Alex sat in front of the console, his eyes fixed on the screen as the numbers slowly ticked upward. Every new job completed brought them closer to the goal. The credits were piling up faster than before, and with each passing day, he felt the weight of their circumstances shift slightly. There was progress. There was hope. But the tension, the restriction placed on them by the system, remained a shadow that refused to disappear.
He tapped the console, checking the current balance one more time.
Current balance: 14,950 Energy Credits.
Just one more job. One more quick repair, and they would have enough to buy the M2-Scout droid. Alex couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This was it—the moment they'd been working toward for weeks. The droid would change everything, freeing them from the grind of manual labor and allowing them to take on more jobs, faster, without relying solely on Alex and the AI.
Serena walked over to him, her arms wrapped around her waist, looking tired but content. "You've been working non-stop," she said, smiling softly. "How close are we?"
"One more job," Alex said, his voice filled with restrained excitement. "Just one more, and we'll have enough."
Serena's smile widened, and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "That's amazing, Alex. I knew you'd get us there."
He leaned back, exhaling slowly. The feeling of being so close to the goal made his heart race, but there was also a lingering sense of unease. The system had restricted them from leaving the outpost, which meant that even with the droid, they would still be trapped. The M2-Scout was a solution to one problem, but the larger issue—being confined to the outpost—loomed over them like a heavy cloud.
Serena, sensing his hesitation, tilted her head slightly. "What's wrong? I thought you'd be more excited."
Alex forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I am. It's just… we're still stuck here. No matter how much progress we make, we can't leave the outpost. We're boxed in."
Serena frowned, her brow furrowing as she took a seat beside him. "But we're getting stronger. The credits, the droid—it's all part of a bigger plan, right? Eventually, we'll figure out a way out of here."
Alex nodded, though his thoughts were already elsewhere. He didn't want to burden Serena with the weight of the restriction, not yet. She had enough to worry about. Instead, he focused on what he could control—the immediate task at hand. The droid was within reach, and for now, that was enough.
After a brief moment of silence, Alex refocused on the console. He pulled up the job listings, scrolling through the available repairs with practiced efficiency. Most of the tasks were the same as before—simple fixes, minor repairs that could be done quickly and easily. He selected a high-paying job that involved repairing a malfunctioning power regulator and hit "Accept."
The drone arrived within minutes, delivering the broken device to their doorstep. Alex set it on the table and immediately got to work, his hands moving with a mechanical precision as the AI guided him through the process.
"AI, run diagnostics on the power regulator," Alex said, his voice calm and controlled.
"Running diagnostics," the AI responded. "Minor circuit failure detected. Estimated repair time: 12 minutes."
Alex nodded to himself, quickly dismantling the outer casing of the regulator and accessing the internal components. His fingers moved with the speed of someone who had done this a hundred times before, and in just a few minutes, the faulty circuit was replaced, and the regulator was humming back to life.
He reassembled the device, ran a final check, and packaged it up for delivery. Serena, always efficient, took the box from him and prepared it for the drone to return it to the client. She gave Alex a small nod as she left the room, the sound of the drone's engines fading as it took off.
With the final job complete, Alex sat back down at the console and pulled up his account balance. His heart pounded as the numbers refreshed.
Current balance: 15,450 Energy Credits.
A smile spread across his face, and he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. They had done it. After weeks of hard work, they had saved enough to buy the M2-Scout droid. It wasn't the most advanced model, but it was more than enough to change their lives.
"AI, initiate purchase for the M2-Scout droid," Alex said, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Processing purchase," the AI responded, and within seconds, a confirmation screen appeared. The droid would be delivered the next day, transported via drone directly to their outpost.
Alex leaned back in his chair, the reality of their accomplishment sinking in. This was a turning point. With the droid in their possession, they could take on multiple jobs simultaneously, exponentially increasing their income. It was the first step toward true freedom—toward leaving the outpost and exploring the world beyond the walls.
Serena walked back into the room, her eyes bright with excitement. "It's done?"
"It's done," Alex confirmed, his smile widening. "The droid will be here tomorrow."
She laughed softly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a warm embrace. "You did it, Alex. You really did it."
Alex held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "We did it," he corrected. "This is just the beginning."
The next morning, Alex woke with a sense of anticipation. He had barely slept the night before, his mind racing with thoughts of what the droid could do, how it would change everything. He couldn't wait to see it in action.
As promised, the delivery drone arrived just after sunrise. Alex and Serena were already awake, watching from the window as the drone hovered down and gently deposited the box at their doorstep. Alex rushed to retrieve it, his heart pounding with excitement.
The box was heavier than he expected, but that only added to the sense of satisfaction as he carried it inside and set it down on the table. Serena stood beside him, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Open it," she urged, her voice filled with excitement.
Alex didn't need to be told twice. He quickly unsealed the box and lifted the lid, revealing the sleek, metallic form of the M2-Scout droid inside. It was smaller than some of the more advanced models he had seen, but its design was modular and efficient. The droid was built to handle a wide range of repair tasks, and with the right upgrades, it could become an indispensable tool in their efforts.
The droid's sensors flickered to life as Alex powered it on, and it stood up, its compact frame unfolding with a series of soft mechanical clicks. The AI quickly integrated with the droid, linking its systems to Alex's commands.
"Droid activation complete," the AI reported. "M2-Scout ready for instructions."
Alex stared at the droid for a moment, a feeling of pride and accomplishment swelling in his chest. This was the future—the beginning of something bigger than just surviving. With the droid's help, they could take on more jobs, earn more credits, and, eventually, find a way to break free from the outpost's restrictions.
Serena placed a hand on Alex's arm, her eyes shining with excitement. "What's next?"
Alex smiled, glancing at the droid. "Now, we see what this thing can do."
Alex wasted no time putting the M2-Scout droid to work. The next job he accepted was a complex one—repairing a damaged energy module that had been used in one of the outpost's power stations. Normally, it would take Alex several hours to complete the repair, but with the droid's assistance, he hoped to cut that time in half.
"AI, instruct the M2-Scout to begin diagnostics on the energy module," Alex said, standing back as the droid moved into position.
The droid's sensors scanned the module, its mechanical arms moving with precision as it accessed the internal components.
"Diagnostics complete. Structural damage detected in two sections. Recommended action: Component replacement and energy circuit recalibration," the AI reported.
Alex smiled to himself. The droid was working perfectly. With its help, they could complete the repair in record time.
The droid's mechanical arms whirred as it began the repair process, replacing the damaged components with swift, efficient movements. Alex worked alongside it, guiding the process when necessary, but for the most part, the droid handled the bulk of the work.
Within an hour, the energy module was fully repaired and ready to be sent back.
As the day progressed, Alex realized just how much the droid would change their lives. With its help, they could take on more jobs than ever before, earning more credits in a single day than they had in a week of manual labor. It was the key to unlocking their future.
But even as the excitement of their success filled the room, Alex couldn't shake the nagging worry in the back of his mind—the restriction placed on them by the system. The droid was a solution to one problem, but the larger issue of being trapped in the outpost still loomed over them.
For now, though, Alex chose to focus on the present. They had made real progress, and with the M2-Scout by their side, the possibilities seemed endless.