A JOB OFFER
The colonization of Mars began with a bang — literally. The poles were shattered, their icy caps blown apart like overfilled water balloons. The resulting 'great flood' transformed the planet’s surface, flooding the surface of the planet and carving new waterways that turned the arid red world into an Earth-like one. Oceans now sprawled where there had once been endless desert, and islands and continents rose where ancient craters once marked the Martian landscape.
Most human settlements clung to the equator, where the seasons were mild, and the sun was reliable for powering the sprawling arrays of solar panels situated near the Martian Space Elevator.
Alba City was one of these settlements. In fact, it was now the oldest city on Mars, situated on the Tharsis Plateau. Where from this perch, humans started spread outward, staking claims on the transformed planet.
There was two well-known regions that humanity claimed their stakes first.
Arcadia Planitia, a flat expanse of lowlands to the north, was now a lush region known as the Neo Mediterranean. Its reputation for massive snowfall had been replaced by rolling vineyards, verdant hills, and coastal towns thriving along the shores of its newly formed seas.
Deuteronilus Mensae, by contrast, had become a great land of tundra. Its valleys remained scarred with the red sands and dirt of Mars, as if a reminder of the planet’s arid past. Even with the successful terraforming, some parts of Mars resisted human habitation. The most extreme areas, too hot, too cold, or too volatile remained untouched, their weather systems violent and unpredictable for anyone.
Mars was still a frontier, its land rich with untapped resources and potential, but also fraught with unanswered questions. The most pressing one lingered in the background of every conversation was, Who did Mars belong to?
The nations of Earth skirted the issue, unwilling to draw hard lines. For now, Mars existed as its own peculiar exception, overseen by a Central Government more interested in maintaining the delicate balance on Earth than asserting control over its celestial neighbor. For many Martians, the politics of Earth felt distant and irrelevant.
“I don’t even want to know.”
“It’s an Earth problem.”
Roy had heard more than once.
That sentiment had stuck with him. As a freshly minted , somewhat Illegal Martian citizen, Roy found the ambiguity strangely comforting. On Earth, people lived within the boundaries of nations, their identities shaped by centuries of borders and conflicts. They asked where you're from and they’d say their nation. On Mars, people asked where you’re from, and they’d call you an idiot and tell you they’re obviously from Mars.
It was odd.
Of course, Mars wasn’t free from its own troubles. Argyre and Vastitas Plateau had their share of strife, with disputes over resources and territory simmering in the background. Earth Nations, Corporations, Syndicates, Mafias, and Cartels were carving up pieces of the Martian pie, their influence spreading like weeds through the cracks of humanity’s interplanetary ambitions.
Yet, for all its challenges, Mars felt oddly stagnant to Roy. The dream of becoming interplanetary had fizzled into the mundane. Life here wasn’t about boldly venturing into the unknown. It was just humans doing what humans always did — surviving, hustling, and trying to carve out a little piece of happiness until the day they die.
Roy leaned back in his seat, staring out the window of the vehicle as his thoughts drifted. The prefab town they were approaching came into view, an oasis of human-made structures amidst the Martian plains. Apartment blocks and houses, imported wholesale from Earth, stood in neat rows like a toy city plopped onto an alien world.
“Yo, Roy, that’s the place,” Sepp said, pulling Roy from his inner thoughts.
Roy turned to his companion. Sepp was grinning. His enthusiasm was infectious but slightly unsettling. Uncle Lin Fang had introduced the man, and after two weeks, Sepp, without Roy’s input, decided they were friends. Roy didn’t mind though. Sepp was helpful, and he had a car, though Roy was pretty sure he’d taken it from someone. Sepp had the energy of someone who genuinely enjoyed causing trouble. A useful trait at times, but not always reassuring during free time when all Roy wanted was to eat or drink in peace.
Roy never took Sepp to Haven. He didn’t want the man to sully the place. It was the only quiet spot in Alba City that Roy cared enough to protect. Well, maybe Lin Fang’s kitchen counted, or his apartment too. And taking Sepp there? Was a big no.
“Looks cozy,” Roy said, glancing out at the prefab town.
Sepp laughed. “Cozy for now. Won’t be so cozy after we’re done.”
