“We congratulate you, Julian Matthews. The results of your Perma status are complete. We detect zero errors. Pleas awaken.”

I heard that voice; that scary, creepy male robotic voice pound in my eardrums, snapping me awake. I felt great. Actually, I feel rested, something that was lacking when I chose to undergo this process two days before. There’s many fragments to be filled over this two-day period. I wasn’t the one to make this life-changing decision; for example, the person who was responsible, is gone. This other person controlled me from a console. To him, I was just some Avatar in some game. With him gone, I guess I have a brain of some sort now?

First, I’m glad to be alive and sitting in this chamber, ready to push this damn thing opened and get back to my ship. I have no memories of this other person, only what Alchemy staff told me during the briefing. I couldn’t do anything. I witnessed it, but the person who was controlling the console somewhere completely different was responsible for my actions.

I finally pushed the door of this small, dark chamber open to reveal a room with technicians. I waved at them, letting them know I was ready to go, and noticed one thing that was different. Every physical action I take now, whether it is pushing a door open just now or waving, I feel a small tickle behind my head. I opened my mouth for the first time as a perma citizen of Galbadia Prime.

“Hello.”

I was happy to note that I still sounded the same. There goes that tickle though.

“Hey, why do I feel this tickle-like sensation in the back of my head every time I do something as basic as waving or moving my hand?”

“That is the nurrelisers taking effect.” “You’ll get used to it in time,” one of the techs said at me. “The biggest notable difference to the entire process is that you’ll sleep and wake up in the same place,” he says.

I nodded. “What do you acquire of me now?” I ask.

One of the female techs looked over at me now. “Nothing, Julian, you are free to go,” she says. “Be sure to talk to customs right next door. I hear they offer a few luxuries to those that have become a permanent resident of Galbadia Prime.”

I nodded. “I won’t pass that up. Thanks!” I say.

Alchemy didn’t allow anybody to bring anything when becoming perma, so I let myself out of the room and, just as the young female said, customs were right next door. Eager to get out of this building and return to life, I entered with a gate suggesting I meant business. I walked up to the counter and did a quick double tap with my knuckles. I’m not sure why, considering that nobody was there. A sign above the counter suggested I should press the green button on it, and an officer would be there shortly. I did that, and a five-second buzz permeated the room.

A short, scruffy male came out for me. His name tag read, “Robert Smith.”

“Hello, Robert. My name is Julian Matthews-”

“You are the new guy who just became a Permanent citizen of this world?” He asks.

I nodded. “I am, and I heard there was some post-benefits afterward,” I say.

“Many benefits become available to you now that you are Perma,” he says. “One such benefit is a new luxury vessel.”

“What are the features?” I ask.

“Most notably, it comes equipped with eight living quarters,” Robert says. “These have beds. The ship is also fitted for combat. Two plasma cannons, missiles, and torpedoes for backup if you need them. They’ll even throw in a laser that does extra damage,” Robert says.

“Is there a catch?” I ask.

“We don’t pull any punches,” Robert says. “What we tell you you’re getting is what you get. However, the Galactic Council does hope that it’s most valuable residents, of which you are one now, Julian, considers joining the Galaxy Defense Force or GDF,” Robert says. “Not only would you serve the galaxy in a time of need, you will also increase your combat skills. The GDF pays huge sums of credits to those who can prove their worth on the battlefield,” Robert says.

“Got it,” I say. “So how can I get my hands on my new ship?”

“Everything is setup,” Robert says. “All you have to do is simply sign this, confirming that it is Julian Matthews.”

I watched as he reached for a circular fingerprint scanner. First, he let the object scan his finger and held it out for me to do the same. I responded by placing my thumb on top of it. It beeped at me, indicating, I hope that my signing of the ship in my name is complete. Robert then handed me an item.

“Simply hand this to the ship store clerk at your home planet, Galbadia Prime,” he says. “The clerk will do the rest, and from there it’s just like buying a new ship.”

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“Thank you, Robert. I appreciate this,” I say.

“It’s not a problem. There’s a transport taxi right outside to swiftly take you back to Galbadia Prime,” he says.

I nodded and left customs. As expected, a hover taxi was waiting for me at the curb. It was on autopilot, so I hopped into it. The doors shut, and the taxi lifted off in one smooth, preset motion.

“Destination: Galbadia Prime,” the dashboard spoke.

On the ride home, I reflected on what I’ve done. For me, it was a higher quality of life. Before, I was just doing what somebody else told me to do. If this person told me to engage a fighter in a salvager, that’s what I did. No questions asked. Would I ever do that now? No, I will never subject myself to that again. That fight was suicide. I knew it, and I’m pretty sure the person controlling me knew it too. If I didn’t have an escape pod handy, I wouldn’t be in this taxi right now, going home to that very same ship. Provided this item works that Robert gave me, I shall sell the solo fighter ship I bought three days ago and had my very first victory in, for a much securer, much better fighting ship, so they say.

The trip home was not long at all. The Taxi descended and hovered over the landing area which I’ve become so accustomed. I stepped out, and the taxi hovered up and away. I was on my own. The first stop is the communication store, for a new communicator.

I decided to go with a black and green unit this time and exited the store. The ship store, with all its blandness, was by far the most exciting. I walked in as I owned the place, and the emotionless, grey bot that was the ship clerk stood in the corner where it always was. It didn’t have any hands, so giving my special item to it would prove difficult. I saw his one eye opened, and it stayed that way. I tried something. Taking out the item, I held it close to the magnetic eye. The clerk’s eye snatched it from my hand as though I was never supposed to have the thing.

“Congratulations, Julian Matthews, for being a permanent resident of Galbadia Prime,” it says without any tone. “Please hold your computer up to my eye to continue.”

I held up my newly registered computer to the eye. The robot nodded, and instead of giving me a price for this new ship, it simply asked me what I wanted to name it. I named this new ship, “The Regulator.”

This ship is definitely bigger, and better, than my previous offerings. The airlock was the same, but once inside, the ship is a beauty welcome home gift. Entering from the airlock, I started on the Command Deck. In front of me was the Control Room. To the left of me was some room I’ve never come across yet. Down below the control room was, the cargo hold. In the center of the command deck was a Turbo lift. Pressing the Call button, followed by a floor I wanted to go too would swiftly transport me there. There were Points of Interest buttons I noted as well. They are Living Quarters, Combat Deck and recreation Deck, among others. There are other buttons, but they all said Customize. I would have to figure out what that was all about in due time.

Testing out the lift, I headed over to it and pressed the living Quarters button. The ship responded, by not doing anything. I suddenly remembered that powering on the ship from the control room would be a good idea. I went in and started up the power on sequence. Once done, the call button worked. I pressed to call, and while the lift came down, I pressed “LQ”. As swiftly as I got in, I was immediately lifted one floor and forcefully ejected from the pod as it quickly resettled into the ground.

Robert told me there were eight living quarters on this ship. Only one was marked Captain; however, and required my fingerprint to open it. I can see why this was designated my quarters only. It has the command functions in it to control some functions of the ship from here. I could turn off the power from here, there is a solar button, and I’m not sure what that does, and there is also an Emergency button. I’m not messing with any of these buttons now, only one, and that is power. It is 2 AM Galactic Standard Time, and despite still being rested, I do not have the energy to work right now. I pressed power, and noted the ship fade into a very soft, quiet sound as the systems powered off. I pulled down the cover of my very own bed, followed by the sheets over the pillow, and fell into a deep sleep. I did not simply fade out of existence and relinquish control. That person was gone. I am Julian Matthews, and I have full control of my destiny.