The hidden laboratory beneath the Tatanka Plains was a cavern of chaos and wonder. Faint shafts of light filtered through the fractured glass dome above, casting pale beams across the massive Celestial Transmutation Engine that dominated the space. The machine loomed like a sleeping titan, its copper-toned metal gleaming with a dull rust, its interlocking gears frozen in a moment of suspended anticipation. Turquoise static electricity crackled along its surface, casting dancing shadows across the mountains of blueprints, scattered research papers, and open ancient books that covered every available surface.
Professor Manabu Kinsho rushed through the cluttered space, his wild mane of silver-streaked chestnut hair bouncing with each frantic step. His utility apron, stuffed with calipers, lenses, and small gears, flapped like a robe. His dark brown eyes darted from one workbench to another, cataloging a hundred unfinished tasks, each one demanding his attention.
"We don't have time, we don't have time," he muttered, his voice a rapid-fire stream of consciousness. "The blueprints, the dials, the chemical theories—none of it matters if they find us. They'll burn it all. They'll burn everything!"
Asper Pale stood frozen in the center of the chaos, their slate-gray hair falling into their eyes. Their long, slender fingers twitched against their mechanical decryption wheel, the brass gears clicking in a nervous rhythm. Their wide, dark gray eyes carried a permanent look of mild distraction, but now that distraction was tinged with something sharper—a cold, creeping fear.
"Professor," Asper said, their monotone voice cutting through the chaos. "Should we call them?"
Manabu paused mid-stride, his hand flying to his chin. He stood there, one hand on his hip, the other cupping his jaw, his expression shifting from panic to calculation. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackle of static from the Engine.
"It may not be prudent," he said, his voice dropping to a thoughtful murmur. "But I don't know that we have a choice."
Asper nodded, a single, jerky motion. They rushed to a random drawer, yanking it open with a force that sent a cascade of loose papers fluttering to the floor. Their fingers closed around a small, mottled transponder snail, its shell a dull green-brown.
They placed it on the nearest workbench, clearing a space with a sweep of their arm that sent a stack of blueprints sliding to the floor. The snail's eyestalks twitched, its mouth opening with a soft, wet sound.
Asper hovered over it, their body tense, their breath coming in shallow gasps. Manabu joined them, leaning in so close his nose nearly touched the snail's shell. They both stared down at the creature as if it were their only lifeline.
The snail's eyes blinked. It made a soft, gurgling sound.
And then it rang.
The sound was jarring, too loud in the cavernous space. It echoed off the stone walls, bouncing off the massive gears of the Engine. Asper and Manabu flinched in unison, their bodies recoiling as if struck.
The ringing continued. One ring. Two rings. Three.
No answer.
Asper's eyes darted up to meet Manabu's. "It does not appear that they are answering."
Manabu shook his head, his expression grim. "No. It does not."
He turned away, his hands flying to his hips. He began to pace, his footsteps echoing against the stone floor. His fingers drummed against his thighs, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. His lips moved soundlessly, forming words that never escaped his throat.
Asper's gaze drifted to the Engine. The massive machine loomed in the center of the cavern, its copper-toned metal gleaming with a dull rust. The turquoise static crackled along its surface, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Ancient cryptographic symbols were etched into its iron frame, their meanings lost to time.
"Professor," Asper said, their voice quiet.
Manabu paused, following their gaze. He stopped pacing, his hands falling to his sides.
Asper turned to face him fully, their expression unreadable. "Is it worth it, Professor?"
Manabu blinked, his brow furrowing. "What?"
"Is it worth dying for?" Asper asked, their voice flat but carrying an undercurrent of genuine concern. "The Engine. The research. All of it. Is it worth dying for?"
Manabu scoffed, the sound dramatic and dismissive. "Don't be ridiculous!"
He turned away, his hands flying to his hips again. He stared at the Engine, his expression shifting from annoyance to something else—a wild, manic energy radiateed from his very core.
And then, in a burst of sudden inspiration, he punched his fist into an open palm, the sound sharp and decisive.
"THAT'S IT!"
Asper's head cocked to the side, their expression one of pure confusion. "What's it?"
Manabu rushed to Asper, his hands gripping their shoulders. He shook them with a force that made their head bobble, his wild hair flying in every direction.
"NOW IS THE TIME!"
Asper blinked, their glasses askew. "Professor?"
Manabu released them, stepping back with a look of fierce determination. His eyes burned with a manic fire, his voice rising with excitement.
"We must turn it on."
Asper blinked again, their mouth falling open. "But professor, we don't know what—"
Manabu thrust a hand into the air, silencing them with a gesture that brooked no argument. His voice dropped to a low, intense murmur.
"Death is at our doorstep. It is now or never."
He turned to face Asper fully, his expression shifting from determination to something softer—a pleading look that carried the weight of a thousand unspoken fears.
"Are you in?"
Asper straightened their shoulders, their spine stiffening. They pressed their lips together, a rare moment of resolve crossing their usually distracted features.
"You can count on me, Professor."
Manabu's face split into a wide, manic grin. He clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the cavern.
"Let's begin!"
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