After his purchases, he’d spent enough time in the game to produce energy. He now had 9 units of VE energy. He felt a faint warmth move from the core of his body toward his ring. Having never experienced a power like this before. There had been some instructions which had come with the altered body changes. Though mere directions couldn't describe the otherworldly the flow of ethereal energy moving through channels in his body. If he looked closely a faint blue light moved under his skin to charge his ring. Looking at its updated ring it now read 9/25 Units of VE.

Now to proceed with the next part of his plan. It was simple enough, the pod responded to mental commands. A minute later he found himself staring into space, while lying in his capsule. It was just after 10 and he hoped to get his errands completed in the 3 hour time. He opened up his belongings and found 4, 1 ounce bars of platinum. He used a fraction of VE energy to transfer it to his ring, and logged right back into Cosmos.

Determined to avoid the stingy Blatta he found a materials trader just a ways down. Inside was an Ogre of an alien, nearly 8 feet in heigh, and half as wide. He had folds of loose skin along his neck and arms and spoke in a deep baritone.

“Come in stranger to Kovic’s trading and bulk purchasing. What can I do for you today?”

“I’m interested in making an exchange trade for some material if that is all right.” Alan began.

“Trade eh. Well, I have nearly every material that can be found on the planet and happy to make an exchange for a modest fee.” He bellowed jovially

Alan produced the 4 pieces of platinum. “I’d like to exchange this platinum for gold.”

Kovic looked at him strangely, “Gold you say? Well far be it from me to advise a trade in my favor, but you’ll only be making a loss.”

Alan knew exactly what Kovic was talking about. Precious metal such as platinum, gold, silver and even copper were often used as currency. And to trade Gold for Platinum with a transaction would mean he’d be losing money. “Thanks Kovic, I appreciate your honesty and fairness on the matter, but I’ve need of Gold, even though it means taking a loss.”

“If you insist, I can exchange your 4 ounces for approximately 8 ounces of Gold. I’ll only charge you 20 credits for the exchange since the platinum you have is so pure.”

“Thanks Kovic, I’ll probably be back to exchange more later.” Waving goodbye, passing by Kovic’s shop assistant and placing the 8 ounces of gold in his ring. Alan moved onto the second step of his plan. He logged out once again.

Walking past the reception area of Cosmo’s, he waved off the attendant, and made some excuse that he’d be back after some lunch. It only took him just under an hour to log off, change, and drive to the strip mall he had been to the day before. He walked into the gilded cash for gold store and proceeded to exchange his now 8 ounces of gold for more platinum. Currently, earth’s market valued gold at about 2x the value of platinum.

So, for the $4000 dollars he spent on platinum originally, he now had $16,000 of gold. Which he quickly exchanged for more platinum. All the while paying a small exchange fee.

He traveled back to the Pod and 50 minutes later he was standing once again in front of Kovic’s Shop. He knew that he didn’t have much time for his little scheme and once again exchanged his pound of platinum for 2 pounds of Gold. For a total of $64,000.

He wanted to get one more round done before he was finished. He once again logged out, made a quick excuse to the front desk, and traveled to 3 different locations to sell his stock pile and to buy more platinum. He knew that he didn’t have much time, because by tomorrow the precious metals markets would be turned on their heads and no one would be willing to buy or sell. And the Gold bubble of the last few thousand years would finally pop.

Returning back to Kovics, he had spent the last 2 hours on the last trip visiting a few new stores making exchanges. He traded his nearly 4 pounds of platinum for nearly 8 pounds of gold. Kovic was good natured about it, as he was making a profit on each transaction for no work. He shared to Alan however that he didn’t have any more on hand to trade that day, but could come back later in the week. Alan shared he wasn’t intending to make any more exchanges soon, but may bring some platinum later for a few credits.

Leaving the shop for the last time, he noticed an orange scaled shop assistant eyeing him. When Alan looked over, the assistant quickly went back to organizing the shelves.

His last log out, he noticed it was 4pm in the afternoon Earth Time. It was time to settle everything he could do. He spent the next three and a half hours selling his gold, going to various shops. In the end Alan was far wealthier than he had ever been. 8 pounds of gold were exchanged into $200,000 dollars and 3 more lbs. of platinum. He’d lost $8000 dollar on transaction fees. But everyone seemed happy by the exchange. Of course come tomorrow, some of their feelings would change.

Stepping back into Cosmos’ Hub, he approached the attendant. The attendant had been baffled at Alan’s behavior all day. None of the other buyers had ever left the pods, and who could blame them, spending $600 dollars, it would be a steep price to waste the experience.

