You arrive in the Persied district

Dropping you off in front of the Obama monument, the Taxi thanks you for your patronage and quickly drives off. It’s been a while since you’ve been to Persied, but the gleaming chrome towers and poly glass never cease to amaze. Being in the shopping district, you’re surrounded by designer boutiques, Hima Arhagba, Gueffi and Perspotica to name a few. Artificial trees and modern art spot the pavilion. A few blocks down are luxury hover car and Star Cruiser manufacturers, every other block is an entertainment mega-building housing everything from sports venues and high class rooftop bars to low G nano-golf for the kids.

You look somewhat out of place, considering waitresses and waiters in this district more than likely make twice as much as you will in you first 5 years of ship duty, but you hold you head high and maintain an air, making eye contact with the upper crust as they walk by. After about 10 minutes of occupying yourself with sexual fantasies involving the numerous trust fund brats that pass you buy with a look of derision in their eyes, a tall, lanky guy, about half a head taller than you with sandy brown hair, walks up.

“Hey Barry, how’s it going,” you jovially greet your friend, slapping his hand in a timeless sign of male solidarity.

“Hi John good to see you buddy, I haven’t officially congratulated you yet. Welcome to the adult world!,” he teases.

“So far you can have it back... I’ve been applying to jobs for the last few weeks, nothing!”

“Just give it time. Hopefully I’ll be able to help you out with that...eventually, I got the job at TelluTech!”

“Awesome man! I kinda figured to be honest but I can pretend to be surprised! Let’s go celebrate!”

Barry gives you a wry grin, “I guess my rant earlier gave it away...I was able to get an entry level Engineer position in the advanced propulsion division!”

“I’m really glad for you,” you were truly, Barry was one of your oldest friends, he was a bigger nerd than you but salt of the earth. The kind of friend who would take the shirt off their back and give it to you if you needed it.

Beaming, Barry adds, “Well, your the graduate and my income just increased, you pick the place.”