Six months in the 13th Elder's section of the Arkvault, and we've morphed from Guild outcasts to B+ rank powerhouses, living in a sci-fi palace that hums with alien life. I'm Alex, ex-gym coach, now a flux-and-earth master, lounging in a black trunk and pj's, sprawled on our living room couch with space windows framing a nebula like a cosmic campfire. Fiona's beside me, in a flowy red Tees, her hand in mine, our couple vibe as natural as breathing—no awkwardness, just warmth. Dmitri's across the room in a rugged gray shirt, joking with Lyra, our neighbor whose green skin and silver hair catch the starlight. The elder's crew—Trixa, Voon, Varkis—feel like family, and this alien district, with its glowing markets and tentacle-run eateries, is home, a far cry from Habitat-382's Earthy flats.
Lyra's a Veltari, a humanoid species from a high-gravity planet of crystalline forests, known for speed and agility. Tall as Dmitri—six feet—her shimmering green skin, sleek muscles, and glowing amber eyes turn heads. She works for the elder, running solo missions like scouting or data grabs, but she'd rather spar with Dmitri than chase assignments. "Another mission offer?" Dmitri asks, sipping synth-juice, his buzzcut sharp.
Lyra smirks, tossing her silver hair. "Yes, but I'd, Rather beat you in the training room."
"Beat me?" Dmitri grins, leaning closer. "You're fast, but my fire's faster."
She laughs, her voice a soft hum. "Prove it, shield guy."
I nudge Fiona, whispering, "They're gonna set the room on fire."
She chuckles, squeezing my hand. "Let's not get in their way."
The elder keeps our bracelets flush—5,000 credits monthly each, 30,000 total these past months. We've blown credits on -clothes, upgraded armor, and alien trinkets like holo-cubes that play Veltari music. Credits still stack up, making us the Arkvault's richest "dead" trainees.
We swap Pj's for suits—my red-and-black, Fiona's white-and-black, Dmitri's orange-and-black—and hit the training room, holo-walls shifting to a rocky canyon. Korrath, granite-skinned, points at me. "Alex, flux-earth wall, now."
I focus, earth rumbling, flux sparking. A rock wall rises, glowing with energy. "Like stacking plates at the gym!" I say, grinning as it holds.
Korrath grunts. "Good. Make it move."
The wall slides, flux crackling. Fiona claps. "Smooth, Alex! My turn."
Sylvara, her liquid limbs shimmering, guides Fiona. "Staff to bow, deeper flux." Fiona's staff shifts, firing arrows that split holo-drones. "Nailed it!" she shouts, tossing me a smile.
Dmitri, with Zorak, blends fire and wind, his shield a blazing storm, spear slashing flames. Lyra watches, calling, "Add some spin, Dmitri! Show off!"
He spins, wind roaring. "Like this, Veltari?" Their grins match, electric.
I dodge a stray spark, laughing. "This place is a zoo, and we're the main act!"
Evening finds us in casuals at Zorv's Glow-Dome, a restaurant with neon broths and wriggling dumplings. Trixa and Voon, in loose synth-robes, join us, slurping glowing noodles. "Elder's hosting a feast soon," Trixa says. "You're the stars."
Voon's optics flicker. "He's proud—B+ rank's no joke.
Dmitri raises a fizzing glass, eyeing Lyra. "To boundaries and fast friends."
Lyra clinks, her amber eyes glinting. "To friends who keep up."
I wrap an arm around Fiona. "To B+ and bigger fights."
We laugh, the dome buzzing with alien chatter. Varkis swings by, "Elder's got missions brewing," he says. "A-rank's close."
"Bring it," I say, earth energy tingling. Fiona nods. "We're ready."
Back home, we sprawl, Fiona curled against me, Dmitri and Lyra debating Veltari combat moves. My bracelet pings once: Training: B+ achieved. Query: Ready for more? I ignore it, lost in Fiona's laugh, Dmitri's grin, and Lyra's quips. I'm Alex, stronger than ever, with a cosmic girlfriend, a Veltari-sparked teammate, and a crew that's family, ready to hit A-rank and shake this starry maze.