The rattling started again and by now Thorn no longer noticed the window's protective orange metal plate beating off of the glass over on the passenger side. To repair it meant replacing the foam insulation frame, which an old breed smith could do in the same time it took a worker to re-charge the vehicle battery. But due to recent power theft, every O.D.S.V (Outer-Dome Sealing Vehicle) had to be re-charged within the core security zone on the inner-dome platform. So unless Thorn received a task to work on the outer seal of the lower dome section, it was difficult justifying being at Earth level. Today the complete non-chevron maintenance crew deployed in force, with every available O.D.S.V deployed.
An official visit and inspection of the defence domes by the W.A.F Commander, General Kern was due to take place. For Thorn he saw this as a chance to clock overtime, which ensured that his entertainment and shopping card received a long awaited credit of units. His first-chevron supervisor had given the Defence Dome 102 repair task to him. Because of the high-profile visit (and consequences if something went wrong) at least repair materials became available. Stock was then in adequate quantities and the quartermaster became cooperative when processing orders.
Now having pulled his O.D.S.V from the power dock on the core security zone, Thorn launched the vehicle from one of the inner-dome exit portals; for his first repair shift on the outer panels of Defence Dome 102. Once in the exit portal convoy lane, with the W.A.F media reporter pushing censored news through the radio, Thorn fell into a day dream. Dreams which sometimes carried on running into his work shift. He often flashed back to childhood memories. One was the time playing 'hide and seek' together with his brother and sister in the family garden out in the countryside of the south west of England. With his parents watching from the wooden pavilion, while preparing soft drinks and cake on the round table and calling 'Leopold', 'Thornton', 'Trudy' once ready.
Another flashback took him to one of the Administration Centres, which the World Administration had built. Still young, neither Thorn, his older brother Leopold, nor his younger sister Trudy had any idea that the 'good intentions' of the Centre staff caused the parents' permanent separation. Although both too old to learn a trade, the boys received training with the non-chevron crews on account of necessity during the construction phase of the dome network.
As the O.D.S.V in front drove through the portal and disappeared from sight, the blast of daylight hit against his windscreen; for a short time before the visor completed the journey across the front window pane. This restored Thorn's front vision again. When the 'clunk' sound could be heard on both sides, and the vehicle rocked before stabling itself, it showed that the O.D.S.V was free from the convoy frame. He pressed the 'Hover' button on the main console and released the brakes by pulling the handle and proceeded with pressing the speed trigger on the steering bar. Once out of the dome, he said “Dome One Zero Two.” into the navigation console microphone and followed course to the destination.