Days passed since Elric's heroic repair of the reactor, and the ripples of his actions spread throughout the ship. He now had something he'd never experienced before: respect. Crew members nodded to him in the corridors, and Harris, the chief engineer, even asked for his input during meetings. It was a strange but welcome change.
Still, Elric felt restless. His system had gone quiet since his promotion quest was issued, and he'd begun to crave the challenges it threw his way. That was, until one evening, when the system chimed unexpectedly.
[New Quest Unlocked: 'Reawaken the Lost.']
Objective: Investigate the derelict vessel detected near your current coordinates.
Reward: AI Specialist Recruitment and Core Upgrade.
"A derelict?" Elric muttered, narrowing his eyes. He was in the engine bay, running diagnostics, but his focus was now elsewhere. "How am I supposed to investigate something like that?"
Almost on cue, the ship's intercom buzzed. "All crew, prepare for proximity scan. We've detected an unidentified object drifting in Sector 4-Gamma," the captain announced.
Elric smirked. "Guess I'm about to find out."
Hours later, the Ardent Horizon docked beside the derelict vessel, a sleek but aged corvette-class ship marked with faded insignias of a long-defunct corporation. A boarding team was assembled, and, to Elric's surprise, his name was on the list.
"Vale," Harris barked, tossing him a toolkit. "You're the closest thing we've got to an electrical expert. If there's any tech worth salvaging, you're coming with us."
Elric nodded, keeping his excitement in check. This was it—the system's quest was pushing him forward, and he couldn't afford to let it slip by.
The interior of the derelict was eerily silent, illuminated by the flicker of emergency lights. Elric's pulse quickened as he followed the team through the narrow corridors. The ship's design was sleek and efficient, but it was clearly decades—if not centuries—out of use.
"Split up," Harris ordered. "Search for anything functional."
As the others fanned out, Elric's system chimed again.
[Quest Update: Locate the AI Core.]
He tightened his grip on his toolkit, following a faint hum that seemed to resonate through the walls. After several twists and turns, he arrived at a sealed door marked AI Control Nexus.
"Well, that's convenient," he muttered, kneeling to pry open the panel. With deft hands, he bypassed the outdated locks, and the door slid open with a hiss.
The room beyond was pristine compared to the rest of the ship. At its center stood a large, cylindrical console, its surface covered in glowing glyphs and intricate wiring.
[AI Core Detected. Initiating interface...]
Elric's system sprang to life, flooding his vision with a cascade of symbols and text.
[Do you wish to activate and integrate this AI Core? Integration will bind it to your system. Y/N?]
Elric hesitated for only a moment before whispering, "Yes."
The console hummed louder, and a holographic figure flickered into view. It was humanoid, with sharp, angular features and glowing blue eyes.
"Designation: Sigma," the figure said, its voice smooth and calculating. "AI Specialist for fleet operations and combat logistics. Operational status: dormant. Awaiting activation."
Elric's system chimed again.
[Integration Complete. Sigma has been successfully recruited as your first AI Specialist. Access new functionality via the Crew menu.]
The hologram tilted its head, studying him. "You are my new commander? Scanning... confirmed. Your profile is irregular, but I am bound to assist. What are your orders?"
Elric grinned, trying to suppress the sheer excitement bubbling within him. "For now, let's focus on getting you operational. What else can you do?"
Sigma's eyes glowed brighter. "As an AI Specialist, I can enhance navigation, analyze threats, optimize fleet performance, and provide tactical support. Currently, I am limited by the state of this vessel. Restoration is recommended."
"Figures," Elric muttered, glancing around the room. The derelict might've been advanced once, but centuries of neglect had left it a wreck.
His system chimed again.
[New Quest Unlocked: 'Restore the Corvette.']
Objective: Repair key systems of the derelict vessel.
Reward: Operational Corvette-class ship and Crew Expansion Slot.]
"Looks like we've got work to do," Elric said, turning back to Sigma. "You ready to get your hands dirty?"
Sigma's hologram flickered, and a faint smile formed on its otherwise stoic face. "I do not possess hands, but I understand the sentiment. Let us proceed."
Back on the Ardent Horizon, Elric couldn't keep the grin off his face as he sifted through salvaged parts in his quarters. With Sigma's help and the system's guidance, he was confident he could restore the derelict ship—and maybe, just maybe, carve out a future for himself.
For the first time, he wasn't just following orders. He was building something of his own.
And this was only the beginning of his crew.