Varkh Etern, I say to myself when I wake before continuing with my Oath “Order is the shield against chaos; Duty is the blade that defends it.” I enjoy my omelette flavored nutrient paste for breakfast and grab my case to leave for the day before giving one last look to the metric tracker in my watch, 97.24. I take a breath and head out the door with a smile on my face. Varkh Etern, I say to everyone I pass, waiting for their response. I enter the office and head to my cubicle, and do my work diligently for the full work shift. Matching the shipments to the invoices for Qirinal-Ker, we are the lifeblood of the Varkh and I do my part to keep everything running. Before leaving for the day, I have a short chat with my coworkers about their plans for the evening, before responding that I will be having a quiet night in. Varkh Etern, I say to all as I leave. Another glance at my metric shows 97.25. I let sleep take me as another wonderful day passes on Caer Aeternum.

Varkh Etern, I say to myself when I wake before continuing with my Oath “Order is the shield against chaos; Duty is the blade that defends it.” I enjoy my omelette flavored nutrient paste for breakfast and grab my case to leave for the day before giving one last look to the metric tracker in my watch, 97.25. I take a breath and head out the door with a smile on my face. Varkh Etern, I say to everyone I pass, waiting for their response. I enter the office and head to my cubicle, and do my work diligently for the full work shift. Matching the shipments to the invoices for Qirinal-Ker, we are the lifeblood of the Varkh and I do my part to keep everything running. Before leaving for the day, I have a short chat with my coworkers about their plans for the evening, before responding that I will be having a quiet night in. Varkh Etern, I say to all as I leave. Another glance at my metric shows 97.26. I let sleep take me as another wonderful day passes on Caer Aeternum.

Varkh Etern, I say to myself when I wake before continuing with my Oath “Order is the shield against chaos; Duty is the blade that defends it.” I enjoy my omelette flavored nutrient paste for breakfast and grab my case to leave for the day before giving one last look to the metric tracker in my watch, 97.26. I take a breath and head out the door with a smile on my face. Varkh Etern, I say to everyone I pass, when I hear a hello in response. This shakes me from the routine and I stop to speak. Her beautiful black hair framing her face, which is perfectly made in the image of Colonial perfection. Her uniform tells me she also works for a noble house. “I pass you each day and I just wanted to say I admire your dedication to the Varkh.” She says to me, which fills me with a great sense of pride, I thank her and continue on my way.

I enter the office and head to my cubicle, and do my work diligently for the full work shift. Matching the shipments to the invoices for Qirinal-Ker, we are the lifeblood of the Varkh and I do my part to keep everything running. Before leaving for the day, I have a short chat with my coworkers about their plans for the evening, before responding that I will be having a quiet night in. Varkh Etern, I say to all as I leave. Another glance at my metric shows 97.26. I let sleep take me as I think about that woman I met earlier today.

Varkh Etern, I say to myself when I wake before continuing with my Oath “Order is the shield against chaos; Duty is the blade that defends it.” I enjoy my omelette flavored nutrient paste for breakfast and grab my case to leave for the day before giving one last look to the metric tracker in my watch, 96.74. I tap the screen to verify, knowing that it will not change the score. I rub my eyes to make sure I’m not seeing it incorrectly. Yet, there it remains, my metric has gone down more than half a point. What could have caused this, I shake myself from the stupor and take a deep breath to head out for the day. I quickly make my way into work, saying Varkh Etern to all as I pass, but making it clear that I am determined to reach my destination in as short a time as possible.

I work diligently as I make my way to my cubicle, making sure to put extra time in to compensate for when I take breaks to relieve myself. I watch the screen and verify the invoices to the shipment manifest, when my coworkers ask me about my plans I quickly let them know that it's a quiet night in and head home. Varkh Etern, I say to everyone as I make my way home, once inside I take my personal time to look into the Elystran Icons, whose metrics consistently stay above 98, finding Max Lokthorn. 

"Hey everybody, thanks for joining... Now, I've been getting a lot of messages, good people, just asking, 'Max, how do you navigate it all? The quotas, the social audits... how do you keep your Metric from getting chipped away by the bureaucracy?' And look, the official channels will feed you a lot of nonsense about 'civic participation' and 'positive social engagement.' It's noise. You want the real answer? It's not about playing their game. It's about changing your own biology so the game doesn't matter. It's about purity. See, the Ministry of Reflection, they're just measuring outputs. I'm telling you to focus on the inputs. What are you putting in your body? That's what they can't control. The guys at Dravenn-Kar, they're not like the rest of the corporate suits. They get it. They've been working on something... off the books. A supplement that optimizes your bloodline's core expression. It's not about efficiency for the state; it's about making you more purely you. When you do that, the Metric just... takes care of itself. It's not about giving your metric teeth; it's about showing them your teeth. You get what I'm saying? Check the link in my bio. This is the stuff they don't talk about in the official bulletins."

