I hear that little boy crying next door, his poor mother, raising a weakling like that. I pull up my data slate and open to the daily report application. A new notification, I pull out my lenses and look down to the oversized font.
Thank you for reporting the questionable behavior. As a reward your score has gone up another .01. The Varkh praises you for your vigilance.
If I get up to 95 I can get the exotic flavors in my nutrient paste. Only.03 more to go…
I look out the front window down into the shared recreation block between our 8 Hab-blocks. Children… being noisy… apparently its not a crime while the artificial sun is out, only half a segment more…
I go into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water, I hold it up to my eyes and see that it is cloudy. I open a pack of the water purification powder and watch as the glass clears itself. Thankfully there are people who will speak the truth, now I don't have to worry about the hybrids poisoning my water.
The phone rings, and I pick up the receiver when an automated message begins to play. “Varkh Etern, we have received reports that there is an umbric within your hab-block, we do not wish to alarm you. We are giving a general alert in case you may have seen anything to reach out, the Genetic Purity Council praises you. Varkh Etern.”
…An unregistered umbric? Reporting it would get me another .05 rise in my LM. Then I can taste true luxury. I open my door slightly and peer out to see if there is anything suspicious, I catch Myrna taking out her trash. “That’s double tied I hope.” I say to her, as she walks down to the receptacle.
“Yes Triga…” I hear her sigh in response and I say Verkh Etern in response. She shouts it back. Then, out of the corner of my eye I catch a shadow, creeping into the Kepax apartment. But when I looked I saw nothing.
“PETS AREN'T ALLOWED!” I shout as I pull my head back in.
…I bet one of them has a hybrid, I’ll find out who. Just then the artificial sun begins setting and I ready the complaint for the noise on the recreation block. I peer out the window and watch as the children scatter trying to outrun the growing shadow of the building. When the silence finally hits and I can no longer hear their chattering.
I pull out my news application and see the reports of all the terrible things that the Varkh protects us from. Why would anyone try to rebel against this…The Varkh provides for everyone, even those undeserving of it, the weak and the lazy. But they never get praised for it. Instead the youth rebel and pretend that they know better than us.
I get bored from reading the news and finish my glass of water. I walk back over to the sink to get another, when I decide I should try to find out where the hybrid is, I go over to the Kepax apartment with a handful of the filtration packs. knock knock knock
There is a small crack in the door as I look through and see a bony nose sticking out of the opening in the door. “What can I do for you Miss Triga?”
Trying to sound sly “Oh, I just heard a report about a hidden Umbric in the building, wanted to talk with someone about it. I don't know if you follow those Elystran Icons?” I look at her expecting to hear a jovial response, instead I hear nothing. “Well, anyway they offer a purification powder that filters your water from the poison that any umbric might have.”
“That's great Triga.” She holds her hand out expecting me to place them there. When I don't she just looks at me and says “did you… want to come in?”
My face switches to congenial as I try to sound as sympathetic as I can. “That would be great, I just wanted to talk with you about a few things.” She closes the door and I hear the chain jingle as she undoes it, and beneath it I hear her mutter some quick instructions, but they are too sharp to comprehend.
The door finally opens and I put my biggest smile on. “I can put these in your kitchen for you. Would you like to try it? You can really taste the purity in the water.” I push myself in and navigate to the kitchen, the layout matches mine almost perfectly.
“Uh… sure.” She follows me in and as I quickly open the cabinet where I would keep my cups I find stacks of plates. I look at her annoyed. “Oh… cups are in the other cabinet.”
I open it and pull out two glasses pouring in some water from the tap. I hold it up to her eye so she can notice the particles floating in it. Then I open the tablet and stir and all of the particles just disappear. “Isn’t that neat!? All that filth just disappears. And don't worry I have plenty.”
“So what is it you wanted to speak with me about Triga?” she takes the glass from my hand and goes to sit down, gesturing for me to take the seat across from her.
I oblige and take my glass of water. “Well I mostly just wanted someone to speak to, my kids don't really call me much anymore.” Then I hear it, the sound of air leaving, like someone is squeezed into an uncomfortable position.
I look at her and she says, “Must be the pipes.” Her eyes look like they are about to dart behind her to find its source.
“Yeah. That must be.” I take my glass of water and swallow it in one gulp, leaving the glass on the counter. “Well, I don't want to take up any more of your time. Do feel free to stop by. I get lonely in that apartment by myself. And like I said, don’t worry about those purification power packs.”
“Yeah, I will take you up on that!” she gives a false chuckle that I can obviously hear. Varkh Etern I say back to her, waiting for the response, which she gives half heartedly.
I walk back into my apartment and grab my data-slate. Pulling out the report application. “Strange presence reported in Hab-block 15 Apartment 6412 believed to be an Umbric.”
Several minutes later I hear the alert on my data-slate
Thank you for reporting the Unregistered Umbric. As a reward your score has gone up another .05. The Varkh praises you for your vigilance.
Below it was another notification
Congratulations on achieving a 95.02 LM, Exotic flavors unlocked, Package will arrive at your door by next cycle. The Varkh praises your Vigilance.
Finally! I got my goal. I would be able to enjoy the mango flavor. Just then I hear the thunderous sounds of boots converging outside in the hallway. I go to my sleep capsule and prepare for another wonderful day in the Varkh.