Alan stepped in front of the man and inquired. “How much did you say it was to lease the pod permanently?” If Alan's behavior had simply baffled the attendant, this question stupefied him. “You’re interested in purchasing a lease on a pod sir?” He asked quizzically, not understanding why a person who spent more time outside Cosmos on their first day would want a pod.

“Yes if that is alright.” Alan overlooked the confusion in the man’s question.

“Of course sir.” He stuttered, “Please be aware there is a 1000 Credit monthly fee to continue to use the pod.”

“That’s fine.” Alan then pulled out of his sack, large amounts of bills to pay for the account. “I’m sorry I only have cash, but I hope this is ok.”

“Yes of course sir.” He stated excitedly, as he waved over a few additional attendants to secure the purchase.

“I’d like to finalize the paperwork tomorrow morning if that is ok, so I can finish out my session tonight.”

He nodded.

“All right, thank you for your help.”

Alan planned to pay the rest of his loans and hoped it was enough to get started.

Appearing back in town, Alan knocked on the door of Blatta’s. “What do you want so late in the evening?”

“I’ve just come to grab my things before heading out.”

“It’s a bit late to be heading out into the scrap sea, but suit yourself”

She walked him inside, and he activated his ring drawing in the supplies, tools and mini refinery.

“Thanks Blatta.”

She only hissed in acknowledgement and walked him out of the store.

Alan started to jog toward the scrap field the time he had left, reflecting on the first day. Today he felt fortunate for the easy money. Though he doubted he would be welcome back to any Cash for Gold locations, not that he minded. 15 Minutes into his run he slowed, feeling winded. In high school he’d never been too athletic, he’d play the occasional pick up game. But it wasn’t enough to keep him in shape.

The sound of shifting trash and metal sounded nearby. Alan looked up quickly, instantly regretting traveling at night as he heard voices carry through the darkness.

“Stavin!, you idiot, way to blow our cover.” Came an angry voice.

“Sorry, boss, I slipped.” Whined a pitiful voice

“It’s coming out your cut.”

Three figures emerged from the darkness, from the surrounding hillsides of piled trash and debris. One came from off the hill to his left. He recognized it as the spindly orange-skinned assistant from Kovic’s, Stavin. He moved forward awkwardly, unused to the rough terrain. The two others came from his right. The boss was a hulking mass of muscle, blue flesh and pig-like features, he held a large club against his shoulder. The other was a smaller, dangerous looking. which looked very human-like, but with narrow features, and snake-like eyes. He held a dangerous set of pistols.

“Your intel on the gold better be good, Stavin, this guy clearly looks like a newbie, and if he isn't packing...” The Boss gave Stavin a dangerous look.

“Boss, he has it, he traded it for nearly every piece or gold Kovic had.”

“Hey, I’m standing right here!” Alan pulled out a large Gravity Hammer, meant for smashing walls. He activated it with his vervetic energy. The hammer began to take up a soft glowing blue pulse.

“I thought you said he wasn’t armed.” The Boss chided

“It’s nothing but a hammer boss. We can take him.” The gunner commented waving his pistols.

“Newbie. Here’s the deal. You can either drop all your gold. Or put up a fight, lose your gold anyways and territorial expulsion.” Holding his club for emphasis. While Stavin held a small knife. The dangerous looking one brandished his pair of pistols.

These guys were serious. Melee combat in Cosmos always presented greater risks, but the rewards were usually greater when you dealt a death blow. Typically in Cosmos, if you died in combat you would drop about anywhere from 1 to 1.5% of your wealth on hand. Precious Metals, Credits, Gems, etc. However, the penalties would jump if you died in melee or if you started the combat. Glancing by their weapons, these guys clearly decided to take the physical approach.

“Drop all of it and lose everything and then you might spare me? Give me a break. You’ll get a fraction if you can beat me, you blueberry.”

“Stavin you idiot, I thought you said he was a newbie!?”

As Stavin was about to speak Alan jumped forward, hammer moving in a downward ark, toward the distracted Stavin. If it wasn’t for his quick reflexes the would-be bandit’s head would have been pudding, instead it glanced off his shoulder, breaking bone and knocking the assistant backwards, launching his knife into the darkness.

Instead of following up with a killer blow, Alan dashed quickly behind the nearby hill toward cover, surprising everyone, giving Alan precious seconds to gain cover. He dove behind a pile of rubble, as pistols fired, as bolts passed through where he had just stood, hissing harmlesslyinto the earth around him.

“Get up you idiot.” The boss dragged Stavin to his feet. “We’ve got to get him!”

Alan heard shuffling and the whimpers of the guy he’d smashed. Seeing another close pile of debris, he dashed gaining greater distance between him and his enemies. He’d just settled behind cover when he heard the distant footsteps of the trio. Sneaking a peak around the corner, he saw Stavin inject something into his arm. A moment later he cried out, as the sound of bones snapping back into place could be heard. Nano drugs.

