The team had been pushing forward for hours, their senses on high alert as they ventured into the underways. The tunnels seemed to grow narrower, more claustrophobic, and the air was thick with the ever-present chemical stench. Despite their progress, fatigue was setting in, and the team knew they were running out of time.
Their atmofilters were nearing the end of their life span, the indicators on their masks flashing warnings. The oppressive environment and the toxic air had taken their toll, but they couldn’t leave without the final component. The stakes were too high.
Mercer, his instincts finely honed from years of living in dangerous territories, led the way back through a particularly tight passage. His eyes caught a flicker of movement ahead—just a subtle shimmer in the air, like a heat haze. He slowed his pace, signaling for the others to follow quietly.
As they entered the narrow passage, Mercer’s attention was immediately drawn to a strange, pulsing glow in an alcove. The air felt charged, almost alive with energy. He could feel a faint vibration under his feet, and the low hum that filled the chamber was both soothing and unsettling.
"
Hold up," Mercer said, raising a hand to halt Song. "
I think we have found it."
Song joined him, eyes following his gaze to the object at the center of the corridor. There, partially embedded in the floor and surrounded by a tangle of wires and tubes, was a large, hexagonal prism. The device was unlike anything they had seen before—its surface a mix of polished metal and an unknown crystalline substance that seemed to refract light in all directions.
The Neutron Flux Regulator.
Song was already thinking ahead. "
Let’s get it secured and get out of here. Our filters are nearly done, and we can’t risk staying any longer."
Working together, the pair carefully disconnected the wires and tubes that linked the regulator to the surrounding machinery. The device was heavy but manageable, its hexagonal shape making it easier to grip.
With the final part in hand, the team moved and made their way through the tunnel, their pace quickening as the urgency of their situation became clear. The indicators on their masks continued to flash warnings—filters almost depleted, air quality deteriorating. They could feel the effects already: slight dizziness, a creeping sense of exhaustion.
As they navigated the twisting passages, the chemical stench grew stronger, almost as if the underways themselves were trying to hold them back. But the thought of the completed refinery, and the promise it held, drove them forward.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the entrance where they had first descended into the underways. The stale, chemical-laden air was replaced by a rush of slightly fresher air from above. The sight of the surface, though still a bleak, polluted landscape, filled them with relief.
Peter was the last to emerge, helping Lucia before climbing out himself. As they stood on the surface, their atmofilters finally gave out, the masks signaling their end with a soft chime. Peter removed his mask, taking in a deep breath of the surface air—still harsh, but infinitely better than what they had endured below.
"
We did it," Mercer said, his voice tired but triumphant. He looked at the Neutron Flux Regulator, still securely fastened in its harness. "
We’ve got everything we need."
Peter nodded, glancing around at the exhausted faces of his team. "
We’re done here. Let’s get back and send these parts to Talia."
With the mission complete and the four essential components in their possession, the team mounted their hovercycles one last time. The ride back was quiet, each member lost in their thoughts.
A couple of hours later, Mercer and Peter stood before Talia in her brightly lit workshop, the walls lined with tools and half-assembled machinery. Talia looked even more worn out than usual. Her hair was disheveled, and her grease-stained goggles rested atop her head, a permanent fixture of her tireless work.
"
Thank you for completing this mission," Talia began, her voice tinged with both exhaustion and excitement as she adjusted her goggles back over her eyes. "
The ancient refinery unit—capable of producing vast amounts of edible compounds—is almost ready. Now that I have the parts, I can finally get it operational."
Talia approached the workbench where the four crucial components—the Quantum Catalyzer Core, the Plasma Infusion Module, the Nano-Assembler Array, and the Neutron Flux Regulator—were carefully laid out. Her fingers moved with practiced ease as she began integrating the parts into the ancient refinery unit, a massive, complex machine that dominated the center of the room.
Mercer watched as Talia worked, her hands deftly connecting the cables and aligning the ports. "
You’re really going to be able to get this thing running again?"
Talia grinned, a spark of her old energy returning. "
Oh, you better believe it. This refinery was designed to convert raw materials into nutrient-rich food compounds. With the right ingredients, it can produce an endless supply of kibble, enough to feed an entire colony."
Talia tightened the last connection, her movements precise and sure. She stepped back, wiping her hands on a rag, and then moved to the control panel. The machine gave a low rumble as it powered up, the newly installed components glowing faintly as they synchronized with the refinery’s ancient systems.
"
Alright," Talia said, her voice brimming with anticipation. "
Let’s see if this old beauty still has some life left in her."
The room filled with the sound of whirring gears and hissing steam as the refinery unit began its first production cycle. Talia monitored the output closely, her eyes flicking between the gauges and displays, adjusting the settings as needed.
After a tense few minutes, the machine emitted a final, satisfying chime. The process was complete. A compartment on the side of the unit opened, revealing a tray filled with small, uniform pellets—kibble, ready to be consumed.
Talia reached in and grabbed a handful of the freshly produced kibble, holding it up for Mercer and Peter to see. "
The first batch," she said with a smile. "
I will soon have 10 tons, more in the following months. Looks like we have a business."
End of side thread