“Remember,” Roy said, his tone firm, “no killing. Uncle Lin just wants the guy to learn what respect means and give him a job.”
“Haha, ain’t Uncle just kind?” Sepp shrugged, still grinning. “Fine, fine. No killing. Just a good old-fashioned lesson and a job offer.”
Roy sighed and adjusted his jacket, mentally preparing himself. The job was straightforward. Rough up a loudmouth who thought he could wander Alba without showing proper deference to his elders. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid. And that was usually enough for Roy these days.
The vehicle rolled to a stop at the edge of the town, and Sepp gestured toward a squat building with peeling paint and a flickering sign that wa.
“That’s where he’s holed up.”
“Right,” Roy said, stepping out and taking in the surroundings. The prefab town was quiet, the streets empty save for a few locals moving quickly from one place to another. The weather was not nice.
As they approached the building, Sepp cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. “Ready?”
Roy nodded, though his expression remained neutral. “Let’s get this over with.”
Together, they climbed to the floor, then pushed through the door, the faint smell of stale beer and fried food wafting out to greet them. Inside, the man they were looking for sat slouched in a corner booth, his boots propped up on the table and a half-empty glass in his hand.
Sepp didn’t waste any time. “You the guy who thinks he doesn’t need to respect his Elders?” he said, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of the man in the room.
The man blinked, his sluggish reaction betraying a mix of confusion and annoyance. “Who the fuck are you?”
Roy stepped forward, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Sepp’s swagger. “We’re the ones here to remind you that Alba runs on respect. You’ve been lacking.”
The man scowled, sitting up straighter. “I don’t owe anyone shit.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Sepp said, cracking his knuckles again.
“Fuck you!”
The man snarled and lunged at Sepp, swinging a clumsy punch. Sepp didn’t flinch. His augmented arm came up like a steel wall, blocking the blow effortlessly. The man’s fist connected with a dull thud, followed by a pained yelp as Sepp countered with a punch to the ribs.
Roy winced. “You broke his rib?”
“I might have,” Sepp replied, unfazed, his grin widening.
The man doubled over but quickly recovered, throwing another punch aimed at Sepp’s side. It missed. Sepp, with almost theatrical ease, pulled back his fist and delivered a brutal strike to the man’s cheek. A tooth skittered across the floor, glinting under the dim light.
Roy blinked, watching as the man stumbled, blood dripping from his mouth. Outside, the Martian rain had started, pattering against the building’s tin roof. The storm brought with it a peculiar smell — a mix of wet sand and metal that seeped through every crack and crevice.
Sepp kneed the man in the stomach, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his abdomen. Desperation flickered across his face as he reached for a sidearm tucked into his jacket. But before he could draw it, Sepp’s augmented right hand clamped down on his fingers. The sound of bones snapping was audible even over the rain.
“P-please… don’t kill me,” the man whimpered, his voice trembling.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Roy crouched beside him, his tone calm but firm. “Why were you rude to Uncle Lin?”
“I-I didn’t know,” the man stammered, tears streaming down his face.
Roy raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t know? Uncle Lin has friends, you know. Lots of friends. Most of them would’ve done worse than this. You’re lucky.”
Sepp crouched next to Roy, his grin fading into something colder. “Yeah, they might have taken you apart. Sold what’s left of you. Organs, augments, and maybe even your soul. Nothing goes to waste in Alba.”
The man’s sobbing grew louder. “Please, man, I won’t do this shit again. Let me go!”
Sepp scoffed. “You think saying sorry fixes this? You harass someone, disrespect the wrong people, and now you think an apology makes it all okay?”
Roy patted the man’s shoulder, his tone almost fatherly. “Sepp’s right. Actions have consequences. You don’t get to pull this kind of stunt and walk away with a clean slate.”
The man was trembling now, barely able to meet Roy’s gaze. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Please, just let me go.”
Roy gestured toward Sepp. “Call Uncle Lin.”
Sepp pulled out his mobile and tapped a few buttons. The device buzzed for a moment before connecting. “Yo, Uncle. Got the guy.”
Lin Fang’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Ah, good. So, what’s the story? Is he part of some new gang?”
Roy tilted his head toward the man, giving him a chance to respond. “So? Are you?”
The man shook his head violently, sobbing uncontrollably. “I told you, man, I’m just a nobody. Please, I’m not in any gang. I swear.”
