The cold wind of the Rust Quarter whipped through the broken streets as Alex, Elara, Serena, and Nia made their way back to the makeshift shelter they now shared. The day's scavenging had been fruitless, and Alex still felt the drain of energy from his failed attempt to repair the power regulator back at the factory. His body ached with fatigue, a sharp reminder of the limits he had encountered.
But his mind was alive with possibilities. The repair technique had worked—albeit on a small scale—and the AI's ability to scan and generate blueprints had given him a serious edge. The key now was to find ways to increase his energy reserves and gather the materials needed to make larger repairs. Without them, his newfound abilities were just parlor tricks.
As they neared their shelter, the familiar sight of the crumbling walls and patched-up roof brought a sense of relief. It wasn't much, but it was home—for now. The day was growing late, and the sky had taken on the dull, heavy gray of an approaching snowstorm.
Serena was the first to speak as they approached the door. "This isn't sustainable. We didn't find nearly enough today, and the weather's getting worse. We'll need a better plan if we're going to make it through this winter."
Elara nodded in agreement, her expression as hard as the biting wind. "We're running out of good spots to scavenge. Every time we go out, it's more dangerous, and we're finding less and less."
Alex remained quiet, his mind still processing the lessons from earlier. He needed to think carefully about his next move. The techniques he had learned could help, but without the proper resources, they wouldn't be enough to turn things around. He had to find a way to use what he knew to benefit the group—and soon.
Once inside, the group settled down around the small fire Elara had built in the corner of the room. The flickering flames provided a small, fragile warmth against the cold that pressed in from all sides. Serena handed out what little food they had left—small pieces of bread and dried meat, not enough to satisfy anyone but just enough to keep them going.
As they ate in silence, Alex felt the weight of expectation from the others. They were looking to Elara for leadership, but he could sense that Serena and Nia were counting on him too, especially after the offer he'd made to work together. If he didn't step up, the burden on Elara would only grow heavier. And with the winter deepening, that could lead to mistakes—mistakes they couldn't afford.
Elara glanced at Alex, her sharp eyes catching his. "You've been quiet," she said, her tone neutral but probing. "Something on your mind?"
Alex shifted slightly, feeling the fire's warmth on his face. He had been weighing whether or not to tell the others about the abilities he had gained from the holo-display. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but he knew that once the secret was out, everything would change. They'd expect him to perform miracles, to fix things that were beyond repair. But he couldn't do that—not yet.
Still, there was no point in hiding everything. He had to give them something.
"I've been thinking about how we can improve our scavenging runs," Alex began, choosing his words carefully. "We keep running into the same problem—most of the machines and tech we find are broken beyond repair. But what if we could fix some of them? What if we could make the devices we find usable again?"
Elara frowned, her brows knitting together. "That's a nice thought, but we don't have the tools or the parts to repair most of the tech we find. Even if we did, who around here knows how to fix that kind of stuff?"
Alex hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I've been… learning a few things about how old-world devices work. There's a way to repair some of the tech we find, but it's going to take time—and we'll need materials to make it work."
Serena, who had been listening quietly, looked at Alex with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "You know how to fix old-world machines? How?"
Alex glanced at Elara, who was watching him closely. He couldn't explain the AI, at least not yet, but he could give them part of the truth. "Let's just say I've picked up some knowledge. I don't have all the answers, but I've learned a few techniques that could help us salvage more from the ruins. If we find the right materials and devices, I think I can make repairs."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "How exactly are you planning to do that? We barely have enough energy to keep ourselves alive, let alone fix ancient tech."
Alex took a deep breath. He had to be careful not to promise too much, but he also needed to give them hope. "There are techniques—energy techniques—that allow me to repair devices. But the catch is that I need to understand how the device works, and I need materials. I can't just fix something by throwing energy at it. It's more complicated than that."
Serena tilted her head slightly, considering his words. "So, what you're saying is, if we find the right materials, you can repair broken tech? And if we can repair some of the old-world machines… that could give us a huge advantage."
Alex nodded. "Exactly. But it's not that simple. The more damage a device has, the more energy it takes to repair. If I don't have the materials to replace the broken parts, the energy demand becomes too high, and I can't sustain it. The more I understand about the device, the easier the repair process is. I can handle small repairs now, but for larger ones, we'll need to find parts and energy sources."
Elara crossed her arms, her gaze hard as she processed his explanation. "So, if we go out and find broken machines, you could fix them, but only if we bring back the right materials? And if you don't understand how the device works, it's useless?"
Alex nodded again. "That's right. But I've got a way to understand devices better than most people. If we find something with potential, I can scan it and figure out how it works. That cuts the energy demand in half, but we still need the right parts."
There was a long pause as everyone considered what Alex had said. The fire crackled softly in the background, its light flickering across their faces. Finally, Elara sighed and sat back, rubbing her temples.
"We don't have much choice," she said. "If this works, it could change everything. But if it doesn't… we're wasting time and energy. We'll need to be smart about how we use this."
Serena leaned forward, her eyes thoughtful. "It's a risk, but it could be worth it. If we can get even one machine working—something that generates power or purifies water—it could make all the difference."
Nia, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, her voice filled with cautious hope. "We could find materials in the ruins, right? There's still a lot we haven't explored."
Alex nodded, feeling a spark of determination flare inside him. "Exactly. If we focus on finding the right parts and devices, we can make this work. It'll take time, but we can do it."
Elara gave him a hard look. "Alright, Alex. We'll give this a try. But don't get your hopes up too high. The Rust Quarter has a way of crushing even the best plans."
Alex smiled faintly. "I know. But this time, we have a real chance."
As the group settled into an uneasy silence, Alex's mind buzzed with plans. Tomorrow, they would return to the ruins with a new goal: to find not just scraps, but materials and devices that he could work with. The techniques he had learned were only the beginning. With time and practice, he could become a force in the Rust Quarter, someone who could repair the broken world around them.
But the road ahead was still uncertain, and Alex knew that mastering these abilities—and using them to survive—would come at a cost.