Chapter 5: Into the System

March 24, 2024

The marketplace was alive with its usual rhythm, a hum of machines, the buzz of conversation. But today, I wasn't here for another low-tier job. I needed more than a few credits. The physical coins in my pocket, earned from yesterday's work, were a start, but nowhere near enough to get me where I needed to be.

My holo bracelet, though improved, wasn't going to cut it for much longer. I could fix it up all I wanted, but in this world, I needed more than outdated tech.

What I truly needed was access, an identity that would integrate me into this system. Without it, I was stuck, outside the system, unable to access digital credits, bound to the underbelly of this place.

Navigating the crowd, I kept my posture neutral. The new clothes I wore helped me blend in, a dark, sleek outfit that mirrored the style of the people around me. Nothing fancy, nothing that stood out. It was exactly what I needed.

My destination was the underworld, where rules were bent and deals made in the shadows. A network of people who could help with my next move.

I had heard whispers about Delek, a tech broker in the lower district who could forge the identity I needed. Getting in the system was crucial. Without a digital trail, I would remain in the shadows, limited to physical credits and cut off from any real progress.

I passed through narrow streets, the crowds thinning as the path led me deeper into the darker parts of the city. Here, the air was heavier, the hum of life dimming into something more ominous. This district felt forgotten, but the opportunities lay in the cracks, waiting for those who knew how to look.

I had learned quickly about this world's hierarchy. Most people here, without gifts, struggled their way through the ranks, limited to how far they could rise. Even the A-rankers without gifts could only go so far. But those who were born with gifts? They were different, the ones who could truly break through.

Yet, gifts were rare and often required wealth or the use of advanced, rare tech to be discovered. Only the elite could afford to test for gifts, and those that had them almost always left for prestigious schools and higher-tier worlds, leaving behind those without potential.

As for me, I hadn't been tested. I couldn't afford it. But whatever I had, whatever ability was stirring within me, I'd have to unlock it on my own.

The signs were already there, my mind processed this world faster than it should. I wasn't just adapting; I was excelling, but I'd need more time before I could fully understand what was happening to me.

Eventually, I arrived at a rundown building in the lower district. The sign above the door flickered weakly, barely visible. This was Delek's workshop. I stepped inside, the door closing with a low hiss behind me.

The room was dim, cluttered with half-assembled tech and machines. Delek was seated in the corner, his broad frame hunched over a terminal, his cybernetic eyes gleaming in the low light. He looked up as I approached.

"You're here for an identity," he said, not bothering to ask if I needed anything else.

"I am," I replied.

Delek rose, moving over to a terminal. Several holographic displays appeared, showing complex data streams. "It's not a simple process. We'll need to create a full digital trail. You'll be traceable, just like everyone else in the system. It won't make you invisible."

"I know," I said. "But it's the only way forward."

He glanced at me, then nodded. "Good. Let's talk payment."

I handed him the pouch of physical credits I had collected from my work in the underworld. Delek took it without a word, counting the coins swiftly.

"This will do for now," he said, satisfied. "Come back tomorrow, and your profile will be uploaded. After that, you'll have access to digital credits and everything that comes with it. But be careful, you'll be on the grid, and that means surveillance."

I gave a brief nod, understanding what that meant. Being part of the system meant I was no longer invisible. Every move I made would be tracked. But the benefits outweighed the risks. I needed access if I was going to rise in this world.

With the arrangements made, I stepped back out into the street, the cold night air hitting me as I left Delek's workshop. The marketplace lights were still glowing in the distance, and as I walked toward them, I thought about what came next.

Tomorrow, I'd have a digital identity. I'd be in the system, able to conduct transactions like everyone else. But more importantly, I'd have the ability to move freely, to start building something real. I wasn't just here to survive, I had my sights set on more than that.

The moment I was in the system, I would no longer be an outsider. I would finally be able to rise

....

As I made my way back toward the marketplace, I noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The usual bustling energy was still there, but something else lingered beneath it, tension, like everyone knew something was happening but wasn't speaking openly about it. A few people huddled together, exchanging quick words and furtive glances, and the crowd seemed to part around them.

I moved closer to a small group of workers, pretending to inspect a nearby stall. Their conversation was low, but I caught fragments.

"… Ascendants… big shipment…"

"… heavily guarded, they say…"

"… don't want to be caught when they move…"

I glanced over without making eye contact, my interest piqued. I hadn't heard of these "Ascendants" before, but judging by their hushed tones and anxious faces, whoever they were, they weren't just another gang or underground group.

I couldn't afford to be left in the dark about something like this. If this world operated on power and connections, learning who the key players were could be critical.

As I left the marketplace and ventured deeper into the lower district, I couldn't shake what I'd heard. The docks, of course it had to be the docks.

Anything that wasn't officially sanctioned always ran through the industrial sectors, and if this group was dealing with high-end shipments, there could be something valuable in it for me. But they sounded dangerous. I needed more information before deciding how to approach them.

The streets grew darker as I reached the outskirts of the city, the industrial hum of machinery replacing the buzz of market chatter. The air here smelled of oil and rust, thick and heavy, almost oppressive.

Workers moved between massive crates and towering stacks of cargo containers, their faces obscured in the dim light, but I could tell they were more cautious here. The occasional glance over a shoulder, the way they kept their voices low, it was clear this was where the real underworld thrived.

Near one of the smaller loading docks, I slowed my pace as I passed by a pair of men in dark jackets, leaning against a cargo container. Their voices carried in the night.

"You hear about the Ascendants' new recruit?" one of them asked, lighting a cigarette.

"Yeah," the other muttered. "Kid's got a gift. Saw him bend steel like it was paper."

I kept my head down, but the words hit me like a jolt. A gift. So, they were involved with people who had gifts. My thoughts raced. Could they have access to the tech that tests for gifts? Or, better yet, would they know how to unlock my own abilities? The possibility was too tempting to ignore.

The man with the cigarette continued. "If you want in, they're always looking for someone who can keep quiet and handle tough jobs. Especially with this shipment coming in tomorrow."

The other man grunted. "Yeah, if you can survive it."

I walked past them, my mind spinning. If the Ascendants were connected to gifted people and high-value shipments, this could be my way in.

But it also meant risking more than just physical danger. Dealing with an organization like this would mean staying sharp, not just for survival, but to learn what they knew.

The docks stretched out before me, dark and labyrinthine. I wouldn't make contact just yet. First, I'd observe, figure out who was who, and where they operated.

Tomorrow, I'd have my digital identity, and with it, the ability to move freely. But tonight, I needed to map out my next steps. The Ascendants were my way forward, and if they could help me discover more about my gift, I wasn't going to let the opportunity slip away.