The Quant-Transportation truck rolled into Silver City just before sunset, its magnetic hum carrying the container convoy across the cracked bones of old highways, their roads mostly eroded and covered by sand and dust. From the outside as it moved, it looked like nothing more than another cargo shipment bound for redistribution. Inside of container 1328, however, the beginning of a revolutionary journey was growing, alongside a storm of nerves and brewing anticipation.
Goldstar pressed her hand against the wall as they slid to a smooth stop. "Looks like we finally made it," she declared.
Kevin peered at the glowing face of m00m that was merged into the container's interior steel. "Silver City, huh. I always dreamed of coming here, but 1. I'm not chipped, and 2. it's not like I could afford it anyways. But hey, that's why they call it a dream."
"Confirmed," m00m offered, his voice calm, tinged with his friendly British articulation. Blue light rippled across the walls, and suddenly the entire container bloomed into a transparent panorama. The rusty metal was gone, transformed into a 360-degree projection screen of the outside world. It was as if the entire container didn't exist, and was completely see through.
Kevin was impressed. "Yo… this command center just got a serious upgrade. You got all kinds of tricks up your sleeve, m00m!"
Goldstar leaned closer to the walls, scanning the scene. In the distance many miles away, towering holograms advertised Clarity casinos, their promises pulsing into the coming darkness of night: WIN BIG. PLAY FOREVER. CLARITY FOREVER. TOGETHER STRONGER.
Kevin smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Welcome to Silver City. Used to be a mining town a hundred years ago. F8 stripped it clean, turned it into a casino hub for chipped suckers chasing dopamine, and a hideout for elites."
m00m blinked. "The Quant Truck will remain here for approximately seven more hours to charge before resuming its route."
"That's our window." Goldstar slung a black backpack over her shoulder. "We need food, water, and weapons. Basic survival kit for this journey."
Kevin tapped into the BBS via his phone. His thumbs danced with excitement as he sent out a coded message: Travelers seeking "escargot".
m00m tilted his graphical container-embedded face in confusion. "Escargot are snails. g00wiy little creatures. I quite like the thought of them– and taste of them. Deliciously slimy and a true delicacy back on my home planet... although on Gwarmar they're 10ft tall and extra g00wiy. The ones you have here on One-World are so small it would take 50,000 to even feel something…, which feels a bit genocidal. I don't think genocide is a good breakfast item on any planet"
Kevin laughed. "Nah, bruh. It's code. Escargot means slugs. Slugs mean ammo. Weapons. We're here for weapons. And don't call it One-World, this is Earth. You are on Earth."
"Ah. What a shame. I was quite looking forward to slurping at least 200 of them clean out of their little shelled homes."
Goldstar cut them both off with a sharp nod toward the screen. "One worker by the charging bay. No drones. If we're lucky, this is whole lift is low security."
Kevin shook his head. "I can't step outside. Every face in this city is chipped. They see me, Clarity flags me in seconds. Think of me as… mission control, and your new mission commander!"
"Mission control who's hiding in a metal box," Goldstar shot back with a smirk. "No stress, I'll go solo."
"Allow me to get us started," m00m said. The locking mechanisms of the container hissed softly, the container doors opening with barely a sound. A cool desert wind whispered in. "I've adjusted the hinges adding extra goo between them for silence and have automated their opening and closing operation."
Goldstar raised her eyebrows. "Handy. You've really got tricks on tricks, huh?"
Kevin muttered, "ZERO ZERO's a damn Swiss Slimey Knife."
Goldstar stepped down into the sand. The distant glow of neons bled across her face, bathing her in distant diffused shifting hues. She adjusted the straps on her backpack, she meant business, fingers brushing a small hardware wallet tucked safely inside, a handful of encrypted funds accessible with multi-factor authentication via the BBS. "Got enough to stock up on food for weeks, but not enough for serious firepower. Which is why I'm heading to the casino."
Kevin's voice crackled from the walkie clipped to her shoulder. "DiamondHandz, that's gonna be your official Casino name. Go make it rain!"
She grinned. "Let's go!"
The doors shut behind her. The container, once again sealed. Kevin leaned back against the transparent container walls, arms crossed, but his eyes lingered on the glowing cityscape beyond. "Stay safe out there, Gold."
Silver City's neon maze awaited. And somewhere inside, allies, enemies, and answers were waiting to be dealt like cards across a rigged table.