Crystal's Edge

I Just Want A Gaming System

Jaxson didn’t know how long he had slept for, but the sun was blazing through the open curtains. He was relieved when he opened his eyes that he was still sprawled out on his futon in his familiar surroundings. He stretched as he glanced at the clock display against the wall.

“10:32 in the morning,” Jaxson walked to his closet. “The Crystal’s Edge hardware came out today.”

He threw on some clothes and grabbed his keys before heading out of his apartment. After he made it out of the elevator a different doorman greeted him, but Jaxson flew past him.

The city was busier than he was used to last night. Store fronts were crowded with throngs of people pushing to be the first in line. Game stores left, and right were selling out of Crystal’s Edge. He would be lucky if he was able to get one today.

Jaxson decided to walk past the busy city center hoping the smaller game stores would have the hardware in stock. He found an empty teleport system a few blocks away.

The glass door slid open as he entered. Air vents felt cool through his hair as the door slid closed behind him as he stood in a small box just big enough for him. Buttons with names of streets and major offices were embedded next to them. Jaxson pushed Thuron Street as the teleport system hummed. The teleport system would transport him anywhere in the city or city limits within seconds.

Five seconds later, Jaxson walked out of the teleport system as he saw the sign for Thuron Street overhead. The people walking the streets were scarcer as he was outside the city center. He knew a few small family owned game shops that he like to go to on this side of the city. He walked a few blocks before entering an empty gaming store.

“Hi welcome to Chester’s Gaming,” the store associate smiled at Jaxson as he entered. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Do you have any Crystal’s Edge gaming systems?” Jaxson was prepared for the worst.

“We do not have any,” the store associate said. “The only one we have is hardware that got recalled.”

“Well what is wrong with it?” Jaxson’s interest was piqued.

“I don’t know but I am not allowed to sell it.”

“I will buy it from you for 9000 Geps,” Jaxson flung his money card on the counter. “You keep whatever you want it as a tip for letting me buy this gaming system and in return I tell no body where I got it from.”

The store associate couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You must want this system that badly. I will let you have it. Hold on really quick while I go retrieve it.”

A few minutes later Jaxson was holding a small round piece of hardware a set of virtual reality glasses as he entered the teleport system with his Crystal’s Edge in hand.

Jaxson pressed the button for City Center on the teleport system as he hummed across the city. His apartment building was a few blocks away as he hurried through the lobby and up the elevator.

He had a plan this time. He would beat the game earlier than he had in his past life to avoid when the robbery occurred. This way he would enjoy his second chance at life and live longer.

Jaxson closed the curtains in his apartment and plopped down on his futon in preparation for a long evening ahead of him as he booted up the gaming system and flipped the virtual reality glasses over his eyes.