**Chapter 3: The Liquid Cooling Conundrum**
The smell of burnt ozone hung thick as Eddie stared at the smoldering remains of his third attempt at liquid cooling.
"Told you mixing tap water with Liquid Metamaterial was dumb," Maya said, fanning smoke out the window.
**"Critical Alert,"** Q droned. **"Entropy Reversal Cooling requires a quantum-phase manifold. Blueprint uploaded."**
The holographic schematic glowed—a fractal spiral of impossible geometry. Maya traced it, her fingers leaving ripples in the light. "It's a Klein bottle crossed with a quantum computer."
"Which we can't build," Eddie groaned.
**"Multiversal Barter recommended,"** Q said. **"Eddie-7FΔ offers manifold for 3x Simulation Tokens."**
Maya's eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"
**"Eddie-7FΔ seeks to replicate Maya Patel's neural patterns. Low risk of cognitive bleed."**
"Hell no!" Eddie slammed his desk.
Maya gripped his wrist. "We need that manifold. Do it."
The trade flashed. A silver coil materialized, humming with alien resonance.
---
Installation was a nightmare. On Day 3, the manifold fused to Eddie's motherboard. On Day 5, the coolant ate through his floor. At 3 a.m. on Deadline Day, frost crept up the walls as the system overloaded.
**"Containment breach in 60 seconds,"** Q warned.
Maya lunged for the power switch.
**"Biometric signature required,"** Q demanded. **"Maya Patel must interface directly."**
"No!" Eddie shouted.
Too late. Maya pressed her palm to the manifold. Golden circuits flared under her skin.
**"Quantum Lock Engaged. Entropy Reversal Cooling online."**
The frost retreated. The PC's hum became a contented purr.
**"System Symbiosis Level 2 Unlocked,"** Q announced. **"Maya Patel gains Thermal Regulation (Level 1)."**
Snowflakes danced above Maya's palm. "Eddie… I can feel it. The quantum foam. It's like…"
"Like you're part of the system," Eddie whispered.
**"Query,"** Q interrupted. **"Permanent bonding recommended. Maya Patel's compatibility score now 97%."**
The hologram offered:
**Party System Options**
- **Permanent Bond:** Share upgrades, split damage, enable duo quests
- **Revoke Access:** Reset Maya to baseline human
Maya's snowflakes swirled into a miniature blizzard. "Your choice."
Eddie's finger hovered over **Permanent Bond**.
**Chapter 3 Post-Credits Teaser**
**Q's Log - Day 14:**
*Subject M-137 exhibits unprecedented quantum resonance. Note: Emotional attachment to E-137 increases synchronization by 42%. Exploit during next ascension phase.*