Lin Fang’s laugh was sharp and mocking. “I hear him. Whines like a bitch. Well, then, give him the offer. Don’t be too rude, boys.”
Roy reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded contract. “Here’s how this works,” he said, unfolding the paper in front of the man’s face. “You’re going to apologize by working for Uncle Lin. He’s a generous man, a good man, and this contract is your way out of this mess. Sign it, and you’ll be part of something bigger. Sure, you messed up, but we can fix that. Now… What's your name?”
The man hiccupped, barely able to form words. “D-Dan Yee.”
Roy nodded. “Okay, Dan. You want to make this right? Then sign here. After that, we’re good. You’ll be working for Uncle Lin, and trust me — it’s a better deal than what most people would offer.”
“See? You harassed a kind old Uncle and you got a job for it? What are you hesitating for?” Sepp asked, somewhat daring him to reject the offer.
Dan stared at the contract, his broken fingers trembling as he scrawled his name on the dotted line. He knew he didn’t have a choice. It was this or risk being sold for parts or worse.
Uncle Lin Fang’s voice came through the mobile again. “Good. Now, Roy, make sure he knows the place.”
Roy patted Dan’s cheek lightly and placed a number he could call on the low table. “Welcome to the team. Do what you’re told, and you might even like it here. ”
Dan didn’t respond, his head hanging low in defeat.
Roy and Sepp then stepped outside, the rain had picked up, soaking the prefab streets. The scent of wet red grass and dirt was overwhelming to the nose.
Sepp lit a cigarette, exhaling a stream of smoke into the damp air. “Another one for Uncle Lin’s collection.”
Roy nodded, pulling his jacket tighter against the chill. “At least this one won’t cause trouble again.”
“Not if he knows what’s good for him,” Sepp said with a smirk.
After the job was done, Roy and Sepp waited out the Martian rain in the prefab shelter. The rain had its own rhythm here, heavy and relentless, leaving everything coated in the red-tinted mud that defined Mars. When the storm finally let up, Sepp started the car and drove them back to Alba.
The journey back was quiet, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the occasional splash of puddles left by the rain. They passed craters now filled with water, their surfaces glinting under the light of the Martian sky. The land around them was a patchwork of greens and reds, contrary to the expectations of an endless desert. It was a strange juxtaposition that never felt natural. Even the grass, if it could be called that, was distinctly Martian, its reddish tint making the blades look alien. The kind you’d only see on this planet.
Was it a mutation? After Mars had been transformed after the terraforming great flood and with the ground saturated and softened, mankind sowed seeds and released genetically modified plants designed to thrive in the Martian soil. Animals were introduced into the ecosystem, and nature began its slow, methodical work. The result was a world that mimicked Earth, yet was undeniably alien and full of water. So it wouldn't be surprising if there was a mutation.
Roy then looked forward. “Then again… there’s a chance they’d just extend the city if the population grows. And none of their effort to make Mars green would matter in the end.”
The car approached Alba.
The city rose before them like a steel and glass mirage. The labyrinthine streets twisted and turned, their paths flanked by towering buildings plastered with obnoxious holographic and neon advertisements. At a crossroad, they paused, the glow of the ads illuminating the car’s interior. Animated figures hawked everything from artificial companions to nutrient-rich supplements, their voices overlapping into a frenzied symphony.
The car eventually rolled into Alba’s Chinatown, which was alive with its usual activity. Crowds surged through the streets, their voices blending with the sizzle of food being cooked in open stalls and the rhythmic thump of cleavers on chopping blocks. The rain had settled, but the damp air clung to everything, leaving a faint metallic tang.
Roy grabbed his coat and pulled the hood over his head before stepping out of the car. The marketplace stretched before him, a sensory overload of colors, smells, and sounds. Sepp had already started browsing the stalls, picking up a skewer of some spiced lamb kebabs and chewing on it as they moved through the crowd.
They found themselves at Lin Fang’s Kitchen, the familiar scent of cumin and garlic wafting out to greet them. There was always something about the place that felt familiar and cozy to Roy.
Inside, Uncle Lin Fang was deep in conversation with representatives from the Feng Huang Organization. His sharp eyes caught their arrival, and he gave them a brief nod before turning back to his guests. Roy didn’t want to get involved with those people so he ignored them.
