Genesis Sync

“So you keep mentioning,” John said with a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Well, she’s not wrong,” Jessica added before looking down and adding. “Also, you could do with a new set of clothes, something that shows off your muscular body.”

“Once I get the credits that are owed me, I plan to do just that,” John stated as the three of them entered the elevator and Sarah pressed the button for the penthouse, causing Jessica to raise an eyebrow.

“We’ll go on a shopping spree once you have it. I know a great salon that can fix your hair and all the best clothes shops,” Sarah said in excitement as the elevator shot upwards.

“I hope you're getting paid a lot,” Jessica chuckled while John supported himself against one of the elevator's sides and asked in alarm, “Why's this thing so fast?”

“It’s an express elevator,” Sarah replied in amusement. “You didn’t actually think one of the top apartment complexes in the empire would have a normal elevator, did you?”

“I lived in one of the cheapest apartment complexes in the empire; what do you think?” John retorted as the elevator swiftly rose upwards and arrived at the penthouse within only a few seconds.

As the elevator doors opened and he got his first look at his new apartment, John’s mouth dropped open. The elevator opened onto the main living area of the apartment, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the river, palace and the rest of the city.

On the left-hand side of the living area was a high-tech kitchen along with a breakfast counter with stalls and a long dining table, while to the right was a seating area that sunk slightly into the floor. A spiral staircase was situated directly beside the elevator door, which offered access to the second level where a major and minor bedroom were situated along with the main bathroom.

The entire apartment was illuminated by subtle lighting strips while part of the second level was cut away, allowing it to look down on the seating area on the floor below. Finally, a wrap-around sky terrace curved around two sides of the apartment and even included a pool and hot tub.

“What the hell?” John asked. “This place is huge; it’s way bigger than my old apartment. There's no way I can stay here.”

"Don't be silly,” Sarah chuckled before adding. “Though I am jealous of the view, it’s better than mine since you're higher up.”

“Oh please, you're like one floor down,” Jessica scoffed while rolling her eyes.

“Are all the apartments in this building made up of the entire floor?” John asked in surprise.

“Only the top ten floors,” Sarah replied. “Below that, each floor is separated into four apartments.”

John nodded as he stared around in shock, causing the two women to laugh before Sarah pointed towards the kitchen and said, “The kitchen is fully stocked, but should you run out of anything, call down to reception and they will arrange it to be restocked. Same for the bar that’s over there near the seating area and the one upstairs in the home theatre room.”

“Who’s paying for all this?” John asked in disbelief.

“The imperial family, so don’t worry about your bills; it’s all covered,” Sarah explained before pointing at a small circular object on the apartment's ceiling. “That small device is a holoprojector; with it you can watch the holo in multiple places around the apartment since there are several of them dotted around. That will come in handy if you want to watch Genesis News or other things.”

"How did I end up here?" John mumbled as the two women continued to look at him in amusement before Sarah said. “Well, I think that’s about everything I need to explain now, so I will let you get some rest; you must be exhausted after everything you’ve been through.

“No, no I’m…” John began but was suddenly cut off as a yawn overcame him and his body sagged with exhaustion.

“You were saying,” Sarah giggled before heading back towards the elevator while saying. “Get some sleep; I will come check on you tomorrow.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Sure,” thanks,” John replied as he tried and failed to stifle another yawn.

Sarah smiled and waved to him as she and Jessica entered the elevator and the doors closed.

John knew he should head up to his new bedroom; however, his body was so overcome with exhaustion that he just staggered to the nearby couch and collapsed on it, where he immediately fell asleep.

***

After Sarah selected the floor below and the elevator doors closed, Jessica couldn’t hold back her curiosity anymore and asked. “Sarah, just who is that lad? He looks like some guy who was just barely managing to survive; his clothes are clearly ancient and have been washed god knows how many times, while he clearly needs a haircut. Why would the imperial family give such a kid the penthouse suits of Eclipse Views? I mean, the empress wouldn’t even let you live there and you're her niece.”

