that they will live independently of the Galactic Union henceforth.

Despite both governments’ actions, the streets feel calm. Passersby told me that they were nervous about what might happen. Some were supportive, but not all agreed with the Council’s push for independence. Nonetheless, every single resident I spoke to said the Undercity will pull together and find a way through. It’s a sense of solidarity we rarely see in the upper levels. Yet I can’t help but wonder…everyone might be confident they can weather the storm…but why do they need to?

To answer that question, first I needed to speak to the person in charge. But no one seemed to quite know who is a mayor, a temporary mayor, or a councilor. After seemingly talking to every passerby in the plumbing –  including a brief interlude with a local parkour group called “Sick Fucking Jumps” – I eventually arranged a meeting with Councilman Theris Fueler, who appeared on screens across the Undercity last night in the emergency broadcast declaring their independence. But first, check out a Sick Fucking Jump.

When I finally speak to Fueler, what strikes me first is his composure. His voice is calm and even, with no signs of nervousness. When I asked how he intended to ensure citizens have access to clean water and power, he pointed to “some ideas – some renewable resources”. He did not elaborate to me further on what these were, or how they could be operational in the next two days.

As he sees it, this is no temporary dispute, but a new way of life. He suggested that the Undercity might one day sell food surpluses to GEB, once the corporations recognise its new status.

“The Undercity, with its newfound independence, is a wonderful place to start a new life and enjoy oneself without the constant fear of corporate overlords over their heads,” he said. “Independence, in short, is a way for people to live a calmer life.” 

It’s hard to see a calm future when the city is moments from cutting off the district’s utilities. Hearing politics take precedent over people’s right to clean water was exasperating.  Whatever the future of the Undercity might be, this game of chicken is sickening.

Fueler conceded to me that some residents were unsupportive or indifferent to the idea of independence – but they don’t plan to back down or make concessions. Real lives are at stake here. Clean water is not a luxury. Power is not a luxury.

I do believe Fueler, and his fellow councillors when they speak of the failures of the past. They mean well, and, ultimately, it isn’t the Undercity Council who decided to cut off the pipes.

For a gaudy building with faux-classical architecture, you’d think the Union Heights Union HQ would have more chairs. I struggled to find a seat in the grandiose records room. While waiting to talk to a representative, I was struck by how this building wasn’t meant for people to use. It was made to send a message.

The representative arrived. He read from his datapad: “Row 32 is undergoing infrastructure maintenance due to a recently found illegal redirection of resources and systems, and will be correcting that with the full endorsement of the Corporate higher ups.” 

I could have saved a trip. They never mentioned people’s taps running dry or synthetics struggling to refuel. A Union employee, who does not wish to be named over fear of losing their job, also made it clear to me that the Galactic Union does not recognise any independent entity in the Undercity. It is simply considered an unincorporated area. In other words, a squat.

Everyone deserves better than to watch their water run dry at the whims of the powers that be. It doesn’t matter whether they live in the Undercity or Row 32 – we all live in Salvation City. No one in a modern city should ever have to wonder whether they will have clean water and power tomorrow. All sides can’t wash their hands of this. They must swallow their pride, come together, and guarantee that everyone will be provided for.

There is a relief fund to help supply the Undercity’s residents with vital energy and water supplies – details below. I’ve donated. You should too if you can, because wherever we’re headed, if we’re going to make it, we’ll need to row together.

Hey there folks! Jacqueline here! If you have been living under a rock, you might not have heard that Union Heights is open for business! We’re all in the process of moving in, checking out our new offices, stuff like that, so today, I’m going to keep things shrimple, and talk about new beginnings.

First off, check out my new office! It’s literally beachside, how sweet is that? (Conch – Ed.) It’s literally beachside, how conch is that?

There was a real party vibe at Azura Cove today. A few issues with the trains didn’t dampen spirits as Row residents, Wastelanders and locals mingled freely, playing volleyball and enjoying the atmosphere. Beach life was a novelty that many in the lower levels hadn’t experienced, and visitors were keen to sample every part!

But you don’t need to drink seawater OR eat sand, no matter how delicious, as Trident food and drinks are available at reasonable prices right there on the beach! Come by between 02:30 to 03:30 daily to stay moist and soak up some suns! I might just see you there. (If she’s actually doing her job. – Ed.)

It seems like there are a few kinks to work out in the GEB production lines in the district, however! A local citizen ordering a GEB cube got quite a surprise – when they bit into it and found it to be a rock! Ouch! Local GEB PR representative Elpizo Feall claims that this was a one time hiccup that is being fully investigated at time of reporting. Maybe we can solve it with a new gameshow? Rock or Cube! Think you can do better than GEB at telling the difference? Answer on your phones!

Outside of the beach parties and culinary mishaps, the atmosphere in Union Heights today was a mix of resignation, resentment, and cautious hope. The impending demotion hung like a Sword of Damocles over the last nine months for those blamed for the synthetic terror attacks. But far from a shameful exile, Union Heights carries some of the best of all worlds, mixing corporate amenities with public transit access that makes the district far more of a melting pot than the Upper City ever was.

Even so, the divide between ‘Corp’ and ‘Non-Corp’ individuals remains strong. Comments like “I don’t hate all corporates…unlike some people” and casual use of terms like “slummer” speak to a reality where enmity is assumed, and corporate colours can sometimes feel less like a uniform and more like a battle flag. And yet even with tensions running high, and the high towers still looming above, for most, Union Heights represents a second chance.

As I get my things packed up and moved to the neighbourhood (Yes, moms, I need that many pairs of shoes! It’s for work!) – I can’t help but join the wave of cautious optimism. We got dealt a bad pull on the gacha, but we pull again. And hope that this time, it isn’t a rock!