Worst Morning

The buzzing sound of a giant terraforming engine hovering above, on its way to its daily routine of atmospheric maintenance, slowly brought up Sy from his undisturbed slumber. Violently shaking the apartment's foundation and all the structures below, it only became peaceful when the dutiful machine exited the horizon.

Well rested and accompanied by a calmer mind, the young pioneer started the day with a bath and a few mouthfuls of nutrients. After a minute searching his luggages, he brought out a black suit, a white t-shirt and dark-brown shorts, which he donned shortly after.

Satisfied and ready to set off, he paused for a moment upon noticing a message from his gauntlet. It was from the High Pioneering Institution, the highest organisation of the most elite humans with a ruling body of veteran Pioneers who had both the free time and willingness to temporarily occupy a council position. With its sphere of influence enveloping all Pioneers, it also provided a brief roosting point for these scattered rare individuals that would only come back to their factions once in a while after decades of explorations.

[The Galactic Bank made an appeal of your outstanding balance of 5,324,110 F-Credits. It is decided that your Pioneering Licence will be temporarily terminated until payment is settled.]

Bam!

Sy slammed his fist on the wall, causing his own momentary vibration, his very first commotion on the neighborhood. He could only clench his teeth as a certain information disappeared from his bio-data, along with it was the countless privileges it carried. Most importantly, his entitlement to securing a seat on any exploration missions, small or large scale, was gone like smoke. His fangs were removed, leaving him only with his claws, from which he could only hunt small games.

"How can I even earn big now without my license?!"

As if in tandem, a galactic wide transmission, targeting all Pioneers that were still in the Comms grid, appeared on his gauntlet's notification.

[Exalted Pioneer Redau]

Upon seeing the title and name, Sy immediately accepted the call, not wanting to miss it even for a bit.

["Greetings to the children of the void."]

A muffled voice from a shrouded figure could be heard. The 3D video was obscured by a shrewd tampering as it was most likely encrypted. Judging from the wide range it's transmitted, the line was not totally secured. Sy suspected that other Pioneers were already trying to decrypt it, while any shadow units from the various factions that managed to catch it would have been seeing a black and white screen and inaudible noises. As for him, he did not have the means to do anything.

["Tell me, if you were a Legionarii in the late republic and your Decanus relayed an order from your Centurion to call off the pursuit, what would you do? Would you continue chasing the enemy and kill as many as you can to avenge your fallen comrades?

I hope not.

Either you risk falling into a trap, blunder your whole unit into a feigned retreat--many scenarios that could happen afterwards.

By some miracle you did not die by the hands of the enemy soldiers or enslaved, even then, your officer will hand you to your own comrades to be flogged to death for insubordination.

Instant obedience--the ability to comply once the command or signal is given can save the lives around you and your own. A single defiance could spell death and disaster. Unfortunately, most of the young Pioneers these days, even my own flesh and blood, does not know its meaning.

Potentates with great potential, are now content to slander it away. Others, running from their responsibilities. A few, abusing the privileges given to them. In my centuries of experience, I had never seen such a degenerate generation of Pioneers embarrassing the code.

To correct your wayward souls into the true Pioneer's creed, I had personally decreed that your licenses liquidated--for a time."]

The transmission was terminated, followed by a long silence.

"I'm ashamed." Sy calmly stated, his anger earlier dissipated in an instant.

Exalted Pioneer Redau was an aspiring figure for young Pioneers. He spent two centuries exploring the void, and established two colonies that would go on to create their own faction in the future. Upon his return to civilized worlds, he became a founder of the new construction-tech labeled in the level 3 category: The Fabricator. A combination of transporters and replicators. Not as efficient as the industrial complex of assemblers and replicators--the main component of Industrial Centers capable of manufacturing massive starships within just a few months--a feat that even with all the combined factories of the lesser factions, they could only dream to finish a normal starship within a decade.

