Julian looked up to see that a small shuttle Merchant Ship class was coming in for a landing. He had no idea how many classes there were or the differences between them, but the information was provided by a standard ship terminal. It provided ship takeoff and landing information, as well as doubling as a security camera for the landing area. The ship touched down smoothly, and a woman dressed in formal attire disembarked.
“Hey there! Let me be the first to welcome you to this wonderful world!” She beamed a smile that would have anyone at ease, and stuck out her hand for Julian to shake.
“I’m Kimberly, but you can call me Kim. Everyone does.” Julian took her outstretched hand and shook as best as he knew how. Firm, but not a death grip. “I’m Julian. I’m glad you volunteered your help. I think all I’ll need is the basics of this general area and some starter items, and I should be fine.”
“You’ll need all the resources you can get in this world. When you become Perma, it’s more than a game. It’s a way of life. First, let’s go next door to the communications store.”
Julian tagged along behind her as they passed the starship store on the left. Julian hoped that was where they would be going next after he could communicate.
Looking at the shops from outside, he thought he was just imagining that the small interiors of the buildings had no visual element to them. As they stepped into the Communications Store, he was right. The stores in this world seemed only to attract the people that know what they want and leave.
“Luckily, Kim says, the mentor program allows us to give our protégée’s a handful of credits to get started with. Since you have no way of knowing any financial information without a computer hooked up to the Galactic Network...”
Kim manipulates a shopping terminal in the shop. A few seconds later, a small portable device deposited itself at the bottom of it; her transaction completed. She grabs it and hands it to Julian.
“Pressing the only button at the top left hand corner will activate its menu system. Go ahead, try it.”
Julian did as she instructed. There was only one option that appeared, and that option was to register for the Galactic Network.
“The Galactic Network doesn’t know who you are yet,” Kim explains. “Once you register by fingerprint, several things are created. Most pressing right now though is a bank account to store funds, so you’ll need to do that now.”
Julian did so, and the process was surprisingly simple. He thought he’d have forms to fill out or some other process to hold him back, since these are how these things usually are, but his print was accepted in just under thirty-seconds, and the computer presented its simple to use menus. One of particular interest to Julian was “Messages”. He noted that he had two messages, one from Alchemy with a Welcome Message, another from “Galactic System Message” saying that a bank deposit account was created in his name, where he could directly deposit, withdraw, or create multiple funds with this account. They said they gave his account the standard amount of credits to keep it opened, 1000. Obviously that wasn’t going to be enough to buy him anything, even in this store.
“Okay, I’m set,” Julian says. “You can transfer some credits. I’ll pay you back once I’m on my feet.”
“That is not really necessary, Julian.”
A message flashed on his information computer indicating that Kimberly Aldrich transferred credits to Julian Matthews account totaling 2,000,000 credits.
“All right, looking good so far. Now, the first order of business is to buy a communicator. Pick the option to buy at the shopping terminal here, pick that you want a standard communicator, and then pick your look and feel.”
Julian nodded and did just that. He went with a black and blue communicator with big, square buttons so that they could easily be felt. He turned it on and was immediately swarmed with people on a bunch of different frequencies and channels.
“Well, I know it’s working. Is there a way to filter this thing?” asks Julian.
“There is. Press the “Tune” button. That will enable you to filter out communications that don’t interest you. As you’re just getting started, I recommend tuning out combat for now. There are many combat missions going on, and it may overwhelm you.”
Julian nodded again, thankful for her help, and tuned out several channels. General, combat and alliance chatter, just to name a few. Once he learned more about those things, he’d decide whether to turn it on.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Next up, buy a Flight Control Scanner. This will help you in many situations. Namely, it will help you avoid combat when starting, as the low level ships don’t have any on-board offensive weaponry. Same process as before,” Kim explains.
Julian nodded. He was getting used to this. A starship would be nice right about now ... Kim told him that the Flight Control Scanner can be programmed just as the communicator can, by filtering out announcements that he didn’t want. He didn’t want a lot of them. He didn’t need to know every time any starship took off and landed, nor when it jumped into Hyperspace, or any of that. All he wanted to know is where the shooting was, so he can avoid it, for now.
“Looks as though we’re set on communications gear,” Kim beams. “It’s time to get your first shuttle and start working!”
“Sounds fun. Lead the way.”
The Starship Store was just as plain as the communication store. What stood out in this beast of a store were the starships. From small ships to large combat ships, this place appeared to have it all.
“So, let me guess. I can only afford the first small shuttle?” Julian asks.
“That would be correct,” Kim frowns. “But, you’ll be back here in a few garbage loads ready to buy the next upgrade in no time. The next upgrade is nothing special either, it just has more cargo space, but that means more money per load.”
“I get it. Well...”
Julian brought up the shopping terminal and decided then and there that this terminal was evil. In the communication store, he could see all items available for purchase. Now, he sees only the ship available for purchase at his level 1, “Small shuttle.” The cost was around 1,000,000 credits that explained why Kim had given him an extra million just for good measure. The terminal asked what he wanted his ship name to be for this shuttle. He decided to name it “Kim” and engraved the hull of the ship with the words “Working Class Low Life” for laughs.
His transactions complete; Julian nodded in approval to himself. “Cool, my ship can be found on the landing pad. You’ll never guess whom I named it after.
“Kim smiled at him. “Let’s check it out.”
Kim beamed when she saw that she had a ship, an insignificant ship, but a ship nonetheless, named after her. “All right, handsome, press your thumb near the fingerprint censor on the airlock. The only door available to you right now, and get in. I’ll be right behind you.”
Once Julian had placed his thumb near the door, there was a hissing sound, a pop, followed by the airlock opening, beckoning them forward. Julian, followed by Kim stepped into the airlock when it quickly closed behind them. Since this had been a small shuttle, the airlock was cramped and it was hard to breathe, despite the airlock matching the planets environment.
“Let’s move into the Control Room and we’ll talk about communication linking,” Kim says.
Julian was ever so happy to comply. A message on Julian’s communicator flashed red, indicating that someone is trying to link with him.
“Linking allows us to talk privately with each other, even if we aren’t in the same location. There is a mentor communication channel, but you’re being a student with me only lasts so long. This way, we can be friends after that.” She smiled at him again.
Julian happily accepted the link request and heard the satisfying audio chirp, indicating success.
“It was pleasant meeting you, Julian. This ship isn’t a very fine place to sleep when you’re Perma, but if you lie down on the ground now your rig will log you out. When you log back in, you’ll appear right here. It’s important not to sleep out on landing pads or public places.”
Julian nodded. “Thanks. I haven’t decided on whether to become a perm or not.”
“Don’t take the decision lightly. Some players I’ve heard already regret it. When you become perma, you have nobody else to go back to.” Kim explains. “Another thing: Your computer has a database of information for help on the game. Feel free to browse it at your leisure and salvage a few pieces of debris if you wish. I’m off.”
Julian nodded his thanks and waved goodbye. She exited the ship, and Julian contemplated what he would do. Though his time in-game had been only an hour or so, he decided to take a rest for a few hours and clear hi s head. He simply laid down on the ground, and the rig did the rest, simulating a peaceful journey into deep sleep. He was logged out in under a minute, and Ethan got up from the rig; marveling at the world he’s about to go explore.