The Streets of Sector 9
Sector 9 was a place where opportunity and danger walked hand in hand. The streets were a patchwork of chaos: flickering neon signs casting fractured light over crumbling buildings, traders hawking wares from rusted carts, and the ever-present buzz of drones scanning for contraband.
Giovanni pulled his hood tighter as he moved through the crowd. Sector 9 wasn't a place you wandered into without a plan—or without knowing exactly how to get out.
The System chimed softly in his vision:
[MISSION PROGRESS: POTENTIAL SECOND CONTACT IDENTIFIED. LOCATION: SECTOR 9, SOUTHERN MARKET.]
Giovanni clenched his jaw. The Southern Market was notorious, a hub for counterfeit Rings and illicit trades. Confederation patrols made frequent sweeps, but they only scratched the surface of Sector 9's shadow economy.
Giovanni's destination was a small stall tucked into a corner of the market. It didn't have the gaudy displays of its neighbors—just a simple sign reading "Haro's Wares."
Haro was an older man, wiry and sharp-eyed, with a face that seemed carved from stone. He didn't look up as Giovanni approached, his hands busy repairing a damaged drone.
"You're late," Haro said, his voice low but cutting.
Giovanni blinked. "I don't think we've met."
Haro finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. "And yet, you've been busy. I've heard whispers about a young man moving goods with... efficiency. Let's hope you're as smart as they say."
The System chimed:
[CONTACT TRUST LEVEL: 0%. STATUS: UNKNOWN.]
Giovanni forced a grin. "I like to think so. What do you need?"
Haro leaned back, studying him. "I need someone who knows how to avoid attention. Someone who can move a package through Sector 9 without getting stopped by Confederation drones. You think you can handle that?"
[NEW SUB-MISSION: DELIVER PACKAGE TO RENNA IN SECTOR 9. REWARD: CONTACT TRUST INCREASE.]
Giovanni hesitated. "What's in the package?"
Haro's expression didn't change. "Ask fewer questions. Live longer."
The package was a small, nondescript box, its weight unfamiliar in Giovanni's hands. Haro's instructions were simple: deliver it to a trader named Renna in the northern quarter of Sector 9.
The System chimed again, its tone faintly mocking:
[SUGGESTION: MINIMIZE RISK BY DEPLOYING DUPLICATES. USER'S PERFORMANCE MAY BENEFIT FROM STRATEGIC THINKING.]
Giovanni rolled his eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the tip."
He stepped into a dim alley and activated the Duplication Tab. A shimmering figure emerged beside him, its appearance randomized: taller, broader, with a patchy beard and sharp eyes.
"Take this to Renna," Giovanni said, handing the duplicate the package. "Avoid drones and Confederation patrols. Don't talk to anyone unless you have to."
The duplicate nodded silently and disappeared into the maze of Sector 9. Giovanni waited, his heart pounding, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours.
The System chimed abruptly:
[WARNING: DUPLICATE DETECTED BY CONFEDERATION DRONE. ACTION REQUIRED.]
Giovanni swore under his breath. His duplicate's vision flashed in his mind—a grainy feed of an approaching Confederation patrol.
Without thinking, he activated the Recall function. The duplicate dissolved into shimmering particles, the package dropping to the ground. Giovanni sprinted toward the location, weaving through the narrow streets until he spotted the patrol.
Three Confederation officers stood over the package, their sleek armor gleaming under the neon lights. Giovanni ducked into a nearby alley, his mind racing.
The System chimed again:
[SUGGESTION: DISTRACT PATROL USING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.]
"Environmental factors," Giovanni muttered. "What am I, a movie hero?"
But the System wasn't wrong. Spying a stack of rusted crates nearby, he kicked them over, sending a deafening crash echoing through the alley. The officers turned, their weapons raised, and Giovanni slipped past them, grabbing the package and vanishing into the crowd.
Renna's stall was hidden behind layers of false fronts, each more unassuming than the last. When Giovanni finally reached her, she was waiting with a sharp smile and a Ring glowing faintly on her wrist.
"Impressive," Renna said, taking the package. "Most people don't make it past the patrols."
Giovanni shrugged, playing it cool. "I'm not most people."
Renna's gaze lingered on him, as if assessing his worth. "You're new to this, aren't you? Let me give you some advice: this world doesn't play fair. You want to survive? You climb the tiers."
"The tiers?" Giovanni asked.
Renna held up her wrist, the Ring glinting in the dim light. "Basic. That's where most people are. Then there's Advanced, Elite, and... well, let's just say the top tiers aren't for the faint of heart."
The System chimed:
[RING TIER SYSTEM UNLOCKED. USER'S RING CLASSIFIED AS: UNIDENTIFIED.]
Unidentified. Giovanni frowned. The word felt heavier than it should have been.
That night, back in his apartment, Giovanni stared at the ceiling, the events of the day swirling in his mind. Renna's words, Haro's test, the patrol—everything felt like a puzzle he couldn't piece together.
The System chimed softly, almost hesitantly:
[REMEMBER, YOU ARE BEING WATCHED.]
Giovanni shot up, his chest tight. "What does that mean?"
The System didn't answer. But as Giovanni's eyes darted to the mirror across the room, he swore he saw a shadow shift behind his reflection—a faint, shifting outline that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
The System delivered one final notification, its text sharp and unyielding:
[MISSION PROGRESS: 2/3 CONTACTS ESTABLISHED.]
[WARNING: EXTERNAL ATTENTION INCREASING. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.]
Giovanni exhaled, the weight of the words settling over him like a storm cloud. Somewhere in the depths of Sector 9, he knew, the game was only just beginning.