Connection Unknown: Chapter 4 Part 1 of 4 (Patreon)

Chapter:4

09/03/2242

Luke opened his eyes, hitting the alarm next to him, the lights in his pod brightening as he lay on his bed, looking up at a scratched, clear plastic box with its sticker falling off. Luke used his finger to spread out the sticker.

“Pull in case of emergency. Warning: bunk will eject.” Luke imagined what it would be like pulling that handle: his shutters slamming shut as the panel above his head opened and his bunk-bed turned escape pod was jettisoned into the void, quickly left behind as Dahlia’s acceleration took her out of view in a matter of seconds.

Luke tapped the plastic box, before turning on his side, and hit the Shutter open button, next to his pillow.

His lights brightened as the shutters rattled opening, revealing a large guild poster: Iron Cross Wants YOU! the poster read, with the guild’s main players standing behind a pair of space fighters blowing up something. Pretty sure they have a game today.

Lights flickered and clicked before coming to full power. Posters of different guilds and games filled his ‘room’.

He had idolized what militaries of old had stood for, to protect their fellow man, to take on the hard jobs to provide security for the many.

The only militaries like that, were the ones trying to protect the settled systems, either unable or unwilling to join the main factions. Noble, but weak compared to the faction’s might.

His father had served as a Federation Marine, learning the truth of humanities fighting forces, preying upon those weaker than them for some small gain. Honor was dead among them, using the gaps between the law and what was reported to the net to wage their shadow wars.

Luke was good at fighting, he loved being part of a team and pushing one another. The guilds were the closest thing he could get to actually fighting and at least his actions wouldn’t hurt anyone in the real.

Guild players were drafted as early as thirteen years old, and few made it past thirty. At eighteen he was already middle of the pack. He wasn’t even part of a small guild to build up his self-worth and compete in tournaments, he didn’t have a following either.

“Ahh!” He let out a frustrated yell, hating the swirling pit in his stomach, the part of his brain that told him that he had done everything possible. That told him that he would never be part of a guild.

It grated against something deep within him. He shook his head. It was so frustrating. They wanted him to grow up, but only if he did what they approved of.

“Six weeks to figure out my life, nice.” Luke scoffed and raised his head to the room, four bunk-beds with integrated lockers, their worn black shutters drawn closed.

Color coded pipes for air, water, electrics, sensor runs. Painted warning signs and padded walls, ceiling and handholds.

Luke reached out to grab his coveralls.

It, like the rest of the room, was faded, its original bright-orange and neon-yellow going white and frayed at the edges and joints. He pulled it on, securing the airtight zippers. A touch confirmed his gloves were in the right pocket and his emergency hood was still wrapped up in his thick collar.

He checked his tool belt, with a swipe and quick visual scan as he slipped on his mag-boots. He reached down and tightened them.

His movements were quick and rote. He barely had to think of them; being born and raised in space, he’d learned how to put on a space suit before he could walk. Without a suit, any spacer would feel naked.

He laid back on his bed and pulled out his screen, flicking through feed updates.

>The Iron Admiral falters! Iron Cross get their revenge.

>Sphere World, the new craze.

>Goldminers rejoice at Sphere Worlds direct payment systems.

Luke pulled up his messenger app.

[Luke] Hey Jynx you going online today?

He was about to let it drop to his chest when his screen vibrated.

[Jynx] A new day, a new bot, right?

[Jynx] Are your parents really making you pick a job in two weeks?

[Luke] Well, when we reach Odessa Station, yeah

[Jynx] What about the guilds? I thought you wanted to do that?

[Luke] I do, but I don’t know how the hell I would even start.

[Jynx] doing something is better than nothing. I declare that from now on we will begin operation: Make Luke a Star?

Luke groaned even as he snorted at the ridiculous name, just visualizing Jynx’s pleased expression. There was already no going back.

[Jynx] Just need to get you a highlight reel. You’re already a good gamer, now we just need to give you that wow factor.