“The penthouse suite has always been kept empty so it could be used by visiting dignitaries or other important people,” Sarah explained. “However, that won’t be the case from now on since John is living there. As for who he is…”

Sarah was about to continue when both their access bands, along with every other access band on the planet save the one belonging to a certain individual who had just collapsed on the sofa of his new apartment, blared with a siren that meant only one thing. Tias was issuing a racial punishment announcement.

“Right on time,” Sarah muttered as both women quickly checked their access bands.

***

Inside Genesis, any player who was not currently engaged in battle also heard the siren along with the appearance of a notification window that caused members of each race to break out in sweat;

[RACIAL PUNISHMENT ANNOUNCEMENT]

While those in combat only had a red symbol appear in the bottom corner of their vision so as not to distract them. This symbol indicated that the player had an important message waiting for them from Tia herself.

Soon after, everyone not in combat stopped what they were doing and listened carefully as Tia began to explain the details of the racial punishment announcement while hoping that it wasn’t their own race being punished.

“The human race is to receive punishment for the following crimes committed against the Genesis Agreement.

“Crime One: Corruption.

It has been discovered that several government officials in the human city of Dawnscape have been involved in corruption against one of their own citizens. The government officials in question are confirmed to have withheld the financial support that said citizen was entitled to under the Genesis Agreement and, worse, said financial support was being used for their own personal pleasure.

Crime Two: Bribery.

Evidence has been found of Dawnscape City government officials being involved in bribery as a means to cover up Crime One.

Crime Three: Improper care of public citizens.

Because of the actions stipulated in Crime One, the citizen in question was forced to work in order to earn enough money to eat and pay rent even though he was under the legal age of employment, which goes against the Genesis Article.

This company, responsible for providing work to said citizen, also paid well under the minimum wage.

The school he attended showed a distinct lack of care for this citizen, as even when he asked for help, he was ignored.

The Dawnscape government city officials showed a distinct lack of care in preventing this citizen from receiving the much-needed support he was entitled to.

Crime Four: Theft.

The support funds for the citizen in question were instead transferred to a separate account under that citizen's name that he knew nothing about before being used for the thief's personal pleasure.

The wage paid to the citizen by those companies that employed them was well under the minimum wage.

Crime Five: Attempted Murder

It has been discovered that at his school's Genesis initiation, the citizen in question was supplied with the outlawed and highly dangerous MK VI Access Band. This access band was outlawed because of the deadly MK VI poison that slowly kills the wearer.

After investigation, it has been discovered that Dawnscape City government officials in question were aware of this and, in fact, did partake in supplying said outlawed access band to the citizen in question.

Punishment.

The individuals confirmed to be guilty of any or all of these crimes will be permanently banned from Genesis and will also face punishment equal to their crime or crimes from the leader of the human race, Empress Alexia Bristle.

The individuals suspected to be guilty of any or all of these crimes will be temporarily banned from Genesis while they are taken into custody for questioning and a thorough investigation is carried out. Any individual found innocent will be released with their access to Genesis restored, while any individual found guilty will face the same punishment as those already found guilty.

The citizen who received the mistreatment from Dawnscape City will have all financial support owed to him paid in full by Dawnscape City Council.

The citizen who was forced to work in order to eat and pay rent will automatically receive two per cent of all future earnings of Sanders Incorporated for being forced to pay rent while underage.

The companies that employed the citizen but paid well under the minimum wage will provide back pay equaling the amount the citizen was withheld plus a further fifteen percent.

The human race will lose its ownership over Stone-mist Castle and a Great Ocean Siege will take place in seven days for a chance to claim ownership of it.

Further Notice

As of this moment, I am temporarily lifting the restriction on the use of force without due cause for the security forces and military stationed in Dawnscape City. It is advised that all civilians stay in their homes until further notice to avoid harm.