Four months had passed since Brady first met Caleb in the abandoned workshop. Time had transformed their lives in ways neither of them had imagined. What began as a cautious partnership had grown into a genuine friendship, forged by the shared struggle for survival.
Brady had also come to understand the full scope of his gear's limitations. The artifact was far from the all-powerful tool he had hoped it to be. Its ability to rewind time by one hour was impressive, but it came with a steep restriction: a cooldown of one full month before it could be used again. This meant he had to carefully plan when and how to use it, knowing it wouldn't save him in every dire situation.
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The workshop had become their sanctuary. Caleb's skills as a tech-blacksmith had proven invaluable, allowing them to fortify their base and improve their chances of survival. Over time, they had scavenged and repaired a total of four tech-artifacts, each one vital to their survival.
The first was a Rank 2 supply artifact, a water-air extractor, which could purify contaminated water and draw breathable air from even the most polluted environments. It had become their lifeline, sparing them from the constant search for clean water and allowing them to remain hidden for longer stretches.
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The second and third artifacts were both offensive weapons. Brady wielded a Rank 3 electric baton pair, sleek and lightweight tools designed for close combat. With a sharp snap, the batons could discharge high-voltage electricity, capable of stunning or even killing smaller foes. They had quickly become his go-to weapons during scavenging trips.
Caleb, on the other hand, relied on a Rank 2 impact hammer. Though less advanced than Brady's batons, the hammer was brutally effective in Caleb's strong hands. It could deliver devastating blows with enough force to dent even Periclusapiens armor, making it a reliable last-resort weapon for defending the workshop.
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The final artifact was their most precious find: a Rank 4 defensive artifact, a portable electric forcefield barrier. Once activated, the barrier created a dome of shimmering energy that could withstand both physical and energy-based attacks. They had set it up to protect the workshop, ensuring that no patrol could breach their defenses unnoticed.
The forcefield was a rare find, and its presence gave them a small sense of security in a world where none existed. But even with these tools, survival was a constant challenge, and every day brought new dangers.
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Brady wiped sweat from his brow as he returned to the workshop after another long day of scavenging. His electric batons hung at his sides, and a makeshift pack slung over his shoulder carried the meager supplies he had managed to gather: a few canned goods, some wires, and a handful of batteries that Caleb could repurpose.
Inside, Caleb was hunched over his workbench, tinkering with a broken artifact. Sparks flew as his tools buzzed and clicked, the smell of burning metal filling the air.
"Anything good out there?" Caleb asked without looking up.
Brady dropped the pack onto the table with a grunt. "Not much. Just some basics. You?"
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Caleb leaned back, wiping grease from his hands. "Managed to salvage some components from an old generator. Might be able to boost the barrier's energy reserves."
Brady nodded. "Good. That thing's the only reason we're still alive."
The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Outside, the world remained hostile and unforgiving, but within these walls, they had carved out a fragile sense of stability.
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Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Brady stood outside the workshop, watching the faint shimmer of the forcefield in the fading light. The air was quiet, save for the occasional distant hum of Periclusapiens patrols.
He tightened his grip on the batons at his sides, his mind replaying the close calls of the past few months. The Periclusapiens were relentless, their patrols growing more frequent and their methods more aggressive. Brady knew it was only a matter of time before they found the workshop.
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Back inside, Caleb joined him, holding two metal cups of water freshly purified by the extractor. He handed one to Brady, who accepted it gratefully.
"You think we can keep this up?" Brady asked after a long sip, his voice low.
Caleb sighed. "I don't know. But as long as we have the artifacts and each other, we've got a fighting chance."
Brady nodded, though doubt lingered in his mind. The artifacts were powerful, but they weren't invincible. And neither were they.
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The following day, Brady ventured out again, his batons crackling softly as he tested their charge. The ruins of the city stretched before him, a desolate maze of crumbling buildings and twisted metal. He moved cautiously, sticking to the shadows and avoiding open spaces.
Every scavenging trip was a gamble, but they needed supplies to survive. Food, parts, and anything else of value had to be found and brought back to the workshop.
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Hours passed as Brady navigated the wasteland, his senses on high alert. He avoided several patrols, using the terrain to his advantage. At one point, he stumbled across a collapsed building that had once been a tech store.
Inside, he found little of value—most of the artifacts had been taken long ago—but a hidden drawer yielded a small cache of energy cells. Brady smiled faintly, knowing Caleb would be thrilled with the find.
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As he left the store, Brady froze. In the distance, a patrol unit was moving steadily in his direction. He quickly ducked behind a pile of rubble, his heart pounding.
The patrol drew closer, its mechanical hum growing louder. Brady gripped his batons, ready to defend himself if necessary. But the patrol stopped just short of his hiding spot, scanning the area briefly before moving on.
Brady exhaled in relief, waiting several minutes before continuing on his way. Every encounter with the Periclusapiens reminded him of how fragile their situation was.
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By the time Brady returned to the workshop, the sun was setting. Caleb greeted him with a grin as Brady laid out the energy cells and other supplies he had found.
"Nice haul," Caleb said, inspecting the cells. "These will definitely come in handy."
Brady smiled tiredly. "Let's hope so. The patrols are getting closer. We'll need every advantage we can get."
Caleb nodded solemnly. "We'll make it work. We always do."
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