Surface City (Mallikai III)
Surface City is the opulent, sunlit crown of Mallikai III—the highest and wealthiest layer of the planet’s vast Ecumenopolis. Unlike the dark industrial tiers below, Surface City is open to the sky and bathed in natural light, making it the most desirable and exclusive habitation zone on the entire world. Only those with immense wealth, political influence, noble lineage, or highly placed corporate connections can afford residence here.
Surface City serves as the political, cultural, and economic heart of the planet, thriving on prestige, spectacle, and a strict separation between itself and the lower strata of society.
Overview
Surface City is a sprawling panorama of:
- towering arcologies
- aerogardens
- platinum-filament bridges
- gleaming civic halls
- luxury districts
- high-security residential estates
The architecture embraces open air, ornamented facades, and radiant materials designed to reflect sunlight throughout the district. Most of the planet’s elite never descend below the surface, rarely acknowledging the existence of the Upper Limits or Deep City unless required by ceremony or law.
Surface City maintains the illusion that it is the entire world, with everything below treated as an abstraction—useful, but out of sight and out of mind.
Society and Population
Surface City residents include:
- bureaucrats
- government ministers
- megacorp executives
- celebrities and media icons
- wealthy dynastic families
- high-ranking military officers
- the nobility
Life in Surface City is defined by:
- galas
- celebrity functions
- curated news feeds
- private performance theatres
- vineyards and floating gardens
- designer arboretums
Citizens enjoy abundant sunlight, rich social networks, and every luxury that Mallikai III can offer—so long as they pay.
Relationship to Lower Levels
Most Surface Dwellers:
- never set foot in the Upper Limits
- have no desire to know about Deep City
- avoid any discussion of The Depths entirely
They prefer to imagine the undercity as a distant myth, despite depending on its labor, energy, and infrastructure for survival.
The Troupe Culture
When Surface Dwellers *do* venture downward, they travel in groups called Troupes. A Troupe typically consists of:
- 4–20 wealthy thrill-seekers
- several bodyguards
- light-drones and stylists
- an escort vehicle
Troupes wear flamboyant, brightly colored outfits—seen by Deep City residents as clownish or ridiculous. Their purpose is usually:
- illicit entertainment
- exclusive Spice lounges
- thrill tourism
- underground bars serving drinks banned on the surface
Surface Dwellers often treat these excursions as adventurous safaris into an “exotic” underworld—sometimes with fatal consequences.
Politics and Governance
Surface City houses:
- the planetary government
- administrative ministerial towers
- the Hall of Nobles
- strategic command centers
- the Governor’s Arcology
Policy is shaped almost entirely by Surface City interests, often at the expense of the Lower Strata.
Economy and Culture
Surface City is the economic engine of Mallikai III, thriving on:
- finance
- entertainment
- interplanetary trade
- corporate headquarters
- luxury markets
- Spice-linked hospitality (legalized for elites)
Culturally, the region is dominated by:
- high fashion
- social status rivalry
- political theater
- celebrity culture
- competitive philanthropy
Much like the glitter of its towers, Surface City projects perfection outward while hiding its dependency on the much harsher world beneath.
Nightlife and Illicit Activity
Despite its polished image, Surface City harbors a thriving underground nightlife. Troupes venture into:
- forbidden clubs
- neon-lit tunnels converted into Spice lounges
- black-market galleries
- unlicensed entertainment chambers
These establishments offer:
- rare beverages never permitted on the surface
- high-grade Spice samples
- performances outlawed in Surface districts
Authorities tend to ignore these activities—so long as they remain contained and profitable.
Perception by Lower Strata
Deep City and Upper Limits residents often describe Surface Dwellers as:
- “paper nobles”
- “sky clowns”
- “sun drunk”
- “bright-wrapped fools”
The gaudy neon-colored outfits of Troupes, worn for style or shock value, reinforce this impression.