57: Bound by the System

Alex sat at the console, the hum of the machine a constant companion as he scanned the job listings. His eyes kept returning to one specific listing—a high-priority repair job for an outpost in the Northern Wastes. The payout was staggering, 10,000 Energy Credits, more than enough to change their lives. It was risky, sure, but the reward far outweighed the dangers in his mind. This job could be their ticket out of the Rust Quarter, a chance to live in one of the thriving outposts they'd only seen in distant feeds.

He hesitated for only a moment before selecting the job and hitting "Apply." The system processed for a few seconds longer than usual, and Alex leaned forward in anticipation, heart thudding with the thought of what those credits could buy—better gear, reliable transportation, even a proper home somewhere safe.

But then, the screen flickered, and a message popped up in bold red letters:

Access Denied: Restricted to Local Repairs. Movement Beyond This Outpost Prohibited.

Alex stared at the message, his stomach twisting. He had never encountered something like this before. His thoughts raced as he reread the words over and over, trying to make sense of it. Movement Beyond This Outpost Prohibited. He wasn't allowed to leave.

"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath, feeling a cold sweat break out across his skin.

Was this something the elites had enforced? Had they known all along? Alex's mind spiraled. He hadn't anticipated this kind of restriction. He was part of the global marketplace, sure, but he had no idea they were being watched so closely—tracked, even.

He glanced over his shoulder at the others. Serena was sitting on the small couch, speaking softly with Nia while Elara polished her blades, eyes sharp as always. They trusted him. They looked to him for direction, for a plan. But this was something he hadn't foreseen.

I can't tell them, he decided quickly, his heart hammering in his chest. They can't know.

If they found out the truth, that they were essentially trapped in this outpost, it would only create more panic. They needed to feel like they had options, even if those options were limited.

He closed the error message and took a deep breath. When he turned back to the room, Serena had noticed his tense posture. She stood up, walking over to him, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Did you take the job?" she asked, her voice soft.

Alex hesitated, but only for a second. He couldn't tell her the truth—not now. He had to come up with something plausible.

"I looked into it," he said, forcing a small smile. "But it's too dangerous. The risks are higher than I expected. I think, for now, I should focus on smaller jobs—something safer, more manageable."

Serena's face softened, a smile of relief spreading across her lips. She placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're thinking about that. You don't have to do something that could get you killed, Alex. We can survive on smaller jobs."

Alex nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yeah. Small jobs. That's the plan."

For the next week, Alex shifted his focus to smaller repair jobs—quick fixes, easy to complete, and less risky. There wasn't much money in it, but the small amounts of Energy Credits he earned were enough to keep them going. More importantly, these jobs didn't raise suspicion.

The system still allowed him to work within the outpost, as long as he didn't try to leave.

He spent hours scrolling through the marketplace, looking for simple, fast-to-repair items. His fingers danced over the console, scanning for anything that could be done without too much time or energy investment.

Old power regulators: Quick fixes that only required minor adjustments to the energy circuits.Malfunctioning storage batteries: The cells were often clogged with ice or debris, easily cleared with his tools.Faulty communication devices: Outdated but still functional with a few minor tweaks.

The credits trickled in slowly, but it was steady work. Alex ordered a few items to be delivered each morning via drone, small packages that were easy to repair within a couple of hours.

To make the process more efficient, Alex used his AI to handle most of the actual repair work. He sat on an energy-absorbing mat while the AI controlled his hands and guided the tools, working faster and more precisely than he could on his own. His mind became a passive observer, feeling the flow of energy as the AI handled each task with cold, mechanical precision.

AI, run diagnostics on the power regulator, Alex thought, feeling the hum of the machine.

"Diagnostics complete. Minor energy circuit malfunction. Estimated repair time: 8 minutes."

The AI would then direct his hands, using precise movements to open the device, locate the problem, and make the necessary adjustments. Alex watched, his body a conduit for the AI's efficiency. Each repair felt like an extension of the AI's programming, a seamless blend of man and machine.

Once the repairs were done, it was Serena who handled the deliveries. She would package the items, send them back via drone, and confirm the completion of the job. She was quick and efficient, never asking too many questions. Alex could tell she was happy with the small, steady income they were earning. She didn't seem to suspect that anything was wrong.

Nia, ever curious, would watch as Alex worked, her bright eyes wide with fascination as the broken items were restored. She'd ask a million questions about how things worked, and Alex would answer as best as he could without revealing the AI's involvement.

Elara, on the other hand, remained as sharp and observant as always. She didn't say much, but Alex knew she was keeping an eye on him. She had grown used to his small repairs and didn't seem to mind as long as they were earning enough to survive.

The days passed in a blur of repairs and deliveries. The rhythm became almost mechanical—wake up, order parts, repair them, send them back. It wasn't exciting, but it was productive. They weren't struggling like they had before, and for the first time, Alex felt like they were stabilizing.

Every night, they ate together. The synth-meat had been a luxury, but since then, they stuck to simpler meals—survival bars, nutrient packs, and whatever small goods Alex could afford with the credits they earned. It wasn't extravagant, but it was enough to keep them going.

Serena seemed content with the routine. She smiled more often, her anxiety less visible now that they had a reliable source of income. Nia remained her usual bubbly self, always full of energy and questions. Elara, though quieter, seemed to relax a bit as well, no longer as tense as she had been in the Rust Quarter.

For a moment, Alex almost allowed himself to believe that things were going well—that this life, as simple as it was, might be sustainable.

But deep down, the message from the system still gnawed at him. Movement Beyond This Outpost Prohibited. The restriction wasn't just a barrier—it was a warning. Someone, somewhere, was keeping them here. The elites, perhaps, or the system itself. It didn't matter. The fact remained that they were trapped in this outpost, whether they knew it or not.

And that meant their safety was fragile.

On the seventh day of the new routine, Alex sat by the window, staring out at the snow-covered streets of the outpost. The soft glow of the console illuminated his face as the AI finished another repair, the faint hum of the machine filling the quiet room.

Serena walked over to him, slipping her arms around his shoulders from behind in that familiar way she had. Her embrace was warm and gentle, but Alex didn't respond immediately. His thoughts were elsewhere—on the restriction, on the system that was holding them in place.

"You've been working hard," Serena murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. "It's been a good week. We've made some real progress."

Alex nodded, but the weight of his unspoken worry pressed down on him. He hadn't told Serena or Elara about the restriction. He hadn't told them that their movement was being controlled, that they weren't free to leave whenever they wanted.

He couldn't tell them. Not yet.

"Yeah," Alex said, his voice distant. "It's been good."

Serena pulled back slightly, sensing the tension in his voice. "You're still worried about something," she said softly. "What is it?"

Alex hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I just want to make sure we're safe. That we're not pushing too far."

Serena smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. "You're doing everything right, Alex. We're in a better place than we've been in months. You don't have to carry all of this alone."

Alex nodded again, forcing a smile. But the truth weighed heavily on him. They were in a better place, yes. But they were still far from free.