Making his way outside, Zane stopped by his car in the parking lot. He paused by the driver's side door and pondered.
"Would it be possible to make it home in a car? Traffic might be real bad… But, could I even use "my" car? Or was it even my car anymore?"
Zane thought back to the blue screen.
He recalled that he could only go into his private residence and all else was not allowed. Currently, he was not in his home.
"Is being outside considered okay? They weren't clear. Guess like everything else they've done, I'll have to find out the hard way."
His car was a keyless entry, so it should unlock itself upon Zane opening the door. However, something that never happened before occurred when he tried to open the door handle. There was a jolt coming from the car that zapped him. Zane confirmed that the car was no longer his, however, he did not appreciate getting electrocuted.
"What the hell! They should use a notification window as a warning. Sloppy." Zane complained and flares of electricity sparked wildly from the car.
Backing away, Zane gulped. "They really are watching us. Listening too." Not wanting to agitate the alien occupiers, he quickly moved towards his apartment by foot.
He took about a 20 minute drive to get to work, so he guessed he would take two to three hours walking home. Zane reminded himself to pay attention to the actual distance in the future.
Walking down the cement sidewalk with parking lots and buildings lining along the road, Zane noticed a large shimmering golden circle ahead. Walking curiously closer he realized it was the size of two semi-trucks in height and length.
The portal though was paper thin. Looking at it from the side, you could only see a glowing golden line. Zane wanted to try putting something through it, but remembering getting shocked earlier, he decided not to test his curiosity.
Making his way closer to his house through the heart of the city, Zane realized that there were many portals and many more people. Everyone was walking back to their homes. There were a few that Zane noticed just walking into the portals.
"Probably far away from home, that guy," Zane thought to himself. There was a strong atmosphere of resistance and unwillingness from the conversations he heard along the way, but Zane ignored it.
Marveling at the tall buildings and hidden gems that were restaurants he discovered in the heart of the city, Zane appreciated the once great place he worked, lived, and played in.
The city was already slowly becoming different.
Cars were compacted like sardines on the streets, but they were abandoned as everyone moved around them trying to make their way home.
Zane observed a few who were more bold and daring trying to loot a jewelry store. He was shocked that they endured the shocks of electricity that came off the glass window as they continued to attempt to smash through. He knew it would not end well for them, but the current situation was for perfect data collecting without having to risk himself.
"I wonder what kinds of punishments are given. And what would constitute a punishment of being placed in the 6th class?" Zane was drawing up questions while waiting for the results of the attempted looting.
The flying sparks of electricity continued to zap the attackers, but it did not phase them or deter them from their shiny goals. Finally, they shattered the thick glass as a hole formed and the pieces of glass crumbled to the floor.
The looters would soon regret it and become examples for those all around.
A flash of red light flashed and created a translucent red barrier around the building. Like a death ray, a beam of light shot out at the looters, hitting them in their chests.
At first they freaked out and took off their shirts to see if anything happened. Everyone curiously looked on. Zane paid attention to gauge the level of retaliation from the aliens. It was a good 10 seconds and the looters looked relieved as nothing happened. They laughed and belittled the alien occupiers.
However, right afterwards they would find out the Embst Sovereignty didn't play around.
It was a strange sight. Looking from a distance, Zane had thought the looters had simply fallen to their knees. It was not as it looked.
"Aaahhhhhh!!!" A heart-wrenching yell was heard from one of the men kneeling on the ground as loud snaps of breaking bone echoed in the area. One by one they screamed out as they tried to prop up their bodies with their hands and arms.
It was no use however. The red beam of light entered their bodies and traveled to their joints. It started with the knees and ankles first. The crunching sounds were the breaking noises of the looter's ankles and knees.
The looters broke the Embst Sovereignty's window and in return they broke the looter's knees and ankles. Others would later find out that without one's mobility in the frontlines, death was imminent.
"That's a pretty harsh punishment for breaking a window and an attempt to steal." Zane thought. "It would seem survival was higher if we obeyed." He didn't like the idea of limited freedoms, but he was not going to die a fool's death.
The men were now sprawled on the ground, squirming in pain, but none came to help. Zane looked at them and was undecided if he should feel pity for their pain or their recklessness. He ignored them and continued home. He would see many more who would have to learn the hard way as they attempted to steal or damage the Sovereignty's property.
After moving for almost two hours, the packed towering building slowly turned into more spaced and normal sized buildings. Zane had made it to the suburbs where he lived. Making his way crossing the road, he side-stepped around the cars to reach his apartment on the other side of the street.
The apartment Zane lived in was average looking at best. Some would even call it run-down, but the rent was cheap and that was what Zane really cared about.
"Home at last!" Zane was happy to finally reach the place of his abode. He almost jogged his way to his studio on the edge of the second floor.
Climbing up the stairwell, he saw his neighbor and wondered if he should say anything.