35. Guard Rene, Reporting for service!
Morning came too quickly. Lance was the first to wake up, as usual. He stretched as bones cracked and slowly got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen. He made himself a hot cup of coffee and stared out the windows. The Suns had yet to rise, but all the same, he looked out to the stars. 'I wonder if mom and dad are okay.' For the first time since finding his way here, he thought of his parents. They were there when that light blinded him, but he hasn't seen or heard from them since.
Vixen stretched and let out a loud yawn. "Mmmmm morning Lance." With a bright smile, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning Vix." Lance continued to look out the window. Today he becomes a full-fledge Guard, and whatever the quest is for Elandra. He finished his coffee and then headed to the shower. Starting his day off clean and ready for anything.
*
Lance arrived before the Suns, and like always, Elandra was waiting for him, playing on her phone. "Good, Let's go." without looking up she put her phone away and led them into the grounds. "Today is just a formality. Some people will become guards, others won't. You, luckily, have me." She turned to look at Lance and stopped dead in her tracks.
"What?! Do I have snot on my face or something?" Lance knew why she was staring. He was stronger, much stronger. and he had the new gear to boot.
"You're gonna have to explain this to me. The armor and weapons I can understand. But what the fuck!" She shook her head. Knowing him, he wasn't going to explain anything. "Whatever, we don't have the time, nor is this the place."
"One day I'll explain when I can find the right way to do it." Lance tried to at least assure her.
Elandra continued to lead them to her office, once there she sat down, and Lance followed suit "So, once you graduate, you'll be given a daily salary. You'll also be given a phone with an app that lets you choose missions." She began explaining all the procedures and how being a guard works from day to day. "For the most part, you're only asked to do three missions a week. after that, you're free to do as you, please. But, you'll be given a special access code on your app. There I'll be requesting your aid in missions unavailable to you at your current merit level."
"Merit level? what's that?" A new type of favor system Lance thought.
"You complete missions, you get merit. The more you earn, the higher-paying missions you can take. And the more daily salary you get." Elandra continued with her explanation. "Missions with me will give you more merit as well."
"So a rank system. Higher rank, better rewards. Easy!" Lance liked the idea, it may have been crude, but it was simple.
"We should make our way to the ceremony, it's gonna begin shortly." Elandra got up from her chair and headed for the door.
Lance got up and checked his phone for messages before following her. He had added Sharna, Lokarn, and the clothier girl to his phone. He remembers he messaged Sharna late last night and she still hasn't responded.
"Oh, you have a phone. Let me see it", Lance handed her his phone and she played around with it for a minute. She hands it back with a new app on the screen. "There, see to it you finish your missions and reach my rank. I want to have a level sparring match with you."
With the new app on his phone and Elandra's phone number added as well, they headed off to the graduation ceremony.
*
It was a rather lengthy ceremony. More than half of the recruits didn't become guards. Lance was one of 10 that made it through. Sharna was another. One of the officials came around to everyone and either gave them a phone or put the app on their phone. Lance already had it, so the official just signed him in.
Trling Trling
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Quest Complete!
Final Day of Training!
Reward:
Experience: 5000
UAC: 3000
Unlocked Daily Guard Quests!
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Hidden Quest Complete!
Special Training!
Rewards:
Experience: 6000
UAC: 2500
Unlocked Daily Special Training!
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After completing the quests, Lance pulled out his phone and took a look at the Guard App.
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Welcome to the Galorian Guard App.
User: Rene
Rank: First Cadet
Your daily salary is 150 UAC.
You need 250 more merits to become Private
Current Merit: 150
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After the intro page, a list of different options popped up.
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"The app seems pretty straightforward." He decided to access his messages first.
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1 new message!
Sender: Elandra
Subject: Read this or get a black eye!
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'Oh god,' Lance opened the message and read it.
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From: Guard Captain Elandra
Subject: Read this or get a black eye!
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Good, now that you're reading this, I posted a mission for us for tomorrow morning. Accept it!
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'She doesn't even give me a break.' Lance shook his head, nothing he could do really. He went into the missions tab.
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Missions Completed: 0
Weekly min.: 3
Missions Completed this week:0
Mission List;
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Wall Guard.
Escort Official
Forest Patrol
Priority Request
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He opened the Priority Request. 'This is the one she was talking about.'
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Mission: Priority Request
Statement: This a special request to clear out an Alpha den in the forest. You are to patrol the forest and reach the den and exterminate all creatures that dwell inside.
Mission Start Time: 0600 hours
Upon Completion: 50 Merit points
500 UAC
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Naturally, Lance accepted. 'No choice here, so might as well do it.' Lance then turned to the Salary tab.
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Daily Salary can be picked up at the Guard headquarters. Alternatively, you can add a Galactic bank institution and your funds will be added daily.
Outstanding Salary: 150 UAC
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Banking Information:
(________________) Institution
(________________) Bank number
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'Bank?' Lance never thought about it before. He knew about banks from his previous life, but he didn't think they existed here. Or how they worked for the matter.
'You already have one. Here, let me put it in.' Vixen flew over to the phone and touched it. All the information was put in and accepted. 'The stasis chamber required an account. Whoever put you in there set everything up for you and downloaded it to me!' Vixen had a bright smile on her face while explaining.
The information on the screen changed.
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Daily Salary can be picked up at the Guard headquarters. Alternatively, you can add a Galactic bank institution and your funds will be added daily.
Outstanding Salary: 150 UAC
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Lance collected his pay and watched the money add up. 'Over ten thousand, This is good.' Lance was enjoying watching his money climb. 'We still have a lot of time left before the night comes, what do you say we do a mission?'
'Sounds like a plan' Vixen smiled and jumped up and down.
'Okay then!' He laughed at her and then opened the mission tab.
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Missions Completed: 0
Weekly min.: 3
Missions Completed this week:0
Mission List;
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Wall Guard.
Escort Official
Forest Patrol
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He thought over the different missions. He didn't want to escort someone, nor did he just want to stand around. So he checked out the forest patrol.
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Mission: Forest Patrol
Statement: You are to patrol the forest either as a group or solo and report back the activity of the local wildlife. Engaging hostile wildlife is permitted. Eradicating hostile dens will increase overall merit.
Mission Start Time: Anytime
Upon Mission Completion: 25 Merits
250 UAC
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Lance couldn't help but notice any experience rewards, but he accepted and headed towards the gate. 'At least the monsters will give me experience.'