Inside the old Arkbound bunker, the air buzzed with energy and pressure. Towering over everyone, the skeletal form of the first Arkbound starship was taking shape—eight stories tall, five wide, with three massive Aetheric Resonance Reactors being mounted into place by six NEAR-class bots.
Sparks flew. Consoles beeped. Something was off.
Raen (studying the system): "Power draw is bleeding past limits. That second reactor's phasing is off."
Korin (frustrated): "We recompiled the resonance sync logic twice. It should've worked."
Lira (checking her pad): "Unless there's a systemic misalignment we're not accounting for…"
Raen narrowed his eyes, then muttered:
Raen: "Kael's new recruit… the one Nyra brought in. Call him. Let's see what he's made of."
At the New Sector:
Kael stood outside the nearly completed Arkbound HQ, checking automated progress reports, when he received the call. Nearby, the new space engineer/researcher—whom Nyra had introduced a few days ago—was examining preliminary topography scans.
Kael: "We've got a real problem at the starship yard. Reactor sync issue. Raen wants fresh eyes."
The engineer didn't hesitate. His calm demeanor betrayed only a flicker of excitement.
Engineer: "Finally. A real challenge."
Back at the Lab Bunker:
Escorted by a NEAR unit, the engineer arrived at the old Arkbound site. The moment he stepped into the cavernous lab, his gaze locked on the towering prototype starship. He froze in place, mouth slightly parted.
Eight stories tall. Gleaming alloy ribs. The future, right in front of him.
Engineer (softly): "Incredible…"
Raen, standing near the calibration terminal with Korin and Lira, turned when he heard footsteps.
Raen: "Glad you made it."
Engineer (focused): "Show me the issue."
Raen moved aside. No need for small talk.
The engineer dove into the data. After a few moments:
Engineer: "Your triple-reactor phase sync is too tight. You're treating them like linear drives, but Aetheric Reactors produce pulse harmonics. You need them staggered—like engines firing in sequence."
Lira (blinking): "That's exactly it."
He quickly adjusted the timing matrices. The warning signals vanished from the screen.
Korin: "I'll be damned."
Raen stepped forward, this time with a slight nod of recognition.
Raen: "I never got your full name, back when Nyra introduced you."
Engineer: "Elios Tren. Researcher. Engineer. Stargazer."
Raen gave a short, impressed smile.
Raen: "Well, Elios. After what you just did—you're officially Arkbound. Welcome to the future."
Elios looked up again at the colossal frame of the ship. His eyes gleamed.
Elios: "If this is what you're building… then I'm staying. Until the end. I don't care if it takes decades. I want to see this ship fly."
Raen looked at Korin and Lira, who both gave subtle nods.
Raen: "Then let's make it fly."