I place an order for three cases and hope that it will prevent any further slide on my part. I spend the night watching the visualizer flipping between documentaries on the noble houses and the recordings of Orator Ring debates, watching as the participants argue against the Ministry Representative to convince him to change his viewpoint on some of the latest decrees by the Imperarch. He deftly convinces anyone against him that it is pointless to challenge him, and by extension the Varkh. While we watch as the the Representatives Metric rises to 99 and he is rewarded a trip to Elystra, complete with a behind the scenes tour of the Aurumn Menagerie. I give one final look at my metric which is still at 96.74, I toss and turn in bed hoping that the supplements arrive when I wake up. 

I wake up and rush to the door to verify that the shipment arrived during my sleep. I pull it inside and proceed through my day like it was any other. Spotting the 96.74 score out of the corner of my eye, mocking me, I add the supplements to my paste and recite my oath, “Order is the shield against chaos; Duty is the blade that defends it.” before making my way out for the day, feeling as though something was done out of order. I shake the feeling off and head to work, to mirror my movements from yesterday. Perhaps the drop was purposeful, and will provide me with new motivation to better the Varkh. I put a smile on my face and say Varkh Etern to all that I pass. 

Another day of matching the invoices goes by and I watch that my metric has risen slightly to 96.75, I confidently put a smile on my face and make the walk home, saying Varkh Etern to all that I pass. When I woke up the next day a look at my metric leaves my jaw on the floor, my metric has dropped to 95.99. I stand stunned for several minutes before my mind attempts to race through my possibilities. I put an extra helping of the supplement on my breakfast paste, before remembering that the 95 score was what got me the omelette flavor anyway. I need to make sure that I don't pass that threshold. I rush out the door for the day and spend another day matching invoices to manifests, when my coworkers ask me what my plans are I make sure to put up the facade. “Another quiet night in for me” but I will be visiting a LM Coach, hopefully they can guide me back to perfection.

The woman's office smelt of perfume but beneath it was a subtle scent that seemed to instinctively cause me to revert to some state where I sought approval. I then spotted a stack of unopened packages, “So, Tarkvek I see according to your Metric History that you were recently up as high as a 97.26, what do you think brought on your slide to 95.99?”

“I really don't know,” I reply flabbergasted, “I have proceeded through the last deca-cycle as I would through any other. I’m hoping you can give me some advice on how to raise my score back up to 97 or even higher if I can.” I look at her desperate for assistance. The smell caused me to shrink before her power in the confined space.

She leans forward and says “The trick is that you need to stop worrying about what the others think of you. Take a page from the Nobles, they have no regard for what any others think of them. That is the attitude you need to bring into your every day, I will also provide you with this bottle of cologne. This will help others naturally want to envy you, and insert themselves in your life. Only 10 Karn Marks.” I readily agree and hand over the money, making the mental note of what I can do to improve my score. I return home and prepare for the next day, letting sleep take me as I watch my Metric remain at 95.99.

I wake the next day and say my oath, attempting to break through this cycle of desperation that I’m stuck in. I add the supplements to my breakfast paste and apply the cologne. Immediately feeling the effects, I make sure to exude a confident energy so that everyone who passes knows that I am a powerful man. I say Varkh Etern to all I pass and when an Umbric blocks my path I shove them to the side, sure to make a scene so that others can see me. I will be the perfect conduit for the Varkh and I will gladly maintain this level of power if I can have my old score back. Another day of matching invoices to manifests when my coworkers walk past my desk they compliment me on my demeanor. I leave for the day and say Varkh Etern to all I pass. I have raised my score to 96.4 and I confidently go to sleep knowing that this will take me all the way back to my previous state.

The next morning I wake and find that my metric has dropped again, to 94 for a 1.4 point drop and my mind begins racing, who is doing this to me? Have I offended someone, and they are making it their goal to ruin my life? No, I don't have any enemies and even if I did, no one in the ascendancy can manipulate the Life Metric system. I will instead be the eyes of the Varkh, if I cannot raise my own score by following the rules, I will lower everyone else's when they don't.

I say my oath and enjoy my last moments of the omelette flavor as when I’m about to leave for work, the repossessors from Taranwe-Kar are here to take the luxury flavors and replace them with a basic set. This small change throws off my whole morning as I make a conscious effort to note those who do not respond back with Varkh Etern. I also spot several moments of Caste mixing that should affect scores. I spend almost my whole day at work making complaints about my fellow colonials. I will get my flavors back. When my coworkers look at me now I see behind their eyes, they know that I am not as highly ranked as they are. Some of them seem to smile when they look at me. Do they know? Are they responsible? When I’m asked about my plans I simply reply “Performing my duty for the Varkh, like we all should!” 

I watch their faces change from cordial to confused. They are unsure what to make of my personality. But that is not their concern, they should be more focused on their duty for the Varkh. As I head home a final glance at my metric shows it sank to 93.5 I must discover the true cause. On my walk home I spot several more infractions that I note and proceed home. If this is what it takes, I think to myself, attempting to justify my actions.

