Working at the Zaibatsu Logistics Hub was an okay gig, but it meant Kaze had to abandon certain luxuries he was used to. A living space larger than a broom closet was one of them, along with his usual lifestyle in an Independent Community, now he had to cut his teeth in a Corporate Municipality. The sort of Escher-esque microcity, crammed to the brim with squat buildings and aggressive security bots. But as much as they were marked by brutal brushed concrete and neon lights, life there was softened by a constant parade of snacks, VR games and vices.
“That’ll be thirty coals.” The sleepy jerboa behind the counter of Doki Convenience gestured in the air, producing the payment prompt which Kaze brushed a hand over. Don Alfredo’s Quick Microwave Pizzas, Old Timey Soda, Battlewolf VR, and Calorie Provisions, it would keep Kaze entertained after work for about a week. He gathered up the supplies in his arms and headed out into the rain-soaked street.
On his way home (Pearl Apartments) there was a security checkpoint, with a pair of rusting, buggy bots that would routinely treat him as an intruder, search his body and then detain him until their handler would come around to reset their memory. It was a common, daily indignity, but that’s what the calorie provisions were for. It would at least keep the hunger pangs away while he waited.
“Logistician, halt.” The bot ordered in their harsh, compressed voice, lifting a rebar hand.
Kaze gestured in the air to produce his employee credentials, then rifled through his bag for those calorie provisions.