When the transport ship landed on Argos, Jack waited eagerly by the arrival terminal. Kai, his younger brother, stepped off the vessel with a broad smile and a backpack slung over his shoulder. His face glowed with excitement, and his eyes sparkled as he saw Jack.
"Jack! Look who's become a big-time space explorer," Kai joked, giving him a playful punch on the right arm.
Jack laughed and pulled Kai into a hug.
"Kai, welcome to Argos. You should've come sooner. There's so much to see here."
Kai glanced around, taking in the bustling terminal with its floating holographic advertisements above the heads of humans and androids scurrying about.
"Have you been working out? Feels like you've bulked up," Kai teased, prodding Jack's arm. "This place is definitely different from Mars. Let's see your big project. Your coffee promise is what got me here."
Jack grinned and led Kai to the agricultural sector, where the coffee plantation had grown spectacularly. Next to the neatly aligned rows of shrubs, a small processing area was equipped with drying and roasting devices—all designed and built by Jack.
Amid the makeshift equipment, Jack prepared two cups of freshly roasted coffee. The strong aroma filled the air, and Kai watched the process in fascination.
"That smells amazing. I have to admit, I didn't expect you to become a barista between space missions," Kai said.
Jack handed him a cup, smiling.
"It started as a hobby, but it's more than that. Picture an interstellar café. A gathering place for explorers. A guild, like Grandpa used to tell us about."
Kai took a sip of the coffee, and his eyes widened instantly.
"To bring back the Explorers' Guild? Jack, this is the best coffee I've ever had. But I doubt even this could rebuild a guild," Kai said, taking another sip. "Still, wow."
Jack laughed, pleased with his brother's reaction.
"That tells me we're ready. What do you say, Kai? Want to help me open a café here? I've found some great locations. One's near the human embassy, but there's also a spot in the Central Sector perfect for a guild base."
Kai nodded enthusiastically.
"Absolutely. But we'll need a solid plan. I can help with the cafe, but you'll need more than coffee for a guild."
Later, as they discussed the cafe's organizational details, Jack took the opportunity to explain the technologies he was working on. On a nearby table lay another conduit ring, glowing faintly. It was version two, slightly sturdier than the one he had given Tsukiko.
"Kai, aside from the café, I have bigger plans. This is a ring made from a rare material called Elythron. It's the core of a power we call Ether. With it, we can do incredible things: manipulate gravity, matter, or even create fire."
Kai examined the ring with interest.
"Seriously? Sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel. How does it work?"
Jack briefly explained how emotions channeled through the Elythron conduit allowed the user to access Ether energy.
"The problem is that Elythron is extremely rare, and the only known source is the planet Nira, controlled by the Hythari. I want to find more sources, whether on asteroids or unexplored planets."
Kai remained silent for a moment, then smiled.
"So, not just a café but also a workshop for conduits and interstellar exploration? Now I see why you need an Explorers' Guild."
Jack nodded, determined.
"It's more than a dream, Kai. It's a path that could improve lives for everyone. But we need to start somewhere. The cafe will be our base, and from there… who knows where we'll go."
Kai looked at Jack thoughtfully.
"Jack, if we want the cafe to cater to everyone, not just humans, we'll need a biological scanner. There are species for whom coffee is toxic. We have to ensure every customer's safety."
Jack smiled broadly.
"I've thought about that. Actually, since I've been here, I asked Aetherion to check your genetic compatibility with Ether. It seems you can also use a simplified molecular scanner."
Kai's eyes widened.
"You're saying this ring works for me? Putting it on his finger immediately, he exclaimed, "This is incredible!"
As he slipped the ring on, a holographic image appeared, displaying detailed data about the coffee in his hand.
"I just thought about your coffee. Amazing!" Kai said, astonished.
Aetherion's voice emerged from Jack's glove.
"Kai Done, descendant of the Done lineage detected. AI replication function activated."
The ring on Kai's finger began to pulse with energy, transforming into a wide bracelet that shifted from his finger to his wrist.
"Aetherion, what just happened?" Jack asked, startled.
"The AI function requires increased physical dimensions. Following Ethan Done's instructions, descendants of the Done lineage can support advanced calculations and channel sufficient Ether to power a personalized AI. I adapted your model to meet these requirements. 24 grams of Elythron were used from the gloves mass; restoration is recommended in the near future."
"So only our family can have an AI?" Jack asked, noticing his glove had slightly shrunk.
"Negative. Human compatibility with Ether is not fully explored. However, other highly compatible species exist. One known species is the Alfar, one of the three races that created the portals. They live for millennia, resemble humans, have fair skin, and pointed ears."
"The Alfar? They sound like elves from ancient stories. I learned in galactic history that their species vanished without a trace tens of thousands of years ago," Kai said.
"The Alfar gradually withdrew from known space after building the portals, allowing younger civilizations to evolve and learn from their mistakes. They believed that civilizations grow better without external intervention. That does not mean they no longer exist."
"Kai, what other functions can you use?" Jack asked.
"Looks like I have molecular scanning and something called intergalactic navigation. What is that?"
From Kai's bracelet, a turquoise hologram of a female figure appeared between them.
"Greetings! I am Kai's AI assistant, designated Maya. Intergalactic navigation allows traversal through interdimensional portals between galaxies. Additionally, there is a function for enhanced muscular and perceptual amplification."
"So I can lift heavy objects, run fast, and perceive the world much quicker?" Kai asked.
"For a limited time, yes. Approximately three minutes, followed by a thirty-minute cooldown to prevent neural strain."
"Jack… I'm some kind of budget Flash? This is unreal! I need to test the limits of this technology!" Kai exclaimed, raising his arms in excitement.