It's day forty-nine on the Arkvault, a seven-mile zoo of cosmic snowflakes, and we're E-rank Earthly Ramblers, wrapping up our construction gig in Habitat-47. Our bracelets—those sassy, glowing wristbands—ping with exhaustion and hope. I tap mine, muttering, "Day forty-nine: Earthly Ramblers, cave builders, ready for more than rocks." It chirps: Log saved. Query: Boulder-lifting PR? "Cheeky bangle," I chuckle, wiping sweat. Single, 500 years from Earth, I'm Coach Bounce, and this galaxy's my new gym—time to flex some flux.
The training cave in Habitat-47, a glowing dome humming with flux energy, took ten days—three longer than planned, thanks to rogue flux stones zapping tools and E-rank newbies dropping beams. The Agarvran, elf-like aliens with pointy ears and frail frames, are thrilled. Their leader, Sylra, bonds with Fiona over flux talk, her eyes crackling as she watches Fiona's staff slice beams like cosmic butter. "You've got potential," Sylra says, promising advanced flux training. Fiona's Dublin smirk hides a spark of pride, her glance at me soft before she turns away. Working near the flux stones, I feel a tingle—my hands glow faintly, like I've grabbed a live wire. Sylra notices, her voice sharp via bracelet: "You, Alex, have flux potential. Faint, but real. Practice, and it'll grow." I grin like I've hit a deadlift PR. "Cosmic powers, mates!" Fiona's eyes shine, Dmitri grunts approval.
We teleport to the Space Guild dome, its red pulse throbbing like a cosmic heart. My body-enhancing suit hums, boosting me fivefold, plasma pistol and glowing blades clipped on, power fist gloves ready. Fiona's flux staff pulses white, Dmitri's magma spear sizzles, his shield flickering with fire. The clerk, a glowing alien, scans our holo-pad: "Construction complete. 1,000 credits each." I whistle. "That's a burger bonanza!" The clerk hums about my flux signs: "Training available, 50 credits per session." I hesitate—credits are tight after splurging on fizzy drinks—but nod. "Sign me up. Cosmic powers, here I come." My bracelet logs: Flux training enrolled. Query: Glow-in-the-dark discount? "Not now," I mutter, grinning.
Over the next twelve days (days 50–61), we juggle odd E-rank quests across three habitats, teleporting like cosmic commuters. Habitat-12's a swampy maze, where we herd runaway Zykaran critters with binding rope, my power fist snagging a slimy beast. "Like wrestling a wet dumbbell," I groan. Fiona's flux arrows pin stragglers, Dmitri's wind-shield corrals them. Habitat-29's a desert, where we guard a supply crate from sand worms; Dmitri's spear scorches one, Fiona's bow mode snipes another, and I blast with my pistol, missing half my shots. "Aim's a work in progress," I laugh. Habitat-63's a neon jungle, restocking glow-fruit stalls—my suit's strength makes it easy, but I trip, spilling fruit. Fiona snorts, "Smooth, Coach." Her glance lingers, then snaps away. My bracelet logs: Incident: Fruit fumble.
Between quests, I train flux at the Guild, 50 credits a pop, in a chamber of pulsing stones. My instructor, a spiky Vordex, barks, "Channel it, don't fumble!" My first tries are pathetic—faint glows, like a dying glowstick—but by day 12, I reinforce my body, boosting strength like a cosmic protein shake. I'm slow, way behind Fiona, but I'm thrilled, flexing with a faint shimmer. "Earthly Ramblers, now with extra glow!" Fiona's flux training with Sylra in Habitat-47 is intense—her staff's arrows now arc like lasers, her sword mode sharper. She's a flux mage in the making, but guards her smiles around me. Dmitri trains solo in the Guild arena, his shield blazing with fire and wind, blocking heavier blasts. "Need more elements," he grunts, spear glowing hotter.
We chug focus-enhancing drinks for quests, their 15-minute buzz helping me aim, Fiona snipe, and Dmitri shield, though the crash leaves us slumped. Back at Habitat-382, we collapse in my 1BHK, burgers sizzling. "Flux is no joke," I say, glowing faintly. Fiona nods, her laugh soft but quick. "You're catching up, rookie." Dmitri's smirk says he sees her vibe but stays mum. My bracelet logs: Day sixty-one: Flux unlocked, quests survived. Query: Glow-up complete? I grin, "Getting there." Unseen, the sleek alien in dark metal reports my flux to the elder, whose eyes glow as he hums thoughtfully. Single, I'm Coach Bounce, rambling through this cosmic grind—one spark at a time.