56: A Taste of Something New

The next morning, Alex woke with a clearer mind and a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of his decision to hack the dormant accounts still lingered at the back of his thoughts, but Serena's words from the night before kept him grounded. They were in this together, and for the first time in what felt like ages, they had the resources to stop surviving and start living—if only for a little while.

He rose quietly from the bed, careful not to wake Serena, who had fallen asleep beside him, her arm draped over his waist. The room was dimly lit by the faint morning light filtering through the reinforced windows. Outside, the snowstorm had finally died down, leaving the Elite District wrapped in a blanket of white. But inside, it was warm, almost cozy.

Alex padded over to the console, feeling the cold floor beneath his feet. He brought up the global marketplace again, this time with a different objective in mind. The 5,000 Energy Credits sat in his account, waiting to be used. He didn't want to squander them, but he also knew they deserved a break—something simple to enjoy after everything they'd been through.

Food. Real food. That was the first step.

He clicked on the food category and scrolled through the various offerings. Most of the high-end items were still far out of reach, but there was one option that stood out: Synth-meat. It wasn't fresh meat, but it was close enough. Lab-grown and packed with nutrients, it was a far cry from the tasteless survival bars they'd been eating for months. And at 2,400 Energy Credits for 1 kilogram, it was a significant purchase, but well worth it.

We deserve this, Alex thought as he placed the order.

"Order confirmed," the AI chimed, its mechanical voice reassuring him that the delivery would be on its way shortly. "Estimated arrival: 30 minutes."

Alex leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. He could already imagine the looks on their faces—Elara's cautious but appreciative nod, Serena's warm smile, and Nia's wide-eyed excitement. Synth-meat wasn't a luxury by most standards, but for them, it was more than enough to brighten their day.

Half an hour later, the soft hum of a delivery drone broke the morning silence. Alex watched as the sleek, metallic drone descended outside the window, its rotors slicing through the air with precision. The drone hovered just above the ground, its delivery compartment opening with a faint hiss. Inside, neatly packaged in a thermal container, was the synth-meat.

He retrieved the package, feeling the warmth radiating from the container despite the cold air seeping in through the window. Closing the window, Alex turned back toward the small kitchen area, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Serena stirred in the bed, blinking groggily as she woke up. Her eyes caught Alex's movement, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What's that?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

Alex held up the container, grinning. "Something special for breakfast."

Serena's eyes widened, and she slipped out of bed, quickly padding over to him. "Is that… real meat?"

"Well, it's synth-meat," Alex corrected, "but it's a hell of a lot better than what we've been eating."

Serena's face lit up, a genuine smile spreading across her lips. "You didn't have to do this, Alex."

He shrugged, opening the container and letting the warm, savory aroma fill the room. "I wanted to. We've earned it."

Serena leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder for a brief moment before pulling away. "Elara and Nia are going to love this."

Within minutes, the scent of sizzling synth-meat filled their small living quarters. Alex stood by the stove, cooking the meat in a small pan, watching it brown and crisp at the edges. It wasn't quite the same as fresh meat—there was a slight artificial quality to the smell—but it was rich, hearty, and so much better than anything they'd eaten in a long time.

Serena had already woken Nia, who was now sitting at the small table, watching Alex with wide, curious eyes. The young girl's face lit up with anticipation, her legs swinging beneath the chair as she waited for breakfast. Elara appeared moments later, her usual cautious demeanor softening as she caught the scent of the food.

"What's the occasion?" Elara asked, her eyebrow raised as she approached the table.

"No occasion," Alex replied, smiling as he plated the synth-meat. "Just thought we could use something better than survival bars for once."

Elara studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes flicking between Alex and the plates of food. She nodded, though Alex could see the unspoken questions in her gaze. She was still wary, still unsure of how he'd come by the Energy Credits to afford this, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she sat down at the table, her arms resting on the surface as she waited.

Alex brought over the plates, setting one in front of each of them. Nia's eyes widened even more as she stared at the synth-meat on her plate. "Is this really for us?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Alex smiled, tousling her hair as he sat down. "Yep. All yours."

Nia grinned from ear to ear and immediately dug in, taking a large bite of the meat. Her face lit up with delight, and she chewed eagerly, clearly enjoying the rich flavor. "It's so good!" she exclaimed through a mouthful of food.

Serena chuckled, taking a more measured bite herself. She closed her eyes as she chewed, savoring the taste. "It's amazing, Alex. Thank you."

Elara took her first bite in silence, chewing thoughtfully. When she finally swallowed, she nodded again, her expression softening. "It's better than I expected," she admitted, though her tone remained guarded. "We haven't had anything this good in a long time."

Alex sat back in his chair, watching as the three of them enjoyed the meal. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was a sense of peace at the table—a sense of normalcy. The synth-meat wasn't anything extraordinary by the standards of the Elite District, but for them, it was a small taste of a better life.

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily. Nia, her face still glowing with excitement, talked about how much she loved the food and how she couldn't wait to have more. Serena smiled at her daughter, her eyes filled with warmth and relief. Elara, though quieter than the others, seemed more relaxed than usual, her usual edge dulled by the comfort of a full, satisfying meal.

Once the meal was finished and the plates were cleared, Alex found himself standing by the window again, staring out at the snow-covered streets of the Elite District. The world outside was still cold and harsh, but for a brief moment, it didn't feel so overwhelming.

Serena walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist just like she had the night before. She rested her head on his back, her embrace comforting and familiar.

"Thank you again," she whispered, her voice soft.

Alex turned to face her, his hands resting on her arms. "I just wanted to give us something better, even if it's just for a little while."

Serena smiled up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "It's more than enough."

He returned her smile, though his thoughts were already drifting back to the credits he had taken. The synth-meat had cost nearly half of what they had earned, and while it had brought them a moment of happiness, he knew they couldn't rely on these kinds of purchases often. They would have to be careful with the remaining credits if they wanted to make it last.

"We'll have to be smart about what we buy from now on," Alex said, his tone more serious. "That meal was worth it, but we're going to need more credits if we want to keep moving forward."

Serena nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "What's the plan?"

Alex sighed, looking back out the window. "We'll need to take on more jobs—higher-paying ones. I've got enough to upgrade our suits a bit, but if we want to start really improving our lives, we'll need more than just the odd repair job."

Serena's arms tightened around him. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you."

Alex looked down at her, his heart swelling with gratitude for her unwavering support. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Thank you," he whispered.

The synth-meat had been a reminder of what was possible—a glimpse into a life that wasn't just about survival. But Alex knew they couldn't afford to get comfortable. They were still on the edge, and if they didn't keep pushing forward, they could easily slip back into the harsh reality of the Rust Quarter.

He walked back to the console, pulling up the job listings again. There were higher-paying jobs, but they came with more risk—more complex repairs, more dangerous assignments. If they wanted to keep improving their situation, they'd have to take those risks.

Alex scrolled through the listings, his eyes narrowing as he spotted one that looked promising: a high-priority repair job for an outpost in the Northern Wastes. The payout was 10,000 Energy Credits, but the job required advanced technical skills and would take days to complete.

This could be it, Alex thought, his mind racing with the possibilities. It would be dangerous, but the payout would be enough to give them a real chance at leaving the Rust Quarter for good.

As he considered the job, Serena came to stand beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Are you going to take it?" she asked, her voice cautious.

Alex hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think it's our best shot."

Serena looked up at him, her eyes filled with both concern and trust. "Then I trust you."

Alex gave her a reassuring smile, though the weight of the decision still hung heavy on his shoulders. The synth-meat had been a small victory, but there was still a long way to go.

Together, they would face whatever came next.