The next day I wake and my score has plummeted to 84. Exhausted, I thank the Varkh that this is the end of the Deca-Cycle and I will not have to interact with society. Hopefully my score will remain stagnant while I have the next two cycles to think about my plan. I just lay in my chair and watched the visualizer showing replays of battles, The Recreation of the Molari Rebellion was on, and I actually saw the look on the Molari’s faces, they are not proud, they are terrified. Is this what I look like from the outside?

I look out the window and see the foot traffic pass by, I breathe a sigh of relief as I go back to my chair. But then out of the corner of my eye, the metric begins to descend again, visibly I see the numbers go from 84 to 83.99, with only a moment later going to 83.98. I leave my house and try to find something to take my mind off of the situation. I then see the hidden people, they seem to have built an enclave in the alley between hab blocks. I take a closer look and inside I see the perfect black hair and the flash of a noble house uniform. The same woman? No, they must have just stolen the uniform, I think to report it, but I change my mind.

After a walk I see that my score has gone down to 79.88. I try to look away as if it doesnt bother me, instead I attempt to join the festivals that are happening. As I reach the gate to enter, the security asks for my Metric score. “Only available to 85+, find another festival for the outcasts!” He chuckles to himself before waving me off. 

I lower my head and head back to my apartment, even if I could go anywhere, it's not like I could get in. When I arrive back at my apartment, I see a note on the door. “Tenant. It has come to our attention that your LM has dropped below the desired 80 necessary for access to this apartment. You have two weeks to raise your score above an 80 or you will be evicted.” I crumple the note up and head inside.

I need to think about that woman. Who was she? Would she know what happened? This all started after I met her. I run down the stairs back to the alley way and enter the canopied area they have. “And what can we humble Molari do for a fine upstanding Colonial like yourself?” They ask me, feigning deference. 

“I just want to speak with her!” I say pointing to the woman I had seen only 8 days prior. She turns and looks at me, half of her once beautiful face is now replaced by cybernetic augmentations. She gives a smile and motions for me to follow her, shocked and confused I follow. 

“What can I help you with?” She leans against a wall with her foot up. 

“You’re the same woman I saw earlier this week?” attempting to clarify before continuing. She pulls what looks like a flesh toned roll of a rubbery type material and places it against her face. I watch as the graft adheres to the cybernetic components, making them virtually indetectable on a visual glance.

“You think you know the ascendancy?” she asks me confidently. “What do you know about the Life Metric?”

I just look at her thinking for several long moments before responding. “It’s how we show loyalty to the Varkh.” 

“Has the Varkh shown you loyalty?” The pointed question jabs at me and I think over the last several days, recalling the friends and coworkers I thought I had. Before she continues “The Ascendancy is another cage. If you know how to open the door, then you have control of the system. The life metric keeps you worried about yourself and not what the Ascendancy is doing in the background.”

“And what are they doing?” I ask her, as I try to contemplate the reality she is revealing to me. 

“Controlling us! They put us on leashes and when any of us go too far out they yank us back! Don't you feel it? The collar around you!” She motions to my Metric tracker on my arm. Which has now dropped to 75.

“So what?” I ask her, completely desperate. “My whole life is crumbling apart, this is what you wanted me to see? I see it! Now how can I get my life back?”

She just smiles. “It’s a very simple process, you will just need to drop the following file on a coworker's machine. The moment you do, your score will return and with it, all of the amenities that you miss." She hands me a drive.

“Thats it? What’s on the file?” I ask her, trying to stifle my excitement at potentially returning to my old life.

“Just some evidence that will clear your metric and return your life to normal. Isn't that what you want?” She says before walking off. I grip the drive and contemplate taking a walk through the shopping districts, as I watch the high end shops close their doors to me. I try to shake it off, tell myself it's all just temporary. Then I feel the drive in my hand… and the pull of my old life… I would do it. 

I walked into my office under the pretense that I had misplaced something, and walk to my desk, passing desks of the people I call friends, eventually deciding to plug the drive into the Drekvek’s machine. He is the least loyal to the Varkh and I always hear him talking about the plight of the harvest worlds. I would have my life back and would strengthen the Varkh in the process. I let the drive do its work and walked to my desk to grab a jacket I left on my chair. I head out and pull the drive as smoothly as I can, exiting the building. I make my way home, and let sleep take me, hoping that this will all be over soon.

I wake the next morning to a chime at my door, the delivery of my luxury flavors is here and I will relish my reunion. I look at the tracker on my wrist and my score is now 97.45. She had done it, I had my life back. I turn on the visualizer and see Drekvek is being dragged from his home, being called a traitor who harbored heretical views… This was the price I agreed to, I have everything back, and would pay it again.

Varkh Etern, I say to all I pass, arriving at my office building I sit at my cubicle as my coworkers all talk to each other and then look to Drekvek’s desk. When I hear a ping on my machine, sounds like a regular office notification. 

So the little bird returns to its cage… you are to note all shipments heading through the Hyperion System. Or everyone will see you for who you are. attached was a picture of me plugging the drive into Drekvek’s machine. Just as quickly the message disappeared and the black screen reflects my face back to me as the true price sets in and I realize that I locked myself in this cage.