The cold air of the Rust Quarter stung Alex's face as he and Elara trudged back from another long, fruitless scavenging run. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting a dim, grayish light across the crumbling buildings. They had searched for hours, picking through the remains of old structures and forgotten ruins, but aside from a few minor scraps they could trade, there had been little of value.
Elara's silence said everything. She was used to this—long days of scavenging with little to show for it—but Alex could tell the lack of progress was weighing on her. He wanted to say something encouraging, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on the small, metal device tucked safely inside his coat.
The portable power generator.
Alex had been thinking about it ever since he'd bought it from the market, wondering what kind of energy it could produce and how it might be useful. It wasn't the breakthrough he had hoped for, but any piece of old-world technology still holding a charge could be valuable.
Elara shot him a glance as they reached their small, makeshift shelter—a crumbling room that had once been part of a larger building. She seemed to notice the way Alex's hands were clenched inside his coat pockets, his mind clearly somewhere else.
"What's got you so distracted?" Elara asked, dropping her scavenged items onto the small table. "You've been quiet since we left the ruins."
Alex hesitated for a moment but then pulled the small generator from his coat, holding it up for her to see. "I picked this up at the market earlier. Thought it might be useful."
Elara raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting from curiosity to mild skepticism. She crossed the room and took the device from his hand, turning it over as she inspected it. "What is it? Some kind of old-world tech?"
"Yeah, some kind of power generator," Alex explained, trying to keep his tone casual. "The guy I got it from didn't seem to know much about it, but I figured it might still work."
Elara gave a short laugh, though it lacked humor. "You're always chasing after these old-world relics, hoping they'll change something."
Alex didn't respond but kept his focus on the device. He wasn't chasing relics for nostalgia's sake—he was chasing power. There had to be something useful hidden in the scraps and ruins of the old world, something that could give him an edge. This generator was a step in that direction.
"Well, let's see if it's worth the rations you traded for it," Elara said, tossing the device back to him. "If it blows up, at least I'll have something to laugh about."
Alex smirked and sat down on the floor near the small fire they had started, warming his hands for a moment before pulling the device out again. The generator was small, compact enough to fit in his hand, and had a sleek metallic surface with a few dimly glowing lights embedded around its circumference. He turned it over, trying to figure out how to activate it without arousing suspicion from Elara.
Help me figure this out, Alex thought, focusing his attention inward.
"Analyzing device functionality," the AI responded, its mechanical voice echoing in Alex's mind, hidden from the world around him. "Activating manual interface."
A soft hum filled the air as the AI worked, causing the lights on the surface of the generator to flicker more brightly. Alex felt a slight warmth radiating from the device as it powered on, the energy inside it stirring to life.
What kind of output are we dealing with? Alex wondered, careful not to let any signs of communication show on his face.
"Low-voltage energy detected," the AI replied. "Device is capable of generating minimal power. Estimated charge: 12%. Suitable for basic electronics or small systems."
Alex's heart quickened. It wasn't much, but it was something—a functioning power source, even if it was limited. He leaned closer, watching the lights pulse gently. The soft glow illuminated the small room, casting strange shadows on the cracked walls.
Elara, leaning against the wall, watched with mild interest. "Okay, so it turns on. What's the plan now?"
Alex shrugged, keeping his tone neutral. "Figured we might be able to power something small. Maybe one of the old comm units we've scavenged."
Elara raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "I guess it's better than nothing. Let's see what you've got."
Alex scanned the room, looking for something that might still function. There, on a shelf near the corner, was a comm unit they had found months ago. It had been cracked and broken, with no way to power it—until now. He grabbed it and brought it back to the small fire, carefully plugging it into the generator.
The comm unit flickered to life, its screen fractured but glowing. Lines of static appeared, followed by flashes of garbled text. The device was old and damaged, but it was working—barely.
Both Alex and Elara leaned closer, watching as the unit struggled to process the input. The faint hum of the power generator filled the room, its glow casting an eerie light across the comm unit's broken display.
"Guess you're lucky this time," Elara muttered, though there was a hint of approval in her voice. "I thought that thing was dead."
Alex's mind was racing. The AI had been right about the generator's functionality, but what excited him more was the potential hidden inside the comm unit. The fractured screen showed only bits of data—nothing that made sense yet—but there could be something more if he could get a stronger power source or fix the signal.
Any chance of pulling data from this? Alex asked the AI, careful to mask his concentration from Elara.
"Device memory fragmented," the AI replied. "Weak signal detected. Data retrieval possible with enhanced power or signal amplification. Further exploration required."
Elara stood up, stretching her arms as she walked toward the small fire. "I guess it was worth those rations after all."
Alex nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. This wasn't a major breakthrough, but it was a start. If the comm unit could be restored, if they could pull data from it, maybe it held more than just forgotten messages. Old-world tech often carried knowledge, and knowledge was power.
As Elara settled back down, seemingly content with their small victory, Alex leaned back and stared at the faintly glowing screen. The AI had helped him understand the generator's limits, but he knew there was more out there—more hidden in the ruins, more waiting to be uncovered.
Store this data, Alex thought to the AI, his mind buzzing with potential plans. We're going to need every scrap of information we can get.
"Data logged," the AI confirmed.
Alex glanced at Elara, who was already pulling her blanket tighter around herself, preparing for sleep. She didn't know about the AI, and as much as he trusted her, he wasn't ready to share that secret. The AI was his advantage, a tool that could help him navigate this broken world. And for now, it was best to keep it hidden.
As he lay down, pulling his own blanket over him, Alex's thoughts were filled with possibilities. The Rust Quarter was full of old-world tech, and he was determined to find the key to unlocking it. This small generator was just the beginning.