The Shatterzone never truly shut its eyes, but in the early hours, it almost felt like it might. The Bazaar, usually a teeming mess of bodies and noise, was quieter, well, quiet when considering the Shatterzone. Neon signs still buzzed, but they seemed tired, their glow more subdued. Jarek wove through the back alleys, his hood pulled low and the shard wrapped tight in a scrap of fabric tucked into his jacket. Tek's words rattled in his head, sticking like burrs. "Unprecedented potential. People watching."
Except it wasn't just people watching, was it? No, the shard was watching, too. Jarek could swear he felt it, thrumming faintly like a second heartbeat right against his chest. He'd laugh it off if it weren't so unnerving.
Ahead, the Bazaar opened like a wound, all rusted steel and flickering lights. The Bazaar stretched on endlessly, it could be described merely as a chaotic market where desperation met innovation, with a good dose of illegal activities thrown into the mix. Vendors peddled their goods in hushed tones, half out of habit, half out of fear and caution. Their eyes darted nervously to the alleyways covered hidden in the shadows, where enforcers from the Upper city or worse hardened criminals could be lurking. Jarek kept his head low, avoiding more than a glance at anyone. He wasn't there to window shop.
At the far edge of the Bazaar was his target, a decrepit building camouflaged by graffiti. It looked like it had been abandoned decades ago, which, honestly, might be the case. No sign, no markings. Just a door, scuffed and dented like someone had kicked it one too many times.
Jarek knocked on the door, two quick taps, a pause, then three more but slower. The panel slid open, revealing a narrow slit and a sharp pair of eyes.
"You've got five seconds to explain yourself," the woman on the other side of the door spat out, her tone as chilly as an ice storm.
"I came looking for answers," Jarek replied flatly."Big ones" he added.
Her gaze narrowed, suspicion clearly evident in her eyes. "Big enough to drag you back here, huh? Must be good." she said while opening the door.
The door creaked open, and Rhea Saren stepped aside, waving him into the workshop like she was doing him a favor. The place was a cluttered mess, tools, bits of tech, and datapads covered every available surface. "Hmm it's pretty similar to Tek's shop" Jarek thought to himself. The air was thick with the smell of burnt circuits and something metallic.
"So...," Rhea trailed, leaning casually against a workbench, her arms crossed. "What's the deal this time, Jarek? You only show your face around here when your back is against the wall."
Without a word, Jarek pulled the shard from his jacket, unwrapping it with care. The room changed instantly as its light spilled out, soft, shifting patterns dancing across the walls like living shadows.
Rhea's usual skepticism melted into something closer to awe. "What the actual hell is that?"
"That's what I was hoping you could tell me," Jarek said, setting it on the bench.
Rhea didn't touch it right away. She wasn't stupid. Instead, she grabbed a handheld scanner from a nearby shelf, her movements precise and deliberate. She passed the scanner over the shard, her brows furrowing as streams of data scrolled across the screen.
"This... isn't dream-tech," she murmured, half to herself. "The energy signature is... off. Way off. It doesn't match anything I've seen. Where did you even find this?"
Jarek hesitated, just for a beat. "Corporate lab. Tek set up the job."
Rhea snorted, rolling her eyes. "Of course he did. And you just decided to hold onto it? Real clever, Vayne."
"It's not like I had a choice," Jarek shot back. "This thing... it's doing something to me. I'm pretty sure it pulled me into the Hollow Realm."
Rhea's head snapped up at that. "You're joking."
"Wish I was," Jarek said, his voice dead serious. "I've been there. Twice. It wasn't a dream. There were... things. And people. They said the shard was alive. And that it wanted something."
For a moment, Rhea just stared at him. Then, cautiously, she reached out, her fingers brushing the shard's surface. The glow flared, bright and sharp, and she yanked her hand back with a hiss.
"It's resonating," she whispered, her tone almost reverent.
"Okay, but what does that mean?" Jarek demanded, his patience thinning.
"It's bonded," Rhea said, her voice steady but grim. "This thing's tied to you now. It's not just some fancy tech. It's... alive, in its own way. And it's not letting go."
"Fantastic," Jarek muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. "So, what? I'm stuck with it forever?"
"Pretty much," Rhea said with a shrug, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "But before you start panicking, or doing something stupid, tell me everything. What exactly happened in the Hollow Realm? What did they say? Every detail, no matter how small."
Jarek hesitated again, instinct screaming at him to keep his cards close. But Rhea's sharp eyes weren't letting him off the hook.
"There were people in armor," he began slowly. "Their eyes glowed, like the shard. One of them said the shard was only the start. That it would demand... something. A cost. Then the whole place just shattered around me."
Rhea nodded, her expression unreadable. "If the Cabal catches wind of this, they'll come after you with everything they've got," she said finally. "You think you're ready for that?"
"Let them come," Jarek growled.
Rhea shook her head, unimpressed. "You're tough, Vayne, but you're not a one-man army. If you're serious about keeping this thing, and staying alive, you're going to need help."
"I don't need help," Jarek snapped.
"Yeah, you do," Rhea shot back, her voice cutting. "Because if you mess this up, you won't just get yourself killed. You'll drag the whole Shatterzone down with you."
Jarek didn't respond. He couldn't. His eyes were locked on the shard, its faint, rhythmic glow almost mocking him. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't just a burden.
It was a promise. Or maybe a curse. Either way, there was no walking away now.