Cosmo had always felt like he didn’t quite belong in the Fiat World. It wasn’t that he couldn’t fit in—he was good at that. A chameleon by nature, he could blend into any group or situation. But deep down, he knew there was something more out there, something beyond the rigid rules and predictable paths of his current life.
The feeling had been growing for years, an itch he couldn’t quite scratch. It wasn’t until he stumbled upon a message—an obscure broadcast on one of his late-night dives through the depths of the internet—that he felt a spark of possibility. The message spoke of a place called the Guardian Galaxy, a city unlike any other, run by the Guard FDN, where the old rules didn’t apply and new opportunities awaited.
Intrigued, Cosmo started to dig deeper. He found more messages, more whispers about this mysterious place. They came from various channels:
Douglas James, Peter Voogd, Brandon Hofer, Nic Peterson, Evan Kirsch, Avanti3, Penguin Posse Club and the Guardian Foundation itself.
Each one spoke of a new beginning, a chance to rewrite the rules and take control of one’s own destiny.
Cosmo was hooked. The more he read, the more he felt this was where he was meant to be. The Guardian Galaxy was a city run on its own currency, $GUARD tokens, a place governed by the community through a system called a DAO—a Decentralized Autonomous Organization. Here, power wasn’t concentrated in the hands of a few; it was distributed among those who held the tokens, those who believed in the city’s potential.
Cosmo didn’t fully understand all the details yet, but he knew one thing: he wanted in.
The decision wasn’t easy. The Fiat World was safe, predictable, and controlled by the FIAT Sentinels—guardians of the old system who maintained order and mitigated risks. In the Fiat World, the path was clear: work hard, play by the rules, and maybe, just maybe, you’d make it. But to Cosmo, that path seemed more like a trap, a never-ending cycle that offered little in the way of real freedom or opportunity.
He knew there would be risks in leaving. The Fiat Sentinels didn’t like it when people left their world. They had created a system that worked for most, and those who strayed often found themselves facing consequences. But Cosmo was willing to take that chance. He had read enough to know that the Guardian Galaxy wasn’t just a city; it was a chance to start anew, to build something that was his own.
The day of his departure arrived. Cosmo had packed a small rucksack weeks ago, filled with everything he thought he might need: a few changes of clothes, some food, his favorite books, and, most importantly, his ticket—a one-way ticket to the Guardian Galaxy. He had bought it with the little savings he had, trading in what little he had in the Fiat World for a handful of $GUARD tokens.
He made his way through the crowded streets of his neighbourhood, head down, avoiding eye contact. He couldn’t afford to draw attention to himself. The Sentinels were always watching, always looking for signs of dissent or deviation. He could feel their eyes on him, the weight of their gaze heavy on his shoulders.
As he approached the launch site, his heart began to race. There it was: the rocket ship that would take him and 25 others to the Guardian Galaxy. Its engines were already rumbling, the promise of a new world vibrating through the air.
But just as he reached the entrance, he saw them—the FIAT Sentinels. They were watching him, their expressions unreadable behind their dark visors. Cosmo’s heart pounded in his chest. He knew they didn’t want him to go. They believed in their world, in their rules, and they weren’t going to let him leave without a fight.
He quickened his pace, clutching his ticket in his paw. He wasn’t going to let them stop him, not now, not when he was so close. He had made his choice, and he was determined to see it through.
Just as he reached the rocket, one of the Sentinels stepped forward, blocking his path. “Are you sure about this, Cosmo?” the Sentinel asked, his voice cold and mechanical. “The Guardian Galaxy is not like the Fiat World. There are no safety nets there. No one to catch you if you fall.”
Cosmo met the Sentinel’s gaze, his determination hardening. “I’m sure,” he said firmly. “I’d rather take my chances there than stay here and never know what I could have been.”
The Sentinel hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside. “Very well,” he said. “Good luck, Cosmo. You’ll need it.”
Cosmo nodded and quickly boarded the rocket. Inside, he found his seat and sat down, his heart still racing. He looked around at the others who had made the same choice as him—25 souls ready to leave the old world behind and take their chances in the Guardian Galaxy.
To his left, a large, muscular hippo was adjusting his seatbelt. His face was calm, almost serene, as if he had done this a hundred times before. Cosmo couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence.
To his right, a red panda and a hyena were whispering to each other, casting furtive glances around the cabin. They had a sly look in their eyes, and Cosmo couldn’t shake the feeling that they were up to something.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as the countdown began. His mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead—the opportunities, the risks, the unknown. But beneath it all, there was a sense of excitement, a thrill he had never felt before. This was his chance to start anew, to take control of his own destiny.
The engines roared to life, and the rocket shook as it prepared for takeoff. Cosmo gripped the armrests, his heart pounding with anticipation. He didn’t know what awaited him in the Guardian Galaxy, but he knew one thing: he was ready.
As the rocket lifted off, leaving the Fiat World behind, Cosmo felt a sense of freedom wash over him. He was finally on his way to something new, something different. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in his life, that uncertainty felt like an opportunity.
He opened his eyes and looked out the window as the rocket soared into the sky, the Fiat World growing smaller and smaller below. Ahead lay the Guardian Galaxy—a world of new possibilities, new challenges, and a chance to build a future that was truly his own.
And for the first time in a long time, Cosmo felt hope.
