As Sarah approached her room, she found Inspector Vega waiting outside her door. "Teacher!" Sarah quickened her pace, her demeanor instantly shifting to that of an eager student. Vega's eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem in high spirits. Something good happen?" Sarah's mind raced, weighing the risks of honesty against the need for secrecy. "Just... grateful for the opportunity to learn, that's all." Vega nodded, seemingly satisfied. "I've been examining some of your recent work. There are some... unusual aspects I'd like to discuss." Sarah's heart skipped a beat. Had she made a mistake? "Unusual how?" Vega ushered Sarah into her own quarters, a spacious room filled with high-end nanoengineering equipment. Sarah's eyes lingered on the bookshelf, filled with advanced nanotech texts she was dying to read. "Your approach to nanoengineering is unlike anything I've seen before," Vega began, her tone a mixture of curiosity and concern. "I'd like you to explain some of your methods to me." Sarah took a deep breath. This was a pivotal moment. She could feel Vega's curiosity and suspicion warring with each other. "In the Black Port," Sarah began carefully, "resources are scarce. We often had to improvise with what we had." She pulled out a vial containing a shimmering, almost liquid-like substance. Tiny motes of light seemed to dance within it. "This, for example, is a special substance I developed. I call it Quantum Essence, or QE for short. It allows for unprecedented energy manipulation in nanochips." Vega's eyes widened, a mix of fascination and concern crossing her face. "Quantum Essence? I've never heard of anything like this. How does it work?" Sarah hesitated for a moment, then decided to reveal a bit more. "It's... difficult to explain. It's not exactly an energy source, nor is it purely a conductor. It's more like a bridge between energy and matter, allowing for more efficient and powerful nanotech applications." Vega leaned in closer, examining the vial with intense interest. "This is... remarkable. And potentially very dangerous. Where did you learn about this?" Sarah's heart raced. She knew she was treading on thin ice. "It's something I discovered through experimentation in the Black Port. The harsh conditions there... they force you to think outside the box." Vega's expression was unreadable. "I see. We'll definitely need to discuss this further. For now, show me how you've been using this Quantum Essence in your work." As the night wore on, Sarah demonstrated several of her unique techniques involving QE, carefully omitting any mention of her otherworldly origin. She showed Vega how she used QE to create self-powered nanochips, enhance energy efficiency, and even manipulate nanostructures in ways previously thought impossible. Vega listened intently, her expression shifting from skepticism to intrigue, and finally to a grudging respect. She asked probing questions, challenging Sarah's methods and theories, but with each answer, her amazement seemed to grow. "Your methods are unorthodox, to say the least," Vega said finally. "But the results... they're impressive. This Quantum Essence... it could revolutionize nanoengineering as we know it." Sarah felt a mixture of pride and anxiety. She'd impressed Vega, but she'd also revealed the depth of her unconventional knowledge. As Vega continued to pepper her with questions about QE and her techniques, Sarah knew she was walking a tightrope between opportunity and danger. The game had changed once again, and Sarah found herself at the forefront of a potential nanotech revolution. But with innovation came risk, and she knew that eyes would soon be on her from all corners of Nova Scrapyard. As they concluded their discussion for the night, Vega's expression turned serious. "Sarah, what you've shown me tonight... it's extraordinary. But it also raises many questions. I think it's time we had a more in-depth conversation about your background and how you came to develop this Quantum Essence."