Alan wandered about the various equipment shops, examining prices. An average set of armor would cost around 2000 credits, while a proper, alien-tech laser or plasma sniper rifle would cost about 2500 credits, including the discount. Except as Alan wandered into a shop named Ancient Armour a particular piece of equipment caught his eye.

It was a sleek, black set of power armor that was much more lightweight than all the other sets of power armor he’d seen. Smooth black cloth interweaved with metal instead of large clunky plates. Alan had no idea what metal it was made out of, but it seemed to absorb the light that touched it, creating a sort of dark aura in the otherwise brightly lit store. It was the type of armor Alan imagined futuristic special forces wore, with tactical holsters and pockets in addition to a small shield generator on the back of the suit. Quite simply put, it was the most badass piece of equipment Alan had seen since he began playing the Game.

Trying to appear nonchalant, Alan walked over to the shopkeeper, a balding middle-aged man that looked more like a high school teacher than an armor salesman.

“So, that power armor, it looks pretty nice, does it have any special abilities?” Alan asked.

“Ah, young sir, you have quite the eye. That is a set of Revenant recon armor, capable of turning the user invisible to almost all forms of detection.”

Revenants?

A group that worships the technology left behind by an ancient race said to have lived long before even the Predecessors and Lords of Life. They are considered hostile by most factions in the Game.

Huh, interesting.

“Ah. Isn’t there, well, a certain negative stigma that is attached to the armor then?”

"Well, if you’re going to be like that, I certainly won’t sell it to you,” the shopkeeper harrumphed.

“I was wondering if you might sell it for less, as I doubt the army with their dress code will allow their members to wear an enemy faction’s armor.”

Alan had no idea what the armies’ dress code was, at least within the Game.

“Yes, unfortunately that has been a bit of an issue. They bought the first set easily enough for research purposes, but weren’t willing to buy the second I bought off the Haxlards. I should have known it was too good of a bargain to be true. You know what, how about this, I’ll cut you a special deal, 50k credits!”

Alan’s heart plummeted.

“And since I’m undergoing the tutorial?”

“Well, 10k then!”

“Um, how about 7.5k?”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I’m already selling it at quite a loss. I don’t think I can handle losing even more money, 10k is as low as I go.” The shopkeeper looked at Alan innocently.

Alan shuffled his feet a bit, then sighed. “Honestly, all I have is 9k credits, total, and don’t really have any way of getting any more quickly.”

“Hmmm, that is quite the dilemma…” The shopkeeper rested his chin on his palm, leaning on the counter.