Alan grabbed his hammer for comfort trying to think how to best get out of the situation. He’d been lucky to have escaped the ambush, but they’d likely not let him escape again.

He noticed a large flat piece of metal, which looked like an old metal hatch, with a few holes lying sideways in the waste. Having an idea, he picked it up testing its heft. He crept around the pile until he saw the men moving toward where he had been. Stavin’s arms still somewhat limp at his side. They walked in a line, spread out to try to catch him out in the open. Alan skirted to the other side of the hill, closer to the shooter. Taking a deep breath, he ran straight toward the pistol wielder, holding the metal in front of him.

It only took moments for the pistols to come to life, shooting directly at Alan. The first shots burned into the metal hatch, leaving red scorch marks where they’d struck. The gunner, seeing his shots fail, took aim toward the legs. A few shots went off, before Alan thrust the shield to the side and leapt forward, hammer swinging across toward the gunner's head.

Surprised, the gunman raised his arm instinctively to intercept the hammer, catching the arm with an audible crack. The gun in his left hand fell. Turning to recover, he raised the other pistol, but Alan, drove the surprisingly light hammer down once again. This time taking him in the chest. He flew back, coughing blood and crumpling to the floor, laying motionless. His heart stopped by the blow.

Alan only had a moment’s pause, before the sound of lumbering feet alerted him of the impending danger. He rolled forward, barely avoiding a heavy swing, which blasted dirt and rubble from where he’d stood. “I’ll have your head.” came the angry curse of the Boss. Alan rolled again to the side, avoiding another killing blow. Recovering he swung his hammer parallel to the ground at the Boss’s legs. The blueberry nimbly dodged and stepped forward, club in both hands, his strike easily avoidable. “I’ve got you!”

Alan’s combat skills kicked in, and he dove forward, to avoid the blow, and catching the blue giant in the gut. Having avoided the downward smash of the club, he smashed into the immovable girth of his appointment which didn’t give from the tackle Realizing he wasn’t going to win a wrestling match, Alan quickly scrambled back, instead he was knocked to the side by the blue giant's elbow. He staggered to get his feet, dazed. He lashed out with his hammer at the approaching blue whale, just trying to get some distance between it and him. Stumbling backwards he fell back onto the lying corpse of the gunman.

His off-hand touched the warm muzzle of the energy pistol. Thanking his lucky stars, Alan grasped the handle and fired. Bang, bang bang!

The gun flashed. The blue mass didn’t even seem to react as three shots of heated energy passed through his layers of fat and muscle. For a moment he stood there, almost as if he’d been stung and took a step forward, causing Alan to wonder if he’d missed. However, as the large foot stepped down, it collapsed under his weight and with a pained expression he fell forward landing face first; three smoking holes

Still feeling dazed, but overjoyed at seeing the downed enemy, Alan couldn’t help but feel some relief. He’d been a hair's breadth away from respawn. He gripped the shaft of his hammer and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Alan began to rise when a long sinewy arm reached across his neck, choking him.

“You little monkey, forgot about old Stavin did you?” Stavin had snuck up and grabbed Alan so suddenly that he’d instinctively dropped his hammer and pistol to grasp the arm around his neck.

“I should thank you. I was planning on leaving this planet soon anyway and now I don’t need to split the gold.” He spat at the corpse of his partner.

Alan struggled in vain. It was clear that despite Stavin’s slim features he was very strong. It was all he could do to stop him from crushing his neck. Alan tried to kick, headbutt, and trash around, but he felt he was in a steel vice.

“Just give it up Newbie, I’ll spare you if you put down all your loot.” He tightened his grip.

Alan screamed for air, his mind began to feel foggy. In his desperation, as his mind became confused. He centered his feelings on his stores of energy. Inside him was a small bright mass, an energy core. Drawing upon the Vervetic energy, he sent it shooting through his hands. Instead of going toward an object like /his hammer, it instead passed to the steel arm around his neck. A loud cry was heard, as he felt the arm stiffen for a few moments before going slack. His airways suddenly opened and he sucked in gusts of fresh air to his lungs. Coughing and still in fog, he only began to process the still form of Stavin, paralyzed, lying on the ground.

Checking his reserves, Alan realized he’d lost over a quarter of his units of Vervetic Energy. Alan recalled to himself,“I must have stunned him with the energy discharge.” He looked down at his hands.” I didn’t know that was something I could do as a VE generator.” He’d recalled that he’d only been able to transfer to objects.

Not wanting to linger in the dark he picked up his hammer and gun, pausing to give a last retort to the defeated Stavin. “I’ll let Kovic know you’ve quit.” He raised his gun and fired.