Ch 6: Analysis

The journey back to Kael's shed was grueling. 

The faint buzz of distant machinery and the occasional sound of muffled voices reminded Kael of how precarious life in the blank was. Carrying something as conspicuous as Consortium-grade crates wasn't exactly subtle.

The streets of the blank stretched endlessly as Kael dragged himself and the three heavy crates back to his shed. His makeshift harness bit into his shoulders, and each step felt like trudging through molasses. The weight of the crates was less about their mass and more about the anticipation of what might be inside.

By the time he reached his shed, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the small structure in cool twilight. Kael unstrapped the harness and let the crates thud onto the ground. He collapsed into his chair, groaning as his sore muscles protested.

"Heh... Ahhhhhh... this better be worth it," Kael muttered again, this time with a chuckle as he rubbed his neck.

The crates were impressive even at first glance. Consortium-grade, their smooth, almost seamless design was a hallmark of pre-collapse manufacturing. They looked like they could withstand an explosion and still keep their contents pristine.

Kael grabbed his plasma cutter, its tip glowing faintly as it hummed to life. Carefully, he made precise incisions along the first crate's edges, prying open the panel with a satisfying hiss. Inside, nestled among modular compartments and cushioned supports, was a single data chip.

Kael frowned, turning the chip over in his hands. It was unmarked, and its sleek design suggested high-capacity storage. "Not bad," he muttered, setting it aside.

The second crate was trickier to open, its locks designed to resist tampering. After a few frustrating minutes and some colorful cursing, Kael managed to pry it open. Another chip, identical to the first, rested inside.

"Two for two," Kael said with a grin.

Kael pulled it out, turning it over in his hand. The chip was larger than most he'd seen, its surface etched with faint, intricate patterns that glinted in the dim light.

"Let's see what you're hiding," he murmured, setting it aside as he moved to the third crate.

The third crate was lighter, its compartments less densely packed. Inside, he found the third chip, along with a strange cylindrical object wrapped in protective foam. He left the cylinder for later, focusing on the chips first.

"Now, that's a haul."

Kael's eyes shifted toward the corner of the shed, where the Solver sat. The device was the oddest piece in his collection—an enigma he'd salvaged years ago. Despite his attempts to disassemble and study it, the Solver remained a mystery. Its inner workings were incomprehensible, but its function was clear: it could read almost any data format, no matter how ancient or advanced.

Kael approached the device with a mix of reverence and curiosity. "All right, you weird little machine. Let's see what you've got for me this time."

Kael walked over to the Solver, his mysterious machine, and slid the first chip into its slot. The device whirred softly, its screen flickering before stabilizing.

The display showed a detailed map, overlaid with heat signatures and clusters of icons. Kael frowned, trying to make sense of it. The map seemed to depict a subterranean structure—maybe a bunker or research facility.

"Is this... a layout?" Kael muttered, leaning closer. He could see faint notes in Consortium shorthand, but most of the data was encrypted.

The second chip loaded more slowly, the Solver humming as it processed the information. The screen filled with technical diagrams and specifications for what looked like drones. These weren't ordinary drones; their modular designs suggested multi-purpose use—reconnaissance, repairs, and even combat.

Kael scratched his head. "Why would they abandon something like this? Unless..." His voice trailed off as his mind raced with possibilities.

The third chip was different. The Solver hesitated, its mechanisms clicking softly as it read the data. When the display finally stabilized, Kael's stomach tightened.

The screen showed a series of video logs. Consortium researchers in sterile white rooms spoke in clipped, professional tones, their words accompanied by chilling visuals. The logs detailed experiments involving a strange, bio-engineered substance that seemed to grow and adapt rapidly. One clip showed the substance enveloping a small machine, dissolving it before reforming into something unrecognizable.

Kael's hands clenched the edge of the workbench as he watched. The final log ended with a researcher looking directly into the camera, their face pale.

"We underestimated it," the researcher said, their voice shaking. "If this gets out... there won't be any controlling it."

The screen went dark, leaving Kael staring at his reflection in the dim glow.

Kael turned his attention to the cylindrical object he'd found in the third crate. It was about the length of his forearm, made of a smooth, matte material. It had no visible seams or markings, but it felt unnervingly warm to the touch.

"What the hell are you?" Kael whispered, placing it on the workbench.

The Solver, as if reacting to the object's presence, emitted a faint hum. Kael's eyes darted between the cylinder and the machine. "You're connected to this, aren't you?"

He resisted the urge to tamper with it further. For now, the chips were priority.

Kael leaned back in his chair, staring at the trio of data chips and the enigmatic cylinder. The haul was far more significant than he'd anticipated. The map suggested a location worth investigating, the drones could revolutionize scavenging or defense, and the bio-engineered substance... that was a problem he wasn't sure anyone should touch.

"Damn it," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "This is way above my pay grade."

But the potential was undeniable. Selling the drone schematics alone could make him rich, and the map might lead to a treasure trove of pre-collapse tech. Yet the third chip's contents gnawed at him. Knowledge like that didn't just disappear—it was either hidden for a reason or forgotten in the chaos of the collapse.

Kael scribbled notes in his journal, sketching out the bunker layout and the drone designs. He jotted down fragments of the bio-log, his mind working through the implications.

"One step at a time," he said aloud. "Figure out what's safe to sell, keep the rest under wraps."

He glanced at the cylinder, still sitting on the workbench. Its faint warmth was almost hypnotic. Kael had a feeling it was the key to something—but whether it was an opportunity or a curse remained to be seen

He powered down the Solver, the room falling into silence save for the faint hum of distant machinery outside. The three chips glinted under the dim light, silent reminders of the dangerous secrets they hid.