In the end, they should have made it in sixteen days, but they had made it twelve.

And they finally did it: they reached the eighth ring.

The bay windows were gone and replaced with machinery, protruding from every angle, all over the ring. But there was still some method to this madness of spatial cyberpunk machinery as the ring had four metal bridges with handrails, connected with ladders and giving access to all those machines embedded into the walls.

There was all sort of screens, beeping devices, and blinking lights, showing that the engine room was still working, but somehow dysfunctioning. Maybe it was the damage caused by the cold. Or maybe it was something else entirely. But one way or another: it was ominous and completely beyond them.

The different screens were showing a written language that wasn't common. And it turned out that Prince's universal translation only worked for speech, not text.

And so they climbed up the bridges, and for the first time on this floor, enjoyed moving like humans again, even if they were still using their arms more than their legs. The simple fact they were moving while feeling upright and had plenty of handrails to help them improve their speed tremendously.

Now they could move to almost 5km per hour instead of 2.5. They could even push it up to 6km per hour if they truly needed and it helped Sophia feel human again.

And then, they finally met the locals.

Robots. They were not hostile but talking gibberish that Prince gladly translated for them:

"They are repeating the same warning in a loop: 'The engine deck is off limits to visitors. If we want to access the station zoological deck, we need to take the elevator on deck C3.' I don't think they are going to attack. But their tone is getting insistent. They might call for security. Which might or might not be a good thing for us."

Indeed it depended on the attitude of the security robots. If they were going to detain and escort them back to the 'visitors' area, they might skip that ring entirely, if in an unpleasant manner. If they were outright hostile, they might have to fight their way through an army of robots. But assuming they were talking like their peers, Prince might be able to talk their way toward the first option, rather than the second one.

"So what are we doing?" She asked Prince for advice.

"They are going to keep repeating their warnings whether we move or stay, so I say we keep moving to put as much distance from the zoological deck as possible. After all, we want to get through, not back. Besides, we have not seen a single elevator. So either it still wasn't built, or we missed it and it was malfunctioning. The tutorial doesn't like shortcuts unless you did something truly special to earn it."

And so it was decided: they kept pushing, ignoring the robots' warnings, in hope that would get them to the next ring, or deck, one way or another.

★☆★

And then, after three hours of stubbornly ignoring the robots, their message changed and Prince translated.

"They finally called the security. They are politely asking us to stay there or to face consequences. Given we have no idea how strong that security is, I think it's now prudent to cooperate. Until we know what to expect, at least."

And so they did again as per Prince's advice. That it took three hours to get the robots from their warnings routine to trigger an actual response meant that they might have to wait even longer than that for the security to get there. And so after some deliberation, they choose to get themselves comfortable, set up camp there, and for Prince to summon their shelter in the nearest large enough empty space.

How would that reflect on their cooperation, they did not know. But at least, they did as instructed, stopped moving, and the robots slowly started to ignore them and resume their routines, no matter how nonsensical it looked.

And so they had an early dinner, took some time for themselves, and then, went to sleep early. Or more like a nap as they were fully prepared to be interrupted at any moment.

And indeed, they were woken up in the middle of their night by a squad of bulkier robots knocking at their door.

"This camping is illegal. That's what the robot said." Prince translated without prompting. "And now, they are kindly asking us to take our things, banish the conjure shelter, and follow them without resistance. But I can't banish it. It disappears on its own. Should I try to explain that to the robot?"

"Do it. Say we got lost. Express our willingness to cooperate. And tell him we will follow him anywhere that's not the zoological deck."

The tressym and the robots exchanged with one another before the tressym explained.

"They said they understood the situation. It has happened a lot recently but we are the first visitors who are not rude to them. They are going to kindly escort us back to the residential deck, right below this one."

And so, just as simple as that, they had cleared that deck and earned one more piece of information. That deck had seen a lot of recent traffic and so, in spite of all the time lost, it seemed that they would be back in the loop with everyone.

★☆★

Thanks to Prince, the team had avoided being rude. And conversely, the robots had been intelligent enough to understand that only Prince understood them and accepted patiently the delay that followed any of their instructions as Prince was translating everything. But thanks to the enable communication and their overall attitude, the team had not been molested and the security robots had revealed a hidden trapdoor in the wall, after entering a password on an alien console.

And so it had revealed to them the holy grail: a service corridor with its own railway and the small worker shuttle that was definitely not built with humans in mind. So it had been a rather uncomfortable but fast trip they had spent in utter silence and keeping their head low not to hit the ceiling.

In less than half an hour, the high-speed shuttle had breezed through hundreds of kilometers like it was nothing.

Sophia was feeling so emotive that she almost cried.

High-speed transportation. Yet such a huge commodity she had taken for granted for granted back on earth. That shuttle working like a train had been going as fast as a plane. It had been a truly novel and shocking experience. She never had thought that anything working on rails could possibly go so fast.

