The chill of the Rust Quarter felt sharper that day as Alex made his way through the narrow, snow-packed streets, his breath visible in the cold air. His eyes scanned the shops, makeshift stalls, and alleyways as he moved deeper into the heart of the settlement. He had one goal in mind today: to find something valuable for the AI to scan—anything that could give him more information about this world, its forgotten technologies, or even the power of energy manipulation.
Elara had left early that morning to handle another small job, leaving Alex free to explore on his own. She hadn't asked many questions, but he could tell she was still wary of his growing curiosity about energy manipulation. That was fine. He needed answers, and the Rust Quarter was filled with broken relics and lost knowledge—if he could find the right piece of old-world tech, maybe the AI could unlock something useful.
As he entered the market, the noise hit him like a wave. The sound of haggling voices, the clanging of metal on metal, and the constant hum of activity surrounded him. The market was bustling, people moving quickly between stalls, eager to trade whatever they had for scraps of food, tools, or firewood. Most of the items on display were mundane—rusted gears, broken pipes, and bits of machinery that no one had any use for anymore. But somewhere among the junk, Alex hoped to find something more.
Keep an eye out for anything unusual, Alex thought to the AI, his eyes scanning the items on display.
"Scanning for relevant objects," the AI replied. "Analyzing market environment."
He moved from stall to stall, careful not to look too interested in any one thing. The vendors were sharp-eyed and quick to overcharge anyone who seemed desperate. Alex had learned early on that it was better to act indifferent, even when you found something valuable. He stopped in front of a stall piled high with rusted machinery and broken electronics, his gaze drifting over the items.
There were old, cracked screens, disconnected wires, and gears of all shapes and sizes scattered across the vendor's table. One item, in particular, caught his eye—a small, metallic cube with faint etchings on its surface. The lines were almost too worn to make out, but something about it seemed different from the other junk.
Alex reached out, lifting the cube from the pile. It was surprisingly light, the metal cool to the touch. The etchings didn't look familiar, but they reminded him of something—an old-world design, maybe.
What is this? Alex thought, holding it up slightly for the AI to scan.
"Unknown device detected," the AI responded. "Conducting surface-level analysis."
A faint hum filled his ears as the AI worked, scanning the cube's structure and attempting to extract any usable information from it. Alex waited, his heart pounding in anticipation.
"Object is a fragmented piece of an old-world interface," the AI continued. "Possible data storage unit, though incomplete. Functionality unknown."
Alex's excitement faded slightly. A data storage unit wasn't the breakthrough he had hoped for, but it was still something—old-world tech, even fragmented, could hold valuable information if used correctly. He set the cube back down and moved on, determined to keep searching.
The next stall was run by a gaunt man with a sharp, suspicious look in his eyes. His table was filled with broken weapons—old rifles with missing parts, knives with rusted blades, and other makeshift tools that looked barely functional. Alex's fingers hovered over a small, hand-held device that looked like it might have once been used for communication.
Maybe something useful? Alex wondered, picking it up.
"Scanning," the AI replied.
The scan was brief this time, and the AI's response was immediate. "Object is a non-functional communication device. All core components missing. No further analysis required."
Figures, Alex thought with a sigh, placing the device back down. He was starting to wonder if today's search would turn up anything of real value.
As he continued moving through the market, he stopped at a stall filled with assorted tools and mechanical parts. The vendor, a hunched man with a greasy beard, was busy haggling with another customer, so Alex took the opportunity to examine the items without being noticed.
On the table were various small gadgets—worn but intact. One in particular caught Alex's eye: a circular device no bigger than his palm, made of polished metal with a few small lights embedded on its surface. It didn't look like anything Alex had seen before. He picked it up, feeling the smooth metal under his fingers.
Could this be something useful? Alex asked the AI, holding it closer.
"Unknown device detected," the AI said, more interested this time. "Further analysis required."
The hum returned, stronger this time, and Alex felt a faint warmth radiate from the device as the AI worked to process its data. After a few moments, the AI spoke again.
"Device appears to be an old-world portable power generator. Minor functionality detected. Energy output minimal."
Alex's heart skipped a beat. A portable power generator? Even with minimal output, something like this could be valuable in the Rust Quarter. Power was scarce, and even a small device like this might be worth trading for food or other supplies. He turned the device over in his hand, considering it carefully.
Before he could make a decision, the vendor noticed Alex handling the device and quickly approached. His eyes gleamed with the same opportunistic greed that most vendors had when they sensed a customer might be interested.
"Ah, you've got a good eye there," the vendor said, his voice slick with charm. "That's a rare piece. Old-world, you know. Hard to find anything like it these days."
Alex frowned, keeping his expression neutral. "Does it even work?"
The vendor shrugged, clearly trying to keep the mystery alive. "Hard to say. Could be worth a lot to the right buyer, though. I'd let it go for... say, five food rations."
Alex raised an eyebrow. Five food rations was an outrageous price for something that only had "minor functionality," but he didn't show his hand. Instead, he set the device back on the table and gave a casual shrug.
"Doesn't seem worth that much for something that barely works," Alex said, trying to sound disinterested.
The vendor's smile faltered, but only for a moment. "Three rations, then. Final offer."
Alex hesitated, knowing he didn't have enough to cover the cost, but also feeling that walking away now would mean missing out on a potential asset. He decided to test the vendor's resolve.
"One ration," Alex countered, crossing his arms. "That's all it's worth with no guarantee it'll work."
The vendor scowled, his greed clashing with his desire to make a sale. After a long pause, he finally sighed. "Two rations. That's the lowest I can go."
Alex considered it for a moment. Two rations was still a steep price for something with only minor functionality, but the AI had recognized it as an energy source—something that could be useful in the future.
"Deal," Alex said, handing over two of his precious food rations.
The vendor grinned, pocketing the rations quickly before Alex could change his mind. Alex tucked the power generator into his coat and stepped away from the stall, his thoughts racing. It wasn't a major find, but it was something—and in a place like the Rust Quarter, even the smallest advantage could make a difference.
As he made his way toward the edge of the market, Alex's mind drifted back to Darius and the power he had seen him wield. If he could learn to control energy manipulation, even at a basic level, then maybe devices like this generator would be the key to unlocking more of the old-world's secrets.
Keep this stored in memory, Alex thought to the AI. We'll figure out how to use it later.
"Data logged," the AI confirmed.
Alex felt a flicker of hope as he left the market behind. The Rust Quarter might be filled with broken relics and forgotten technologies, but somewhere, hidden beneath the rubble, were the answers he was looking for.