In the Subterrans' skies, Galen jumped out of a bat-shaped aerocar that fluttered before it descended quietly on the landing pad.
Thankfully, he added,
"Thank you, Xao."
"Still thanking?" Xao replied, his weathered face hiding the bitter toll life had taken on him, but looking younger than Galen.
Galen slumped down and extended his holo wristwatch, which was converted to binary currency SC for StarCred. The 23 SC-valued currency.
Xao's aerocar began to process the payment,
But Xao himself ended it.
"What are you doing?" Xao demanded.
"Paying you," Galen replied.
"Omo, you. Are you still going to pay me? I have to hustle. Keep your credits. Your moon chip is low; try to recharge it. We need it," Xao instructed him before he departed.
Galen's moon chip, which was implanted behind his ear and continued to the edge of his brain, was glowing weakly. It was an older, less advanced model than Xao's new branded chip.
He adjusted official magneto boots, exo-shoulder traps, and the rest of the gear, appearing the very image of an agent just off the job.
He appeared before the massive construction complex, The Helix Spire, a towering vertical habitat where the city spread upwards, not outwards.
Inside, the elevator hummed upwards. In the building, Dubeon lived: bio-silicon-skinned robots integrating like humans, performing dangerous, physical labor with silent efficiency. They wore humble coverings over exposed mechanical pivots
a mix of utility and propriety.
A holographic announcer greeted him,
"Welcome, Galen Xarotar."
The elevator chimed discreetly as it reached the Central Cypher Bank.
At the streamlined front of the ChronoCred Exchange, a gleaming, light-filled counter throbbing silently with built-in nanotech, Galen smiled at the attendant, a remarkable woman whose attitude maintained efficiency in balance with reassuring calm.
"Hello, Dr. Q."
She smiled back professionally.
"He resigned. I'm managing operations now. How may I assist you?"
"I'm here for Brody's hours," Galen said.
After a sharp holographic summary of Brody's data, including age and classification, she responded,
"The Central Cypher Bank can execute a transfer without a visit. How do I recognize you as Nexis?"
Fighting to keep himself calm, Galen snapped back,
"Oh, for goodness' sake, if I'm not Nexis, will your security even allow me access? Can't you notice I'm Agent UPC.5.6?"
The AI assistant beside her flashed alerts.
"That doesn't confirm you're Nexis. My assistant can scan your temperament," she told him.
Galen grew more agitated as he watched the AI crank up alerts.
"Okay. I'd do this over long distance with UPC.5.6, but Brody isn't my posted Dubeon; he's my late father's Dubeon. He works for your company to earn bread for our family. I'm here to receive his hours."
"Mr. Xarotar," she stated firmly, "this corporation is here to protect humanity. Because Brody wasn't your allotted Dubeon, you have limited rights over him. He has the option to live as an independent or to be… shut down."
Galen almost lost it,
"Good heavens, miss. I understand, you're upset. Let your aide deal with this. Brody signed himself as my partner. See!" He displayed the holo screen, and annoyance was evident in his tone.
"Fine. Work diligently to earn your own Dubeon. Don't be an emotional slave," she said, turning away.
Galen cursed as his holo watch beeped: 1037 SC credited.
He left in a rush but saw Brody out of the corner of his eye through a large glass partition. He was toiling with other Dubeons, some floating, some on legs, performing tasks with mechanical efficiency.
Brody pushed a sci-fi cart full of containers that could contain chemicals.
"Galen!" Brody shouted.
"Bro, I collected your hours," Galen said.
"I know. You look stressed."
Galen smiled.
"Sorry for being hard on you last night and this morning."
"Aww, Galen wants to humanise me," Brody joked. They laughed.
"What is it?" Galen asked.
"The Veil Kin attacked one of the building sites. We'll have to work harder, physically," Brody reported.
Galen gasped, then cursed under his breath as he grabbed his clothing outside the building and ran, attempting to activate his moon.
Galen activated his moon chip.
"Wake up, Lili," he said.
"Here with you, Galen," she replied.
"Oh my, I have a zillion calls and messages. You just went into sleep mode? Damn," he shouted.
"I'm Sorry. I'm trying to recharge energy." He shut off her moon chip.
"Call Xao now," Galen ordered as he exited.
"Xao is at four hundred," Lili replied.
"Just call!" Galen yelled.
Soon enough, Xao appeared.
"Xup, bro. Just your code," Xao jumped in.
"Please, UPC back urgent," said Galen as Xao sped away.
Xao's aerocar landed at PC headquarters, a bustling hub where streamline Skyblades and Neon Gliders lined up in an orderly fashion in the dispatch bay. Galen descended just as Xao took off.
Galen yelled out,
"Sir!!"
The entire team turned around.
"Late again, Galen," Adam teased, crossing his arms.
"I don't know. I was in sleep mode. I didn't get any texts or calls in advance," Galen replied, rubbing his eyes.
Adam smiled,
"Man, your whole life is outdated. You couldn't even get a moon chip warning. When did you last receive your Nurturate X-21? I can tell by your pale face."
His teammates guffawed.
Before Galen could respond, Aidenx opened his mouth to say something,
"Sir—"
But Adam cut him off,
"Give it over to him. I'll have you suspended in minutes."
Adam removed the badge from Galen's wrist. Galen's official agent uniform flashed off as the badge's holographic code disabled it. Galen crossed his arms over his chest and began to walk away, Aidenx trailing behind.
"You should get that idiot to still keep your badge," Aidenx whispered. "You know what to do. He has no right. I can get you detained from above. We could do it together."
Galen sighed,
"Thanks. I hate the place. I'm just tired… need to be by myself. Away from work, from everything."
Aidenx nodded understandingly and allowed him to drift off.
"Take care, I'll check on you, mate," Aidenx told him.
"Did you catch them?" Galen asked rigidly.
"Foul Kins are cunning, unlike their caged, damn ancestors," Aidenx replied with a sour smile.
Galen smiled stiffly and nodded, moving out into the crowded sky city streets, lost in thought deep within.
"You know I am unable to work at the moment. We cannot do without medical care for Elyon. She needs you, Nevale. Galen, me, all of us. She is young; she needs her energy. We can go weeks without it, but she cannot. We lost your father—I do not want to cry again."
The words fill Galen's mind as people passed by, some on personal hover cars, indifferent to his silence.
He walked miles of sullen, no words, only dismal depression.
He walked by a high-tech kiosk emitting holographic ads for Nurturate X-21 types, dozens to select from, all proclaiming vitality and survival.
"Is there Anybody nearby?" Galen growled as the holo screen trembled and dispersed into the figure of a grey-haired woman.
"Why is there such a great demand suddenly? I paid 10 SC for this, but the minimum cost increased to 30," Galen bemoaned, scrunched brows.
The hologram answered,
"Maybe your moon chip is antiquated. The Veil Kin string of attacks, combined with the blockade our borders are facing at the hands of the asiaslian dictator, has sent prices soaring. If you cannot afford it, you can do without it for three months, but living gets harder and your body suffers."
The holo screen went blank once more to its menu.
Galen selected two packs at 30 SC each and confirmed the transaction.
He slung the package around his back and turned to leave.
"Hello, Nevale," he said, pulling out his communicator.
"You got suspended again. Just got your code," Nevale's voice was heard.
"Yeah, I bought Elyon's Nurturate. From whose hours? Brody's again?" she asked.
"Brother, we need to talk, seriously. I don't understand…" Galen began, but Nevale's voice cut out.
A hover aerocar had just landed beside him. Galen jumped in without hesitation.