Fabricators, however, even though not as efficient, can produce a finished good in one go. Although not designed for mass production, it was most likely favoured to the masses--to individuals that can afford it who only had little businesses: The small businessmen.

Sy, who already moved on, prepped for his needs. He converted his remaining 20 federation credits into 2000 union credits. With a beep, confirming that the transaction was successful, he played with the multicoloured cube for a moment before he exited his apartment.

Compared to the confines of his apartment, the air outside was suffocating as dusts which managed to penetrate the protective city dome, whirled with the wind blurring sight. Logria was a desert planet, after all. And this time, a storm was brewing.

Sy mentally noted to buy some goggles and masks. He hailed a cab while covering his face with a hand, and maintained his mind set on the task during the one hour trip. Upon arrival on the Starport, he saw a dozen of expensive looking shuttle crafts, docked beside the road, while a cluster of security personnel's directed his ride somewhere else to unload.

Removing himself from the vehicle, he took his time gawking at the crowd of people--blocked by men in black suits who were carrying some high calibre guns. A cheer erupted as a few individuals emerged outside the crafts.

Sy had not yet familiarised himself with this planet. Whether these VIPs were celebrities or high ranking military officers, he did not know. He again mentally noted to browse the social medias of this faction.

Being the only dubious person in the vicinity, he proceeded straight to the gaming station. He was immediately approached by a woman in a fitted white suit, from neck to shin. On top of that, was a blue shirt paired with a short, blue skirt. She had a blonde hair and blue eyes, no alterations, indicating that she's a bonafide regular human. And yet, her natural beauty was captivating. Something that Sy admired with careful observation.

The woman came with a sweet smile, but her eyes glimmered with curiousity. Something confused her about the well groomed man in front of her. Many juveniles went to her shop everyday, and only delinquent men and some from poorer background were her regulars, but not from wealthier families. Although some kids with rich families who could afford to buy their own VR Pods still went to her gaming station to hang out with their friends, it's most unlikely for a man who seemingly had an aristocratic background to be there. It almost felt like magic come true.

'Do you need direction, sir?'

'Are you lost?'

Many thoughts came to her mind, but ultimately settled on a universal one, "How can I help, sir?"

"Tell me..." Sy scratched his chin with a finger, thinking of an appropriate question, "Are adults allowed here?"

A shocked expression surfaced on the woman's face, but it was too fast to be seen. Even if Sy was paying attention with his enhanced eyes, he wouldn't have seen it. Lightning quick. On par with an FTL.

"Well, of course, sir. Men, women, children--all came to play here." She answered, maintaining her smile.

"I'm not from around here so I'm going to ask a lot." Sy saw her face suddenly brighten up after he finished speaking, like she suddenly had clarity.

"You can have a pod for 200 U-Credits a day." The woman began to talk business, maintaining her professionalism, and predicting the next question.

"Or you can have a private chamber all for yourself if you don't want the children to disturb you for 500 U-Credits." She added, biting her lower lip as her eyes shied away with a blush on her cheek. The more she looked at him, the more she realized how perfect he looked. Not even her revered handsome celebrities came close.

Sy, on the other hand, felt an excruciating pain in his chest at the mention of 500 U-Credits. He would have convulsed and die on the spot if he agreed on the private chamber. It was his turn to smile, but in an awkward manner. He made an excuse, "Nah. I'll take the pod. I don't mind the children. It's actually good to have company."

With that, she directed him upon rows and rows of pods with people in full-dive, and into an empty one.

"Is there anything else I can help with?" She asked, after confirming the payment with her wristband device.

"I'm good."

As she turned to leave, Sy noticed that she became timid. It was a disadvantage to him since he'd be coming back here often, and he needed some favours. He politely ask in a soft tone, "I'm Syrille. Just call me Sy. What's your name, miss?"

The woman stopped, stifling a chuckle of excitement. "Tiff."

She glanced at his direction, but quickly turned and went her way.

Sy prepared himself before diving into the digital world. He would soon learn the hard way, that without the privileges of a paper, his life was five times harder.