I added the characters ages to the previous chapter because I forgot to put them. Selene is 26, Andrew is 28.
Also, do I need a specific word count for ranking like FFs do? If so, what is it?
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The guild was relatively quiet when we walked in. A few small groups were huddled around terminals with hushed discussions, but most people stayed in their ships to relax. We walked up to receptionist, a half asleep middle aged woman, and asked, "Any interesting jobs available?" While handing her my license.
She lazily took it and looked down, only for her eyes to widen when she saw my rank, "S-sir I don't think there are any jobs for anyone of your qualifications available right now." She stuttered out at first, but regained her professionalism quickly.
At that, however, my eyebrow raised. Obsidian might be the highest rank, but it wasn't particularly difficult for any player to reach, hell even finishing just the major story quests alone would get you to diamond without touching any side quests. The way she made it sound is that Obsidian rank is a rarity.
"It doesn't need to be anything difficult. I simply need something to do to pass the time, though I am curious at how often quests requiring obsidian ranks come in at this station?" I said back.
"Almost never, we're far enough inside the empire's borders that we don't have to worry about any warbands attacking, but we're also far enough from the other empires that we don't have to worry about conflict between the empires. The most are a few small bands of pirates that attack the mining transports inside the asteroid belt. Even that is only a gold quest to clear them all out." She answered.
"Hmm, alright, I'll take the gold quest." I nodded back.
"Very well sir, I've registered it under your name, good luck." She said as she handed back my license and typed something into her terminal.
I turned around and we started walking out, "That's disappointing." I heard Selene say in annoyance beside me, which I snicked at. Behind us, we both heard the receptionist sigh, but I ignored it in favor of patting my android girl on the head.
"Bear with it, we'll go look for something interesting to do later." I placated her. In actuality, I'm kinda glad the job is so low ranked, I want to see how my in game skills translate now that I'm no longer in a game. I know my bio-scan said I still had 100/100 in piloting and operating, but who knows how well that translates when doing it with my own hands. But there's only one way to find out.
We made our way back to the hanger with my first job in this world, though I have no intention of leaving just yet. "Alright Selene, I want to test out my psychic powers before we go. When we get back to the ship I'll need your help with that." She nodded in response and we walked back in a comfortable silence.
*A few hours later*
"Hahh, hah, fuck. That was so much more difficult than I thought it would be…" I said panting with sweat soaked clothes. 'I haven't even started training it yet, it took me that long just to sense it?'
I looked over at Selene, who stepped away from me with her hand over her crinkled nose, "Go take a bath, you stink." I deadpanned at her as I got up and did exactly that, I needed out of those clothes just as much.
While showering, I noticed that there was actually a change that I could feel. Before I knew I had the psychic skill, but I could never use it, or even feel it for that matter. Now though, I can sense it constantly, like an extra appendage waiting to be used. 'Can't believe meditating actually worked. I just took a shot in the dark.' I thought to myself as I finished my shower and made my way back to the training quarters of our ship.
I walked in and saw Selene sitting on one of the benches in the room checking her holopad, which is basically just a futuristic smartphone. Walking over to the bench I sat next to her as she looked up and cracked a small smile. "Whatcha up to?" I asked.
She shook her head, "Just browsing some of the news, passing time." She said as she scooted closer and leaned her head on my shoulder, and looked back at her holopad. I sighed and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, making us both more comfortable.
In any other circumstance, it would feel like I'm getting comfortable with someone I have seemingly never met before. But I made her to be exactly what I wanted in a woman, and exactly my type. As for her side, as far as she knows, she's been with me, and just me since we are the only crew, for the last 8 years. She, as far as I can tell, has the same memories of everything I did in game with her. I have no problems with my situation so far overall.
I don't exactly know if it's sunk in quite yet that I might not be able to go home, not that I care all that much in the first place. I put all my free time into this world for a reason: I liked it more than my own world, plain and simple. So I'm going to make sure I take full advantage of my new life.
I looked down at the girl snuggled up to me with a soft smile. Sure, I can't say I love her yet, there's no way I could say that, even if I made her exactly the way I wanted, but I can certainly say it's likely that I will in the future.
Sensing my gaze, she looked up and tilted her head to the side cutely, wondering what I was think about. I leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. Her face went red up to her ears and she buried her face into my chest and mumbled a faint, "What was that for?"
I chuckled, "Cuz I could, do I need a reason?" The only response I got were her arms wrapping around my abdomen as she buried her face further into me. 'I will never get over the fact that dwarves were able to make androids so human. I get their bodies are literally just clones of humans with a mechanical brain, but still.'
We stayed hugging each other for who knows how long before she pulled away and said, "As much as I enjoy cuddling, didn't you want to train some more?"
"Hah, yeah I guess we should. What time is it." I asked in reply.
"16:29" she showed me on her holopad.
"Damn we were hugging for half an hour, time flys. Well let's train for a couple more hours and then I'll make us some dinner. After that we can relax and we'll leave in the morning." I followed up.
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Advanced chapters available on Patr eon. I don't have any plans to make this story cost coins, unless I get a really good offer, so if you are willing to support me that's the way to do it!
https://www.patr eon.com/xerranas (delete the space)