SPIKE – "I'm telling you, Borton, there's no way they'd let you take a week off after pulling that stunt in the lab."
BORTON – "Oh, please. It wasn't that bad! Besides, the look on Dr. Fawkes's face was worth every second of suspension."
[The bustling cafeteria buzzed with lively chatter as students from Tevnim University gathered for their usual lunch break. Spike, Borton, Devena, and Gigi sat at their favorite corner table near the large window overlooking the city skyline. The sunlight streaming in painted the metal walls in hues of gold and bronze, casting an almost ethereal glow on their faces.]
[The four friends had known each other for years, bound by shared interests and the unique pressures of being top-tier researchers in their respective fields. For now, they were trying to keep the conversation light, a welcome distraction from the relentless grind of academic life.]
DEVENA – "Well, at least I didn't almost blow up the chemistry lab last semester." She smirked, leaning back in her chair.
GIGI – "If you two keep competing for 'Most Likely to Get Banned from Campus,' they'll name an award after you."
[Laughter erupted at the table as the friends continued teasing each other, oblivious to the change about to shake their world.]
[Half an hour later, they had settled into a comfortable rhythm of half-eaten meals and shared stories when Gigi's phone buzzed insistently. She glanced down and noticed the caller ID: Prof. Naylor – Artifact Research. Her expression shifted to one of concern.]
GIGI – "Hold on, guys. I've got to take this." She stood up and moved away from the table, her voice dropping to a low murmur.
[The conversation between the others faded into the background as Gigi listened intently, nodding occasionally. The call was brief, but by the time she returned to the table, her face was a mixture of excitement and worry.]
GIGI – "Guys, I must head back to the research center. Something's come up." She hesitated. "It's… related to the artifact project."
SPIKE – "What happened?" he asked, brow furrowing in concern.
GIGI – "I'm not sure yet, but it sounds urgent. They found something unexpected—a reaction. I need to see it for myself."
[The table fell silent. This was big news. Gigi had been working on the artifact research project for months, and any development was rare. Curiosity sparked in their eyes, but they knew better than to push for more details. Gigi flashed them a reassuring smile and grabbed her bag.]
GIGI – "I'll text you later and let you know what's up."
[With that, she was gone, leaving the rest of them exchanging glances that hinted at more than just passing interest.]
[Hours later, the research center hummed softly with the sound of machinery whirring to life. Gigi stood before a large metallic wheel, its surface covered in intricate carvings that seemed to shimmer under the artificial lights. This was the artifact—a relic unearthed from beneath the ruins of Tevnim, and the subject of intense scrutiny for nearly a year now.]
[Gigi's hand hovered over it, feeling the faint hum of energy pulsing beneath her fingertips. The artifact had always been dormant, a puzzle that refused to yield its secrets. Until now.]
"Why did you wake up?" she murmured softly, more to herself than to anyone else.
[The rest of the research team had gone home for the night, but she stayed behind. There was something about this moment that felt… different. She couldn't shake the feeling that the artifact was waiting for something—or someone.]
[She pulled out her phone and, without hesitation, dialed the numbers she knew by heart.]
[The clattering of chairs echoed through the empty research center as Spike, Borton, and Devena gathered around Gigi, their expressions ranging from excitement to confusion.]
BORTON – "So, what's this all about? You said the artifact reacted to something?"
GIGI – "Not just 'something.'" She gestured towards the artifact, the towering wheel standing silently in the middle of the room. "It… moved. Just a little, but it was enough to trigger a dozen sensors. I'm trying to figure out what caused it."
DEVENA – "Wait, moved? As in it turned or shifted?" Devena asked, already pulling out her notepad.
GIGI – "Shifted. Like a giant clock hand twitching forward. And it happened exactly at 9:13 PM."
SPIKE – "That's oddly specific." He stepped closer to the artifact, peering at it as if expecting it to suddenly come to life. "Are we sure this isn't a glitch?"
[Gigi shook her head.] "The data's clean. I checked it twice. Whatever happened, it was real."
[The group fell silent, staring at the massive wheel in front of them. The carvings on its surface seemed to pulse with a faint light, almost like it was responding to their presence.]
BORTON – "Well, if it's reacting now, then maybe it's time we give it a proper test." He grinned, his voice tinged with excitement.
GIGI – "You're suggesting we push it further?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
BORTON – "Exactly. Who knows? Maybe it'll finally show us what it's capable of."
[Gigi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.] "Alright. But if we do this, we do it together."