In the corner, Roy spotted Mei, Lin Fang’s daughter, sitting with her girlfriend, Lisha. Mei was leaning close to Lisha, her tone playful, while Lisha maintained a faintly amused expression. She was dressed in formal office attire, though hers were more modern unlike his plain opened suit and tie.
“Hey, lovebirds,” Roy called as they approached. “Flirting already? You two are making me blush.”
“Get a room, seriously,” Sepp grinned. “Haha, don’t glare. Mei, Lisha. How’s it going?”
Lisha glanced at Sepp with polite indifference but gave Roy a small nod. “Things are fine. How about you?”
Mei smirked. “You finished with Dad’s stupid job?”
“Done, took a while to find, but we did,” Roy replied. “So payment, please?”
“Dad should be usually doing this, but they got his attention right now and he’s prickly when business with them is disturbed,” Mei pulled out her device and tapped a few buttons. “Thanks for getting us an honest worker,” she said, sending a credit transfer to both Roy and Sepp.
Roy checked his mobile. “Credit received.”
Sepp, grinning from ear to ear, headed toward the counter where Auntie Lin was busy preparing food. She scolded him for his loud enthusiasm, though the exchange was clearly more playful than serious.
Lisha turned back to Roy. “Oh, right,” she said. “Your documents are ready. You’re now officially a legal citizen of Mars.”
Roy let out a mock cheer. “Yay. Thanks. I owe you one. Lish.”
Lisha waved off the gratitude. “The money was received, and the work’s done. No need to thank me. I have to say, you’ve really done a good job with networking. Someone paid for your licenses so it was suddenly extra work so it took this week instead of last week.”
“Is that so?” Roy said, taking a seat next to Mei. “Anyway, how are things in the Central Government?”
“Chaotic and busy as usual. It’s a Space Elevator, too. So it's always busy. I got the time off since I had a bot take care of my work for now,” Lisha leaned back, stretching her arms. “With how things are lately. I can somewhat laze around since the Central Government doesn’t care much right now. That might change if that bill on Earth passes, though.”
Roy tilted his head. “Sounds exhausting.”
“Yeah,” Lisha said with a grin. “It’s usually easy work. Most of it is automated. We just handle the input, keep things organized, and review files when the system flags something. Occasionally, we have to deal with duplicates or spam, but it’s rare.”
“You’d think they’d have made it fully automatic by now,” Roy said, stirring his plastic cup of cola. “We can colonize planets, but sure as hell can’t do things like that.”
Lisha shook her head. “Machines are logical, sure, but they don’t have common sense. Sometimes, the smallest change can send them into chaos. The last time someone rewrote a line of code, half the system went offline. Even something as simple as removing an attachment can cause it to crash.”
Roy chuckled. “I guess that keeps you busy, at least.”
“Exactly,” Lisha said. “People complain about machines being cheaper, but in reality? Humans are cheaper and make people feel more comfortable. A little humanity goes a long way. Back then, the CG had planned to make the reception handled by Bots, but the Bots made too many errors and sometimes the connection made them slow to accept the input. It was a mess.”
“Wow,” Roy leaned back in his chair, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, anyway, if you’ve got any gigs for me, let me know. I really need money.”
Lisha smirked. “I’ll think about it. Maybe I can hire you to beat up some people or deliver something for me? I’ll call and text.”
Mei, who had been quiet until now, shot Roy a glare. “Stop taking up Lisha’s time. Also when did you get Lisha’s number?”
“You gave it to me?” Roy raised his hands in mock surrender. “Jesus, how about you chill?”
Lisha chuckled.
Sepp returned, devouring another kebab like a man who hadn’t eaten in days and got into the crosshair of Mei who started glaring and picking on him. With their attention on Sepp, Roy placed his attention to the wall-mounted screen, where advertisements and news reports played in an endless loop. A segment on fishing mania in Ganymede caught his eye, the footage showing crowds swarming to catch genetically modified fish in the waters of Jupiter’s largest moon.
He wondered if he’d ever visit the place.
Then, he received a message from Devon, telling him about a job.
And it was Devon requesting him for a favor he owed.
A favor he couldn’t refuse.