Elric moved quickly through the dimly lit corridors of the Ardent Horizon, his boots echoing softly on the metal floor. He was late—again. Harris had assigned him to oversee diagnostics on the ship's gravitic stabilizers, but a last-minute adjustment to the corvette's life support systems had eaten up precious time.
By the time he reached the stabilizer bay, Harris was already there, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"Vale," Harris said sharply, "you're cutting it close."
"Sorry, sir," Elric replied, slipping into his role with practiced ease. "Got tied up with a wiring issue in Section B-12. Won't happen again."
Harris grunted, clearly unconvinced. "See that it doesn't. Stabilizer three's output is fluctuating. Figure out why."
"Yes, sir," Elric said, stepping past him and pulling up a diagnostic interface.
As he worked, Harris lingered nearby, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"You've been distracted lately," Harris said, his tone low.
Elric froze for a fraction of a second before resuming his work. "Just a lot on my plate, sir. Trying to keep everything running smooth."
Harris's gaze lingered a moment longer before he nodded. "Fine. But if you need to step back or take a breather, let me know. I don't need anyone burning out on my watch."
Elric forced a smile. "Appreciate it, sir."
Back in the relative safety of the corvette, Elric exhaled deeply. His heart still pounded from the close call with Harris.
"Sigma," he said, sitting heavily in the captain's chair, "how much longer can I keep this up?"
The AI appeared beside him, its expression calm but calculating. "Your efficiency is decreasing due to prolonged strain. A sustainable solution is advisable."
"Great," Elric muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Got any suggestions?"
"Diversifying responsibilities," Sigma replied. "Recruiting additional crew members to share the workload will enhance your operational capacity."
Elric let out a hollow laugh. "Easier said than done. I'm barely scraping by with what I've got."
The Sentinel's heavy steps echoed as it entered the bridge, its imposing form a silent reminder of Elric's progress.
"Statement: Current crew performance exceeds initial projections," it said. "Additional personnel will further improve outcomes."
Elric smirked faintly. "Guess I should start looking, then."
[New Quest Unlocked: 'Expand the Crew.']
Objective: Identify and recruit a resource-focused crew member.
Reward: Increased salvage efficiency and subsystem upgrade.
The opportunity came two days later during another salvage operation. The Ardent Horizon had stumbled across an abandoned mining station drifting near an asteroid belt. Its systems were offline, but initial scans suggested it still held valuable materials.
Elric joined the salvage team, his heart racing as they boarded the station. The air inside was stale and cold, the faint scent of oxidized metal lingering in the corridors.
"Stay sharp," Harris said, his voice echoing slightly. "The place might be abandoned, but that doesn't mean it's safe."
As the team spread out, Elric's system chimed faintly in his ear.
[New Opportunity Detected: Dormant Robotic Unit Located.]
He froze, glancing down a side corridor where the dim light revealed a partially open door.
"Harris, I'll check down here," Elric called, keeping his tone casual.
"Make it quick," Harris replied, not looking back.
Elric slipped through the doorway, his pulse quickening. The room beyond was filled with mining equipment and tools, most of it rusted or broken. In the center of the room, slumped against the wall, was a humanoid robot.
It was bulky, with reinforced limbs and a squat, utilitarian design. Its metallic surface was scuffed and dented, and a faint crack ran along the edge of its visor-like head.
"Sigma," Elric whispered, kneeling beside the unit, "what am I looking at?"
"Analysis: Resource Allocation Droid. Model RX-47. Primary function: material extraction and processing. Unit is non-functional but repairable."
[New Quest Unlocked: 'Wake the Miner.']
Objective: Restore power and repair core systems of RX-47.
Reward: RX-47 Recruited as Crew Member.
Elric grinned. "Looks like we've found ourselves a miner."
Repairing RX-47 took the better part of the evening. Elric worked in the corvette's engineering bay, the Sentinel assisting with heavy lifting while Sigma provided guidance.
Finally, with a faint hum, the droid's systems flickered to life. Its head tilted slightly, the crack in its visor glowing faintly as it focused on Elric.
"Unit RX-47 operational," it said, its voice low and mechanical. "Awaiting directives."
[Quest Complete! Reward Issued.]
Reward: RX-47 Recruited as Crew Member. Increased Salvage Efficiency.
Elric leaned back, wiping sweat from his brow. "Welcome to the team, RX. Think you can help us gather some resources?"
"Affirmative," RX-47 replied. "Primary directive: optimize resource acquisition. Secondary directive: ensure crew safety."
Sigma appeared beside the droid, its expression as neutral as ever. "RX-47's integration will enhance material recovery efforts. This addition aligns with your objectives."
Elric smiled faintly. "Good. We're going to need all the help we can get."
The next morning, Elric returned to his duties aboard the Ardent Horizon, but his mind was already racing with plans for the corvette. Every new addition, every small victory, brought him closer to independence.
He still had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt like he wasn't walking the path alone.