During all that sitting and waiting, I almost never took my eyes off the windows in the metal boxes against the wall. Vending machines. After all, it really was a residential area. You could really live here. If you had money.
The evening alarm sounded thirty minutes later, at exactly eight in the evening. The morning bell was at eight in the morning. This meant a work shift lasted twelve hours, and workers had twelve hours to get their job done. It sounded reasonable. Wake up at seven. Breakfast, shots, figure out what job you had that day... just like everyone else was doing. Just living and working.
I had to stand up again and walk to the soaring column covered in doors in the middle of the hall. I went through one of the doors, sat on a metal chair, and got a food cube and a liter of water. When I came out, I went back to the table, trying not to bump into anyone with my elbow, since it was hurting more and more. The painkiller they had given me in the morning must have been pretty strong if it worked for twelve whole hours. I wondered what an interesting night I had ahead of me... Could I ask the system for more painkillers? They wouldn’t let me into the medblock, but maybe they’d lend me a shot in the food block.
I turned around and headed back. When the closest room freed up, I stood in front of the door.
“Eleven. GBL.”
Eleven. (GBL).
Objective?
That was rude. They didn’t even let me in. Of course they wouldn’t give me more food or water.
“A shot of painkillers.” I said to the closed door, as clearly as I could.
The door didn’t open. I got the hint.
“I really need it.”
Vacate the premises.
They only give you painkillers in the morning.
I went away, and sat back down at another table. Someone else had already taken the one I was sitting at before.
GBL... The system was letting me know I’d been demoted to goblin. I was GBL. It had a nice ring to it, to be honest. My interface was still practically the same — I didn’t even notice the changes at first.
Number: Eleven.
Rank: Nullform (volitional).
Current status: GBL. (three standard meals per day and standard water ration).
Only one letter had changed, but it meant so much... Fortunately, my food and water ration were still the same, so I wasn’t worried. I could still remedy the situation.
At that same moment, at long last and with a hint of pride, I felt nature calling. My body was finally fully hydrated and finally ready to get rid of something.
But I decided to check my finances first.
Balance: 0
Debt status: in debt.
Debt details (5 most recent):
Shower: 1 sol.
Second meal: 1 sol.
Second water ration: 1 sol.
Third meal: 1 sol.
Third water ration: 1 sol.
Total debt owed: 10 sol.
Fantastic. Great! Just forty more sol of debt and they’d cut my arm off. I was definitely making progress here in my new life. Well, at least the toilets were free.
I went to use the nearest one. As I was leaving, I took a few steps in the other direction to take a look at the vending machines. Now this was what heaven looked like...
The numbered shelves behind the glass held more amazing things for sale than I could have imagined. The first machine, wide and tall, was full of packaged clothing. Colorful t-shirts, underwear, shorts, pants, gloves, work gloves, ties, handkerchiefs, socks, slippers, flip-flops, sneakers, boots, belts, protective goggles and masks, hats, bandannas... And I hadn’t even seen everything yet! They were ordered logically, with hats at the top and shoes at the bottom.
The next machine offered everyday items. Flasks, mugs, thermoses, safety razors, towels, plastic spoons, forks, plates...
The third one held food. I noticed wide-necked water bottles like the ones I’d seen before, nutritional cubes, what looked like colorful candies, and paper sacks with loose contents and delicious-sounding labels: mushroom soup, beef soup, strawberry jelly, apple jelly, chicken broth, black coffee, latte, double espresso, triple espresso, zumba-deluxe-drive sweet, zumba-deluxe-drive sour, strawberry milkshake, assorted chewing gums...
The fourth one... The fourth vending machine made me freeze in disbelief. I looked up at the emotionless sphere humming by along the rail above me.
The machine had a camouflage pattern on the outside and had equipment for sale. Protective equipment! Knee pads, elbow pads, high protective boots, strong protective gloves, plastic helmets with see-through visors, vests...