I’ve met some of those guild people—you know, events and things with Orion that my dad took us to.

They were decent gamers. The big thing is the sponsorships. If you’re willing to let people have access to your life, do interviews and stuff, the more you can make.”

[Luke] “Well, I don’t think I could get that high.

[Jynx] I won’t have you sell yourself short, you can do anything you put your mind to. Nothing is impossible!

[Luke] Okay fine! But I don’t want to have to stream all the time

[Jynx] You don’t have to do it all the time. The guilds are focused on Sphere World right now, its numbers are NUTS. If you got some cool videos edited by yours truly, I could get them to the right people. Can’t hurt.

Luke tapped out a message and stopped, his eyes catching a Star King’s poster. His insides turned, hating to impose on her time. Luke bit his lip, erasing his message. Paused, and tapped out a new one.

[Luke] Like, if you’re okay with it?

[Jynx] Awesome! Hell, yeah. I’m up for it!

Luke grinned.

[Luke] Thanks.

[Luke] I’m going to grab some food and jump on if you wanna join?

[Jynx] Need to get that b-roll built up! I’ll message Fin, he’ll be down to skip out on work.

Luke left his room. A ding went off in the dining area, with the clip-clops of another pair of boots.

He grimaced, debating just heading back to his room, but his bottle was out of water and he hadn’t eaten in a few hours. He just hoped it wasn’t his parents. He tentatively walked into the dining area, and smiled.

Joey was pulling out a ration box from the hydrator. He rolled back the cover to blow on the steaming contents and turned. Spotting Luke, he flashed a Joey-patented grin. “Hey, lil bro.”

“Hey Joey.” Luke flipped up the handle on a storage box and grabbed a breakfast bar.

“You got night shift tomorrow.” Joey sat down at the table as Luke pushed the box back and released the spring-loaded handle, hooking it to the storage frame.

“Damn.” Luke leaned against the counter, opening the bar.

“If you need me to cover your shift so you can game—” Joey grinned over his meal.

“I am not trading my limited-edition Nero’s Monkey bobblehead for you to take my shift.” Luke bit his breakfast bar, speaking around it. “Maybe in a thousand years…”

“Ase days, Nero’s Monkey will be mine!” Joey declared in a forced ornery tone, with his spork pointed in his direction before he took a bite of his food. “Hooh, ah, hoh—hod!” Joey blinked away tears and released the top of the container, so it slammed shut and he drank half his bottle.

“Maybe let it cool first?” Idiot. Luke hid his grin behind taking a drink from his water bottle.

“Didn’t think of that.” Joey rolled his eyes. “And I’ll let you know that I am the perfect specimen of spacer strength.” He flexed his arm and squeezed his bicep.

Luke chuckled and pulled a meal replacement bar from a cupboard. “Lifting weights in zero-g ain’t the same thing.” He slid into the alcove across from Joey. The cushions gave way, the padding beaten into submission over the years.

“Says you. Don’t see no grounder pushing a standard container around with their pinky.” Joey smirked, blowing on another sporkful of ration.

Luke really wasn’t certain what it was. “Lasagna?” he asked.

“With chunks that I think are supposed to be vegetables?” Joey examined a sporkful of squares and spheres that boasted a little more color than the rest of the brownish contents. He ate them and shrugged.

“Better than those Squezids. Ugh, like someone tried to make melted rubber taste like cheese, and sardines. Take you a day to just chew it. There are some things that should not be turned into a fine, pulpy texture.” Luke shuddered.

“I’m trying to eat here, man.” Joey glared, brandishing his spork.

Luke snorted and grinned, chewing on his bar and washing it down with water.

“So, you decided what you’re going to do yet?” Joey asked through a mouthful of food.

Luke sighed, resting his arms on the table and playing with his bottle. “Nope, not really. Guess I’m gonna have to be a freighter engineer.” Luke grimaced and looked at his brother. “Sorry.”