6 Episode 2: Suddenly, It's SciFi! (Part 1/Ryuu)

_Ryuu Creed

_Planet Velmar IV

/ Grigwald City / 4th Integrated District High School

I stood in front of the main gate of the school and let out a small sigh as I gave it one last look. I gazed up towards where Room 3-A was located. It was where the class I was formerly a part of held their homeroom. I saw several of my classmates shouting and waving farewell. I smiled and waved back, then turned away after steeling my resolve.

Heh. It's not like me to be so overly sentimental. I mean, my days here weren't really all that memorable. Just your average high school stuff. But neither were they unpleasant. It's enough for me to feel some reluctance in leaving it all behind at least.

Anyway, enough moping around. I've already made my peace about the whole thing and the choice has already been made. I'll just have to tough it out from now on, especially after all that's happened.

I'd recently just received word that both of my parents had been caught up in the accidental explosion that occurred in the private munitions factory they were working at and were part of the casualties. That effectively made me and my sister orphans.

This news devastated both of us. Our family just recently moved to the Central Sector after all, and we don't have any other relatives who lived nearby. At least, no one that I knew of. This means we can only depend on each other now.

After settling everything and going over all the assets my parents had left behind, I came to the realization that there simply wasn't enough for me and my sister to work with if we insisted on keeping our current lifestyle.

My little sister's quite the straight-A student y'see. She's gorgeous to boot. Thus, my parents only wanted the best for her and had enrolled her in a prestigious private school with a track record for having countless successful and influential people in the Confederation among their alumni. But this decision stretched out our budget a little too thin as a result.

I wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and I acknowledged that fact myself. So I didn't mind enrolling at a sub-par school in order to accommodate my lil' sis. It's worth it, in my opinion. I'm quite proud of her y'see.

Ahem.

Anyway, it was all fine when my parents were still alive. But now that they're gone, things are looking a bit shaky. Since we don't have any relatives here, we couldn't seek any help, financial or otherwise, from them.

The meager pension we'd be receiving would just be a drop in a bucket compared to all the expenses we were to incur in the next few years, even if my sister had managed to apply for a scholarship. Those miscellaneous fees were no joke. Heck, we haven't even finished paying for the house yet either.

So, faced with no other alternative, I decided to bite the bullet and quit school to look for some jobs in order to support my sister.

The job offers I could apply for wouldn't really improve in quality if I waited to graduate from senior high since I couldn't apply for a higher level work license until after I finish college. So I decided I'd work on finding some employment right now instead.

Besides, our finances won't probably be able to hold out for another year if I didn't find some other sources of income fast.

Fortunately, there was a considerable number of job vacancies available, even for mere junior high graduates such as myself. This was especially true, now that tensions were rising between the Confederation and the Arcthanius Emperium. I shouldn't have any trouble landing a couple if I put my back into it.

So, after psyching myself up, I started walking towards Milford Street, where the Job Center was located.

***

—Grigwald City Job Center - Main lobby

A bespectacled female receptionist flicked through the info I submitted on the data terminal in front of her with a strict and no-nonsense demeanor. She barely changed her expression, thus hiding her thoughts well, and that made me feel quite anxious. C'mon lady. Cut me some slack here.

Name: Ryuu Creed

Age: 17

Residence: #243 Heathrow St. Falk District, Grigwald City

Working License: Class C (Active)

The lady eventually closed the terminal and moved her indifferent gaze towards me. Man, she looks so damn stern. Aren't receptionists supposed to receive potential applicants like me in a friendlier manner? Service with a smile and all that.

"Everything seems to be in order, for the most part." the lady began. "Well, then Mr. Creed, what sorts of positions are you planning to apply for? Bear in mind that with your license level, you can only apply for non-specialized jobs with low requirements." she went on.

I pondered for a bit, then gave my reply.

"Just give me some jobs that pay well for my license level ma'am. I don't mind doing hard labor. I should be able to do well if they're related to mechanical maintenance or something. I already have some experience regarding that stuff after all."

"Hmm. I see." came the curt reply. She typed some inputs on her data terminal and swiped my I.D. on the card reader connected to the device. She then handed it back to me.

"I've sent your info to the relevant parties. You might begin to receive calls for job interviews during the next few days. I wish you good luck Mr. Creed." the lady informed me and held out her hand. I shook her outstretched hand in gratitude and got up from the chair in front of her station to make way for the next applicant.

I walked out of the Job Center feeling both nervous and excited. I really hope I can get some good offers.

***

The receptionist lady's gaze lingered on the back of the departing teen for a short while. She then stood up from her seat and called for one of the other employees to take over for her shift.

She walked outside the lobby, heading towards the lavatory. After entering and making sure there was no one else nearby, she pressed a comm device hidden under the scarf of her uniform and contacted somebody.

"Subject has moved out of the premises. Three potential threats confirmed trailing after him. They might make their move soon."

[Copy that Nightingale. All personnel are to remain on alert and prioritize the subject's protection. Initiate Code: Phalanx. Buck up boys and girls. It's gonna be a long day] came the brusque reply.

She let out a soft sigh after receiving the orders. "I meant it when I said, good luck kid. You'll need plenty of it." she mused to herself while sporting a wry grin.