[ WP ] The world is covered in sprawling skyscrapers with the richest living at the top and the poorest towards the bottom . One day the poor attack and take refuge higher up , claiming to be fleeing an unknown threat located on the ground and slowly moving up

This was a City of Light. This was a City of God. 
 
 The morning prayers to the Son of Gold had just begun when the first gunshots broke the sacred silence of the morning. Of course, even in prayer, the high reaches of the spires were rarely actually silent -- in this district, barges were continually delivering commodities and loading refuse through the night until noon -- so the fact that the staccato chorus of clapguns firing was audible in the chapel was rather alarming. 
 
 Father Hendricks ordered his prefects to seal the chambers. Those of his blessed flock who chose to return to their safehouses were, of course, afforded that opportunity -- the rich may do as they wish -- but those too fearful were given sanctuary in the chapel vault. That was where Hendricks went. The situation room buzzed to life as he strolled in, somewhat less dignified than usual. Deputy Chief Prefect Mallow followed closely behind, communicating with his men and the District Office via his wired cochlear. 
 
 `` Three Arbitration platoons have been dispatched to reinforce our position,'' he informed the Father. `` The situation is still developing but the Chief is well aware of how delicate the situation is.'' 
 
 `` *Delicate* --'' Hendricks spat. `` Half the population of the upper levels are here!'' 
 
 The two scanned the chapel's intranet, searching for clues as to what was going on outside. The news feeds were buzzing with activity, and Hendricks did n't like any of it. 
 
 Undercity scum had attacked three districts last night, and twelve more this morning. The scaled attack had strained the response ability of the local prefects and the Arbitration regiments. The Home fleet was being called in secure the situation. 
 
 `` Buffoons,'' Mallow muttered. `` This will be the end of them.'' 
 
 Hendricks was n't so sure. He'd once guarded the Gates of Darkness, the thin black line separating the Undercity from the City of Light. He recalled images of the poor, huddled together in hopeless masses, desperate for food, water, shelter, comfort. He remembered watching the gangers beat innocent mothers to death, eager to induct her children into their ranks -- or perhaps simply hungry. He shuddered, eagerly pushung the imagery away. 
 
 Three clapguns fired outside the chapel. Mallow looked at Hendricks fearfully and the two raced out of the situation room into the main chamber. Two prefects were in cover behind the pews, stutterguns leveled at the door. One updated Mallow as he and Hendricks approached. 
 
 `` They rode a barge up,'' he said tersely. 
 
 Suddenly there was another clap and Hendricks was showered by stained glass. Instinct took over. He shielded his eyes and ducked behind a pew as more clapgun fire assailed the group from above. There were a few thuds -- the sound of wet meat being impacted by bullets. After a moment, the chapel settled into a calm silence. Hendricks peeked over the pew to see two gangers rappeling down from the now splintered stained glass murals. Another ganger was unlocking the chamber for the others. Mallow and his boys were dead. 
 
 A new man walked in. He was n't dressed like the others. He wore the faded fatigues of the Guardsmen, the company manning the Gates of Darkness. Father Hendricks recognized him immediately. He'd assumed the man died decades ago, after the fool deserted the Guard and fled into the Undercity. The man saw Hendricks and smiled, 
 
 `` Oh Son of Gold, forgive us for our trespasses, blessed though we are by thy comforts... Oh son of Gold, teach the unillumined, so that they too may earn thy affections...'' 
 
 Hendricks stood and shed his outer cassock, which was peppered with glass flakes. 
 
 `` Martymy. I thought you were dead. You blaspheme this --'' 
 
 `` Save it,'Brother' Hendricks,'' he replied smartly. `` We have n't come for thy damned riches, nor thy gold -- though if thou oppose us too, I promise thee the same death that greeted these rascals of yours.'' 
 
 Hendricks was rather confused. 
 
 `` Your ilk are attacking across the City, Martymy. This is an insurrection.'' 
 
 The gangers, who apparently did n't understand the High Speech, growled, but Martymy simply chuckled. 
 
 `` This ai n't an insurrection,'brother'. We need thy help. And we needs it now. Elsewise, we all will be dead by year's end.'' 
 
 This was a City of Light. This was a City of God.
