Tabo entered the final checkpoint. While previous ones consisted of various scans of der body and medical assessment, this checkpoint was an empty room in same dim green colors, hinting of jungle, even smelling a bit the same.

A segment of room floor extended upwards and towards Tabo on a leg, then lit up in brighter green. Tabo approached the screen.

"CHECKPOINT 27: FINAL ONE", the letters on it read. "A QUESTION: YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD DISH?"

Tabo suddenly felt a rush of memories. Growing up in the ruins of a colony module, worship of still working technology, der parents, crippled by void weakness, but still protecting de in conflicts with other children and teachers. And a bowl of leafsoup every Sun Day, made from one of few non-poisonous local trees, a welcome reprieve from protein grinders. It made the week spent in choking hot classroom worth it, somehow.

"LEAF SOUP" de wrote.

"ANSWER ACCEPTED. APPROACH THE CBBD."

A door opened behind the screen. Screen itself folded back into floor and Tabo stepped over it and into the door, towards the green light.

Next room was even smaller, a big screen hanging on far wall and turrets along with suspiciously-looking autodoors lining up the walls. A few scorch marks here and there also were quite worrying. Tabo walked up to the screen and typed the message.

"Citizens of Ohuguuz are suffering. Pirate raids are common and planetary defense is not enough. We see defense station packages being manufactured by planetside autoplants and shipped to Niamoz every day. Only one of these deployed locally would improve the situation greatly."

Tabo pressed send key and listened to far cooler engines hum for a while.

"Citizens of Ohuguuz are not producing much value. Quotas for tier-1 settlement has not been met yet last week. Niamoz is tier-3 settlement, its settlers producing value above their quota. Niamoz defense level is insufficient for tier-3. Redirecting any production from defense of Niamoz will lead to increased death rate on Niamoz, negatively affecting all citizens of Dictate, Ohuguuz citizens included. Relocation packages are offered for Ohuguuz citizens, provided they meet professional requirements."

Tabo felt hope leaving dem. No one de knew met the requirements, except children deemed suitable for education. Another message arrived on the screen:

"Opportunity to help for Tabo: increase pulp production on Ohuguuz. Meeting weekly quota for three weeks will be enough for settlement tier upgrade. Civilian ballistic weapons are also available from comissary."

Tabo slammed fist into the screen. "I'm not a pulper! I'm not a fighter! I'm a voidspawn! What the fuck can I do?"

Words lit up the screen, undamaged by the attack: "LEAF SOUP"