A Hope?

Karl stepped into Ryker's space. His boots scuffed against the gritty floor.

The air hit him hard, thick with the tang of metal and something sharp, like burnt circuits. He stopped. His blue eyes widened. The room stretched out, vast and cluttered with steel and shadows. Shelves loomed high, stacked with bottles that glowed faintly and casted eerie light across dented airship panels and twisted wires.

A workbench sprawled in the corner, littered with tools and half-built gadgets. The hum of machinery buzzed low, vibrating through Karl's soles. He swayed. His legs gave out. He crumpled to the floor, his knees cracking against the cold metal.

Ryker turned. His gray hair caught the glow, wild strands framing his scarred face. He grunted. "You're a wreck, kid." He crossed the room and snatched a bottle from a shelf. The contents shimmered blue. He crouched beside Karl.

"Drink this," he said, shoving it into Karl's trembling hands. "It'll kick your energy back up. You look like you're half-dead."

Karl gripped the bottle. His fingers shook. He lifted it to his lips. The liquid burned down his throat. It was very bitter but soon, it sparked warmth in his chest. He swallowed hard. His mind raced. This could be poison. He could be trapped here, bleeding out on this filthy floor, and no one would know.

Ryker's smirk didn't help. The nerd guy looked too easy, too knowing. Danger prickled at the edges of Karl's thoughts. He took another swig. The warmth spread, but the fear didn't fade.

Ryker settled onto a crate. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His dark eyes glinted. "I've seen a lot, kid. Broken Cores. Twisted ones. Weird glitches that make folks spit sparks or grow claws they can't control. But you?" He shook his head. "Never seen anything like you. You're a damn explosion walking around on two legs. How'd it happen?"

Karl wiped his mouth. He set the bottle down. His voice rasped, rough from the night's chaos. "It was hours ago. I was with this girl, Iora. We were… together. Then it hit me. Pain, like my chest was splitting. I turned into a deer, antlers and all. Then fire came out of my hands. Illusions popped up: wolves, shadows and all. Wind knocked stuff over. Lightning fried a lamp. It wouldn't stop." He paused. His blue eyes flickered to Ryker. "I passed out after. Woke up to Enforcers seeking out the source of the energy."

Ryker nodded. His smirk faded. "That explains it. Still fresh, raw as hell. No wonder you're shaking like a leaf." He stood. His coat rustled as he gestured to a corner. "Come on. Got something to show you."

Karl followed his gaze. A scanning table sat there, sleek in silver. The surface was scuffed but gleamed under the bottled lights. Cables snaked from its base to a console nearby.

Ryker patted it. "Hop on. Let's see what's ticking in that Core of yours."

Karl froze. His stomach twisted. He stepped back. "I don't think so." His voice came out tight. His hands balled into fists. Trusting Ryker this far was one thing. Lying under a machine, exposed? That was another.

Ryker laughed. "Kid, if I wanted you dead, you'd be a puddle already. Those scavengers would've picked your bones clean if I hadn't stepped in." He waved a hand. "This ain't a trap. It's a scan. Relax."

Karl's jaw clenched. He stared at the table. His heart thudded. Ryker's logic seemed believable. If harm was the goal, why wait? He sighed. After a long beat, he nodded. "Fine."

He shrugged off his jacket. His fingers fumbled with his shirt, peeling it over his head. Goosebumps prickled his lean, muscled chest. He climbed onto the table. The metal chilled his skin as he lay back. The scanner's lid whirred, sliding over him. It stopped just below his chin, leaving his head free. His breath hitched. The enclosed space pressed in, locking him from all corners.

Ryker moved to the console. His thick fingers tapped keys, the clatter sharp in the quiet of the vast space that was his place. A screen flickered to life, bathing his face in green light. His eyes narrowed. Then they widened. A low whistle escaped his lips.

Karl turned his head. The lid blocked his view. "What's going on?" His voice trembled. He hated the weakness in it, but the silence was beginning to get on his nerves.

Ryker didn't look up. His fingers stilled. "Your Core's a mess, kid. I've never seen one this fragmented. It's not just cracked, it's shattered into dozens of pieces. That's why you're pulling powers from everywhere. Shifting, fire, illusions, lightning. And that's not all." He glanced at Karl. His smirk was gone and now replaced by curiosity, maybe awe. "You've got stuff in there you haven't even tapped yet. Bits from Shards I can't even name."

Karl cursed under his breath. "Shit." The word was soft and bitter on his tongue. He stared at the lid's underside, the faint scratches on the surface blurring as his mind spun. "So what's the fix? How do I stop it?"

Ryker leaned back. His chair creaked. "There's no fixing this, Karl. Not now. If you'd come to me before it woke up, maybe we could've braced it, locked it down. But it's alive now, splintered and kicking. Any forceful change through surgery, tech, or magic would rip you apart. You'd bleed out. Hell, it could be worse."

Karl's throat tightened. He swallowed hard. "You're saying I'm stuck like this?"

Ryker nodded. His voice softened as he asked, "How old are you?"

Karl let out a whoosh of air. "Twenty."

"Why didn't you figure something was off? Four years late, no Awakening. That didn't ring any bells?"

Karl's laugh was hollow. It echoed in the scanner. "I didn't think it was a problem. Just late, you know? Happens to some people. I figured it'd come when it came." He paused, his eyes getting glassy with tears. "Guess I was wrong."

Ryker rubbed his jaw. "Four years is too much to be considered late. This is… something else." He turned back to the screen. His fingers hovered over the keys.

"Are you sure there's nothing we can do?" Karl asked again. His voice cracked. He hated the pleading in it, and the desperation clawing up his chest.

For a moment, Ryker said nothing. He stared at Karl. The silence stretched on like either of them were scared to speak.

Then Ryker leaned forward. His voice dropped, "There's a little hope. A chance, maybe. But it's gonna hurt a lot."