The Forge

Griggs led Kade through a narrow hallway and into the back complex. Kade didn't need directions—he knew exactly where they were going. Past the rows of storage rooms and makeshift sleeping quarters, they entered the work area where Griggs' forge dominated the space. The air here smelled faintly of smoke and metal, and the walls were lined with tools and shelves stacked with scrap and ingots.

Griggs motioned toward the worktable. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Kade placed the bundle of metallic crystals onto the table, unwrapping them carefully. The jagged shards glinted faintly under the overhead light, their edges sharp enough to cut with a touch. Griggs leaned in, his fingers brushing over the smooth yet unnatural surface.

"These came off one of those things?" Griggs asked, his voice low.

"Yeah," Kade replied. "The big one I fought had them growing out of its back. Felt like metal when I climbed it, tougher than anything I've seen. Thought they might come in handy."

Griggs grunted, picking up one of the shards and holding it to the light. "This isn't metal. Not like anything we'd know, anyway. It's… denser, almost fused with whatever that energy is they've got in them." He set the shard down and crossed his arms. "These could be a game-changer. If I can figure out how to work with them, we might stand a chance of making something useful."

"What about this?" Kade reached into his bag and pulled out the dark purple core he'd taken from the same monster. He placed it on the table, its surface pulsating faintly as if alive.

Griggs' eyebrows shot up. "That's a lot bigger than the ones I've seen. And darker." He leaned closer but didn't touch it. "You're sure this came from the same thing?"

"Yeah," Kade said. "I've been careful not to handle it directly. Wrapped it up as soon as I dug it out."

Griggs nodded, a flicker of something like admiration in his eyes. "Smart. No idea what that thing could do if it cracks open wrong. But if it's carrying that much energy… we might be able to figure out something. A weapon, maybe. Or at least a way to use it without it blowing us all to hell."

Kade glanced at the forge, then back at Griggs. "You think you can do it?"

Griggs smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Kid, I've melted down everything from gold bars to engine blocks in this place. If I can't figure it out, no one can. But it's gonna take time. And right now, time's one thing we don't have much of."

Kade crossed his arms, his gaze lingering on the shards and the core. "What do you need from me?"

"For now? Keep everyone alive," Griggs said, his tone sharp. "If we're gonna make this place a fortress, I need time to work. And I need you to keep those people out there in line. They're scared, and scared people do stupid things."

Kade nodded, his jaw tightening. "Got it."

Griggs clapped him on the shoulder, his expression softening slightly. "Glad you made it here, kid. We're gonna need every bit of help we can get."

Griggs reached for a wrench on his workbench, ready to dive into whatever makeshift experiment the crystals and core would demand, when Kade suddenly stopped in the doorway. "Oh," Kade muttered, as if just remembering something. He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small, tightly wrapped package.

"I almost forgot," Kade said, tossing it onto the table with a casual flick. It landed with a dull thud, and Griggs cocked an eyebrow, peeling back the layers of cloth with practiced ease. Inside was a bundle of gleaming gold jewelry—rings, necklaces, bracelets, all tangled together in a glittering heap. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he sifted through the treasure.

"Well, well," Griggs drawled, holding up a gold bracelet set with small emeralds. "Still seducing rich women, I see."

Kade leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed and his expression wry. "Gotta keep my hobbies, right?"

Griggs chuckled, shaking his head as he set the bracelet down. "You're predictable, you know that? World's falling apart, monsters everywhere, and you still find a way to scam a cougar with that smolder of yours. You've got priorities, I'll give you that."

Kade shrugged. "Didn't seem fair to leave the job half-done. Besides, figured you could put that to use."

"Use?" Griggs barked a laugh. "This? This is retirement fund material." His humor faded slightly as he pocketed the bundle. "You know, if we make it that far."

Kade smirked and turned to leave, throwing a casual wave over his shoulder. "Good luck with that, old man. Let me know when you figure out how to turn that crystal junk into something sharp. I've got a feeling we're gonna need it."

Griggs held the bundle of gold for a moment longer, his grin fading into thoughtful contemplation. His fingers traced the contours of a thick chain, his mind churning. An idea sparked—a wild, half-formed thought that gold could potentially serve as a conductor for resonance energy. The precious metal had always been an excellent conductor in electronics. Maybe it could channel or stabilize the chaotic power of the cores or crystals.

"Kade," Griggs called out, just as Kade was about to disappear down the hallway.

Kade turned, his brow furrowed. "What now?"

Griggs held up the bundle of jewelry. "This gold might be more useful than you think. I've got a theory—it could be a conductor for that energy you've been dealing with. Does that book of yours mention anything about materials, metals, or... resonance energy conductivity?"

Kade raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "The book's been cryptic as hell, but I'll check. It's not exactly a page-turner, though."

Griggs nodded, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and determination. "Do that. If there's anything in there that even hints at how to use this junk, let me know. Could be the edge we need."

"Fine," Kade said with a sigh. "But don't hold your breath. It's more riddles than instructions."

He left Griggs muttering to himself as he fiddled with the jewelry and returned to the main lounge.