And then, they got to their destination and the robots got talkative again and Prince obliged again:

"Since this is our first offense and we did not mean harm, we are going to get freed without any detention or fine. And they are handing us a pamphlet so they would not catch up breaking the rules. I tried to explain we could not read. But it does not understand or do not care. Please take the pamphlet from this poor robot so we can be done with it."

And indeed, one of the robots was extending a pamphlet and Sophia took it.

It was the same unreadable script as before. It wasn't common. And so the language barrier was total.

As for why the tutorial would have gone to such an extent to teach them common and then mercilessly expose them to another language without any way to translate it... anyone's guess was as good as hers.

And the residential deck itself.

It looked like a huge mall under zero gravity. And the good news was: it was crowded with people, exploring and desperately trying to interact with these deck robots.

And so her team went to meet and greet one another and try to get some information.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Hello! We just got there. Care to explain what's going on here to the newcomers?" Sophia asked.

"Hello, newbies. I guess you got your first unfortunate encounter with the security?" The other team spokesperson asked back.

"Yep. They escorted us there, very gently." Sophia spoke the truth but tried to sound ironic.

"I know the feeling." The guy bought it off and continued. "Speaking plainly, these robots think of us as guests and expect us to follow their rules. So everyone is playing a game of guessing what the rules are. If you guess wrong, you get detentions the first and second time. And the third time, you disappeared. No one knows what happens to them. Some are expecting prison. Some are thinking they are spacing their hardened criminals. And no one understands them so no one can tell."

He paused for effect and then concluded:

"Useful tips: while the robots consider us as guests, we have do not have the currency they want for their goods and services. So don't try to buy or banter for anything, they would think you are trying to steal. And don't use any commodity that isn't in public space. Some people got detentions for using a bedroom that wasn't theirs."

To summarize, they were visitors expected to pay for services. But they did not have the currency the robots wanted, nor could they communicate with them.

"And the exit?" Sophia asked.

"You barely got there and already want to leave?" The guy smirked, "Sorry to disappoint you. The exit has been located. But it's guarded by robots. And you guessed it: they want to be paid for passage. Any insurrection to try to force our way through has failed. And all those who participated? They are gone."

And so, the name of the game here was to learn the rules, learn the robots' way, and somehow earn the money they needed to earn their passage. And since they started with nothing, the answer was simple. They should seek out to get a job.

And Sophia wanted to pay the other team back, but without outright revealing all their cards. And so she quietly asked Paolo to take over the conversation and discreetly went to discuss it with Prince.

"Hey, Prince." She whispered, "If I asked you to talk to that robot there and asked them for a job, what would you say? I don't want you to actually do it. Teach me how to say it."

And so Prince tried to teach her for the next two minutes until she was certain she got it right.

And so she went back to the other team and told them.

"I'm back with a free tip: try to interact with the robots and ask: [I want to apply for a job.] It should mean something like "I want a job." Try not to be too insistent and it should not get you detention. And maybe, just maybe, something good might happen. If we start earning money and play by this floor rules, we might get something for our troubles."

"Can you repeat that please?" The guy said and so Sophia did the same as Prince, repeating his every word until the other team got it right.

"Thanks." Their spokesperson finally said. "How do you know that? You are not pulling our leg, right?"

"I'm not making a joke at your expense. And I obviously can't tell you. A way to translate is too much valuable on this floor. If you are feeling grateful, spread the tip but keep our little talk a secret. We do not want any troubles." Sophia stressed out.

"Got it. I never talked or ever met you. Thanks for returning the favor. And good luck." And then, the other teams went back to do their own things.

And Sophia's team went the other way.

★☆★

"Okay, guys," Sophia called up once they put enough distance. "We clearly have an ace up our sleeves with Prince. He can speak to the robots and here, seems like it's pure gold. So our first order of business: we need to talk a robot into helping us for free and ask them one simple thing: read up this pamphlet so Prince can tell us the rules that everyone else is trying to guess. And then, we need to find a way to earn money despite the language barrier. We are going to rock this deck."

And so everyone nodded. After all, it was a reasonable plan though it almost solely relied on Prince's shoulders.

Yet Prince took the pamphlet and went to speak to a non-vendor robot, which seemed annoyed at first, but ultimately complied and started reading to Prince which called for Sophia and started translating the rules for her in direct live while she was madly trying to transcript it on paper, in plain English:

----------------------------------------

**[Rules and Regulations for Visitors]**

*Page 1 - Crimes*

1. **Trespassing:** Accessing restricted or prohibited areas on the station is a violation. Visitors are required to adhere strictly to designated pathways and decks. Violators will face immediate detention and possible fines.

2. **Theft and Unlawful Acquisition:** Attempting to acquire goods, services, or resources without proper currency, permission, or through illegal means is considered theft. Offenders will be subject to detainment and fined accordingly.

