[89] Getting Noel'd

Noel's workshop turned out to be a large corner space separated from the main lab by glass walls covered in equations, diagrams, and what appeared to be scorch marks. The interior was organized chaos—tools hung from every available surface, half-finished projects littered workbenches, and a small robot in the corner seemed to be sorting tiny crystals by color.

"Home sweet lab!" Noel announced, finally releasing their wrists. "Put your stuff anywhere. Except that table—that's where Dave lives."

Xavier looked around. "Dave?"

"My failed attempt at creating a semi-sentient crystal matrix." She pointed to what Xavier had assumed was a paperweight. "He doesn't do much, but he gets upset if you put things on him."

Xavier set his tablet down on a relatively clear space, carefully avoiding Dave. "So, Noel, what exactly happened back there? With the explosion?"