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Eli Jones

At the charter. 

"Here's your ID card," the clerk says and hands it to me. "Don't worry about losing it. We will just re-issue you a new one." 

This is convenient. I look at my card. 

Eli Jones, 14. They got those right. 

Born and registered in the North-West Plateaus... never heard of that. 

"I am not questioning your past, but our establishment is enrolled in the Double-Familiar system. It is mandatory for everyone here," says the Clerk. 

What's that? I don't know any of that. 

But if they find out I'm not from here, they might eat me alive, so I'm going to blend in. 

The clerk comes back with a cardboard box. 

"Here's your double familiar." She hands me two puppy dogs, one yellow and one grey. 

They climb onto me, so I carry them in my arms. They are heavier than they look. 

"The yellow one is the manifestation of your magic, and the gray one is an earth elemental. Without them, you won't be able to use magic, so take care of them," says the clerk. 

I gently put the dogs down. They play and run around my legs. 

"Government-assigned pets. That's how the State gets you to work and pay taxes." 

Oh! It's the lady who saved me from meteors and also dragged me to the charter. 

"Hi! I haven't introduced myself properly. I'm Rose. Rose Ellaneous. I am glad you are not one of those bandits." 

"Hi. My name is Eli Jones. Nice to meet you, and also thank you for saving me earlier." 

She grabs my hand. "Hey, hey, you look like city folk who just got here, but you don't have anything going on right now, do you?" 

Rose is being scary, leaning over me. 

"My mining team has been needing some people. Do you want to join? I will show you the ropes." 

"Sure! Haha," I say in panic.

Rose drags me away. 

We arrive at the meeting room, hexagonal like every other room, and it has a long table at the center. 

"We got a newbie!" Rose shouts at them, three people sitting there. 

"We can't go mining today, Rose. There is a storm out there!" One of them tells her. 

"Haven't you seen the emergency request at the charter? It's red tier out there, so we will get paid double!" She spread a piece of paper for the emergency request. 

"Double! You don't say?" Everyone springs up and gets busy getting their equipment. 

Rose tells me, "Oh, you don't have to learn anything new. For today, we will do the mining, and you can just carry the baskets back to the base. Just sit here and wait for everyone else." 

From the stairs we took, I know this bunker is about twelve feet deep. Is that deep enough for a bunker? I don't know. 

But I can feel the tremors of explosions on the surface. The ceiling lights flicker with each shake. 

Honestly, this is a huge bunker to house no more than fifteen people. 

My dogs try to climb onto my lap, but there isn't enough space for both of them. So, I sit on the floor to play with them instead. I should name them. 

I lift the yellow one and decide on a name. "Butterscotch." Butterscotch wags his tail and licks my face. 

I put Butterscotch down and lift the gray one. 

But the dogs are magical, and when they grow and become badass, I should name them to foresee the badass. "You are Stormbringer." 

I place Stormbringer down. 

The two names have very different tones. I decide I like them because they are funny. 

Butterscotch and Stormbringer run around the room and play. 

I should train them... but how do I? 

Rose and the others come back. "Are you ready?" They ask me. 

"I think I should leave Butterscotch and Stormbringer." I pet the dogs. 

"Oh, you named them- Butterscotch and what?" Rose burst into laughter. 

"D-don't laugh." 

"Alright, alright." Rose claps her hands. "Everyone 'round the table!" 

Everybody takes a seat. 

"From the readings, in about thirty minutes, there will be a fifteen-minute window when the storm will calm for a bit. That is when we will do the mining," Rose explains. 

"How much is the emergency quota?" One of the miners asks. 

"500 lb max. After that, we get just the regular price." 

I raise my hand. "What do you want me to do?" 

"You... will carry baskets down into the base... and remember to not get hit."