The idea had been gnawing at Alex for days. He needed more power—more than what his small, portable generator could provide. The comm unit had given him a glimpse of something big, but the signal was too weak, the data too fragmented. If he could just find a real power source, he might be able to unlock the secrets buried in the old-world logs.
He knew where that power could be found.
In the heart of the Rust Quarter, hidden from the public eye, was a power generation plant—reserved exclusively for the wealthy and the elite. Alex had overheard rumors about it for months. The people who lived behind those high walls, in the inner districts of the Quarter, had access to luxuries the rest of the Quarter could only dream of: reliable energy, warmth, and functioning technology. They guarded it fiercely, but Alex had a plan.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the streets of the Quarter fell into their usual nightly chaos, Alex set out. He moved carefully, sticking to the shadows, his coat pulled tight around him to ward off the biting cold. His heart raced as he made his way toward the outskirts of the wealthy district. The Rust Quarter might have been a place of ruin and decay, but there were pockets of wealth where the elite clung to the remnants of old-world power.
The plant was hidden behind high metal walls, topped with jagged scraps of metal and barbed wire. There were no obvious guards, but Alex knew better than to assume it was unprotected. He had watched the area for days, noting the subtle movements of patrols and the times when the entrances were less secure. Now, under the cover of darkness, he planned to slip inside.
Is this even possible? Alex wondered, trying to ignore the nervousness building in his chest. Can I really get in without being caught?
"Low likelihood of detection if movements remain silent," the AI responded, its voice calm in his mind. "Patrols observed every 30 minutes. Next pass due in seven minutes."
Alex nodded, taking a deep breath. He had to trust the AI's calculations—if he moved carefully and quickly, he could make it inside without drawing attention.
He crept toward the outer wall, his footsteps barely audible against the frozen ground. The cold air bit at his face, but he ignored it, his focus entirely on the task ahead. The faint hum of the plant's machinery echoed through the air, a constant reminder that just beyond those walls was the power he needed.
Alex had found a weak point in the wall earlier, a section where the metal had rusted and bent slightly, leaving just enough space for someone small to squeeze through. He crouched down and slid through the gap, holding his breath as he moved.
On the other side, the plant loomed before him, its tall metal towers reaching into the sky, faintly illuminated by the dull glow of the surrounding lights. The area was eerily quiet, the hum of energy filling the air, but no voices or footsteps broke the silence. It was as if the plant existed in its own world, separate from the chaos of the Rust Quarter.
Alex moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as he approached the nearest building. It was large and industrial, made of reinforced metal with thick pipes running along the sides. He could feel the power pulsing through the plant, a hum that reverberated through the ground beneath his feet. Somewhere inside, there had to be a power outlet or some way to tap into the energy running through this place.
Where should I go? Alex thought to the AI, scanning the area for any sign of an entry point.
"Main power conduit detected within the central building," the AI replied. "Small maintenance access located at rear. Minimal security."
Alex nodded, making his way toward the back of the building. His heart was pounding now, but his steps remained light. The maintenance door was as the AI had said—small, unguarded, and partially rusted at the hinges. He crouched down, inspecting the lock. It was old, mechanical—nothing too advanced. Alex fumbled with a few of the tools he had scavenged, working quickly to unlock it.
The door gave way with a faint creak, and Alex slipped inside. The air was warmer here, filled with the scent of metal and oil. The inside of the plant was dimly lit, the walls lined with cables and control panels. The hum of energy was stronger now, vibrating through the floor and into Alex's bones.
He moved cautiously through the narrow hallway, searching for the power conduit the AI had mentioned. It didn't take long to find it. At the end of the hall was a large junction box, its surface covered in old-world symbols and indicators. A series of thick cables extended from the box, disappearing into the walls and running through the plant.
This is it, Alex thought, his pulse quickening. This is the power I need.
He pulled the comm unit from his coat, his hands trembling slightly as he connected it to the junction box. The small screen flickered to life again, but this time, the signal was stronger, clearer. Lines of text began to appear, but they were still garbled—too fragmented to make sense.
I need more power, Alex thought frantically. He stared at the cables running into the junction box, an idea forming. If he could find a way to access more of the power running through the plant without overloading the comm unit, it could stabilize the signal and give him more of the information he needed.
AI, help me adjust the power flow, Alex thought. I need just enough to boost the signal without frying the unit.
"Analyzing power grid," the AI replied, its voice cool and methodical. "Redirecting flow from adjacent circuits. Limiting energy draw to avoid detection."
Alex watched as the cables around him began to hum with a slight increase in power. The AI was carefully rerouting a portion of the plant's energy into the junction box without alerting the system, feeding just enough power into the comm unit to amplify its signal.
The screen flickered again, and the garbled text stabilized slightly. The lines of static remained, but the words were clearer, more defined.
"Southern access point secure. Energy core transport in progress. Reserves are holding, but failure imminent. Authorization codes required for full access to core. Relay data to remaining personnel."
Alex's eyes widened as he read the message. The energy core again. Whatever had happened before the collapse, this core had been critical. And it was still out there—waiting to be found.
Authorization codes? What does that mean? Alex wondered.
"Authorization codes required for access to protected data," the AI explained. "Core remains a key component of old-world energy reserves. Further data necessary for full understanding."
Alex disconnected the comm unit, his thoughts racing. There was something big here—something that could change everything. The core had been vital to the old-world's energy supply, and if he could find it, he might be able to unlock more than just fragmented messages. It could be the key to real power, something that would allow him to survive in this broken world.
But before he could do anything else, he needed to get out of the plant. Quickly and quietly, he slipped back down the hallway and out the maintenance door, his heart still racing as he squeezed through the gap in the fence and disappeared into the shadows of the Rust Quarter.