3. **Vandalism and Damage to Property:** Intentional defacement or damage to station property, including structures, equipment, and facilities, is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held accountable for repair costs and may face detention.

4. **Violence or Harm to Life Forms:** Any deliberate act resulting in harm, injury, or endangerment to any life form on the station, intentional or otherwise, will lead to immediate detainment and further investigation. Severe cases may result in permanent banishment.

5. **Deception or Lying to Security Personnel:** Providing false information or deceiving station security personnel is considered a violation and may lead to severe consequences, including detainment or expulsion.

*Page 2 - Incivilities*

1. **Communication Protocol:** Visitors must utilize officially recognized translation devices when engaging with station personnel or vendors. Failure to do so may lead to misunderstandings and consequences.

2. **Respect for Diversity:** Visitors are expected to demonstrate respect towards diverse cultures, species, and practices observed on the station. Any behavior deemed offensive or disrespectful will result in corrective measures or fines.

3. **Currency and Economic Exchange:** Only officially recognized station currency is permissible for transactions. Attempting to barter or trade using unauthorized or unfamiliar means will be considered a breach of regulations.

4. **Social Conduct:** Visitors must adhere to social norms, codes of conduct, and etiquette observed across various decks and sections of the station. Blatant disregard for these norms may result in detainment or fines.

*Page 3 - Proper Usage of Space*

1. **Navigational Guidelines:** Visitors must adhere strictly to designated routes and pathways between different decks. Unauthorized shortcuts, diversions, or deviations from approved paths are strictly prohibited.

2. **Residential Access Control:** Access to residential decks is permitted only through designated entrances with designated keys. Any attempts to access these areas via unauthorized routes or means will result in corrective actions.

3. **Security Protocol:** Visitors are required to follow all security guidelines, obey station directives, and promptly adhere to instructions from operational robots or station personnel for safety and security purposes.

4. **Environmental Preservation:** Preservation of station resources and environmental elements, including flora and fauna, is mandatory. Any deliberate actions leading to environmental damage will result in immediate consequences.

5. **Inappropriate use of space:** Every area has dedicated use. Some areas are marked as inappropriate for sleeping, drinking, or eating. While some other bodily needs are banned on the entire deck and there are dedicated places to respond to those needs, such as bathrooms. All visitors' needs no matter how peculiar have dedicated places within one's reach. Please ask operational robots or station personnel for guidance.

6. **Emergency Security Protocol:** In the event of security threats or emergencies on the station, visitors are required to comply immediately with all security measures and directives issued by station personnel or robots.

*Page 4 - Punishments*

1. **Detention:** Violators will be detained until resolution of the situation or until the imposed fine is paid.

2. **Monetary Fines:** Monetary penalties will be imposed for violations. These fines must be settled promptly to avoid further consequences or escalated penalties.

3. **Escorting and Banishment:** Severe or repeated violations may result in the escort of offenders off the station and a permanent ban on re-entry.

4. **Other Penalties:** Depending on the severity and nature of the offense, additional penalties or restrictions may be imposed as deemed necessary by station authorities.

----------------------------------------

And the rules turned out to be awfully simple. No killing or harming. No theft. No trespassing. No vandalism or damage to property. No lying. Following the local unwritten rules of civility and using the translation devices they just learned they existed. Not getting into any restricted area. Not breaking into any residential area: they were supposed to pay for it. No killing or damaging the zoological deck residents. Oops? No doing inappropriate things in inappropriate places. And following the emergency security protocol in case of emergency.

As for the punishments: detention and fines were pretty clear. But being escorted off the station and banned from it sounded like a death sentence in the context of the tutorial, as probably nothing existed on this floor beyond the station. So it was indeed a death sentence that was not saying its true name. And the rule number four about other punishment: It was basically the 'station authorities' reserving themselves the right of inventing new punishment as they saw fit.

Otherwise said, they were on the station where the rules were about the early copper age legal system. There were only seventeen, utterly broad rules, for Gods' sake. Even her rather permissive high school had like... fifty rules or so. Though to be fair, she would have trouble even naming fifteen of them. She remembered unfair rules about the dress code. And some more sensible rules about the abuse of substances on the high ground. Or the rules about harassment and bullying. All in all, she was remembering some of the rules she hated and some of the rules she personally supported. But the bunch of mostly forgettable rules in the middle? Either she internalized them without knowing or she had been doing some mischief without even realising it. Sophia was mostly operating on common sense.

Or at least, her own view of common sense.

But those rules? They were utter minimalistic bullshit that could be misconstrued in so many ways that it was even fun. And so that explained the subtheme of this floor. The robot thought they were visitors and visitors were supposed to follow those shitty rules. In other words: they were in a sandbox game where their every move might be perceived as unlawful. And they had to persevere on the right side of the law and somehow, beat the station at its own game.

Now all they had left to do was confirm whether or not they had a way to earn money on this station.