With their ceremonious rumbling, the streetlights flicked on as the sun cascaded over the visible horizon. The markets began to clear out as merchants packed their wares and began to cycle in those who vendored by night. In mass exodus, the surface folk would collect in the many parks that dot the streets and exchange ideas, tell stories, or play games. One individual was gathering quite the crowd this evening with a captivating tale of adventure.

"How could you see anything in the dark?" asked a young girl

"Ah, good question, miss!" he began. "Much like the streetlights you see around you, they too have an illumination system down in Atlas. Where ours provide light to live as well as to see, their lamps are low power, only barely enough to live by. They also glow in a pale blue!"

The crowd was having a hard time imagining this.

"I will admit, it was not an easy transition. I spent nearly the entire first week sleeping, and the time I spent awake was a blurry headache."

Another voice spoke up from the audience. "Now wait, how did you survive then? Slumped over in some alleyway? The skulkers would eat you with their sharp talons and metal teeth!" A quiet murmur was building up in agreement.

"Far from that! They actually helped me a lot. A family took me in, and let me use their beds... well, if you can call them beds. More like chairs, really. But they cared for me, and that is what matters. And they don't have metal teeth or 'talons' as you say, they don't even have weapons."

"I heard they crawl up from below in packs and gut you in the alleys at night and drink your blood!"

"That's ridiculous. They wouldn't do something like that- they are just as peaceful as you and I, if not more so. The skulk--, I mean, Atlasians, bear no ill wills. They are a curious folk, really. Much like I'm telling you my story, they would gather and listen to my stories of life in Helios!"

Curiosity was brewing in the Helian crowd as well. "What did they think?"

"To be honest? They pitied us."

The crowd was silent. For a moment, the hum of the light above was all that filled the air.

"Let me explain. Their spiritual systems, laws, and entire community are built on the idea that one is only as strong as the hardships they endure. Every single Atlasian lives their life to make the most out of themselves. Not because they are egocentric, or competitive. But because they need to be strong for their brothers, their sisters, their neighbors- anyone in need. One's value is measured by their impact on those that will come after."

A young man stepped forward. "That's exactly how Helios works!"

The storyteller hesitated saying these words, but only briefly. "No. We innovate because we are rewarded for doing so. That's the fundamental difference. In the undercity there are no rewards. You're not granted better housing or more credits to spend in the market if you make a breakthrough. There aren't people or cliques to know that you befriend for the sole purpose of moving up in the world. You are a life, one of many, and you exist to touch as many other lives in as positive a manner as you can muster. No one is better or worse- everyone is your equal."

The unease was tangible.

"On my way up I passed a little boy. I asked him what he wanted to do when he grows up. You know what he said? He wanted to be a merchant so he can work in the sun. He doesn't want to be a salesman, but you know what? That's the fastest path to the light. We think the Atlasians are diseased? They think we're the sick ones. Sick in the mind. We call them skulkers? They call us addicts."

The young man in the crowd was offended. "Well if everything's so terrible up here in the light, then leave! Oh wait, you can't. Because we need the sun, stupid! And you'll cut off your limbs and be cold and lonely in the dark until you die figuring that out!"

The storyteller locked gaze with him. "I would be lonelier and grow colder up here. I merely returned to let the city know they can put my home back in the rotation."

He left the crowd, but not before turning around for one final remark.

"I got a nice arm picked out. They say arms are easier to learn first, after all."