Leik gripped the rubber handles of the wheelchair and pushed Divento down the narrow, dimly lit corridor of Sector-Beta. The rubber wheels squeaked rhythmically against the uneven floor.

  People pressed themselves against the rough walls to let the pair pass. Some bowed their heads in respect to the Galvanizer, while others stared with hollow eyes that betrayed their thirst.

  Leik navigated a turn and spoke softly so only the engineer could hear.

  "I still don't think it's right, Divento. Kingham's policy is too harsh. Everyone in this Biome is suffering. To deny them the water because they can't work the mines or the pumps... it feels cruel. It creates a caste system we don't need."

  Divento adjusted his glasses and rested his oil-stained hands on his lap. He shook his head.

  "It is not cruelty, Leik. It is calculus. We have limited resources and infinite need. If you give the W-H2O to everyone, it runs out in a month, and we are back to drinking sludge. If you incentivize labor, we build a future."

  He lifted a finger and pointed toward a man sitting on a crate near a ventilation shaft. The man had a perfectly healthy frame, yet he whittled a piece of scrap wood while others hauled debris.

  "Look at Bernie over there. He has two good legs and a strong back. Yet he spends his days carving toys while I, a man with half a body, keep the air scrubbers running. Should he drink the same heaven as you? As me?"

  Leik sighed. She looked at Bernie, who avoided her gaze.

  "Maybe not the same amount. But enough to keep the rust from his veins. Compassion shouldn't have a price tag."

  Divento chuckled.

  "In this world, Leik, compassion is the most expensive luxury of all."

  They arrived at the heavy iron door of the workshop. Leik maneuvered the chair up a small ramp and pushed it inside.

  The workshop was a chaotic haven of machinery. Gears hung from the ceiling on chains. A large furnace roared in the corner.

  Leik looked around the cluttered space.

  "Where is Davis? I thought your shadow never left your side."

  Divento wheeled himself toward the main counter.

  "The boy got careless with the angle grinder this morning. It kicked back on him. I sent him to Dr. Thin to get patched up. He'll learn."

  He took control of his wheelchair and rolled to the sturdy table where the Adamantine sword rested. It lay on a velvet cloth, stark and alien against the grime of the workshop. Various calipers, magnifying lenses, and laser measures surrounded it.

  Divento reached out and slowly unsheathed the blade.

  Shing.

  The sound was pure, a ringing note that hung in the air. The blue metal seemed to drink the light from the overhead glow-slugs. He inspected the edge with a jeweler's loupe.

  Leik crossed her arms and leaned against a drill press.

  "So, what do you think? Is it everything the legends say?"

  Divento lowered the loupe. His eyes sparkled with an engineer's lust.

  "It is more. The molecular density is impossible. There is no grain structure, no flaws. It doesn't just cut; it separates matter at a fundamental level. I've never seen an alloy like this. It makes our ceramic composites look like wet clay."

  Leik nodded. She rubbed her right wrist absently.

  "It certainly felt that way. When I struck the Corroder, there was no resistance. It was like swinging through smoke."

  She paused and looked at her trembling hand.

  "But it comes at a cost. It's heavy, Divento. And dead. A Chainblade pulls you through the cut. The motor does the work; the chain eats the material. This? This is just a lever. I had to generate all the force myself. Every swing felt like I was tearing my own muscles apart. Against a Ruster that moves that fast... I can't keep that up for a long fight. I'm not a Force user. I'm just flesh and bone."

  Divento listened intently. He tapped his chin.

  "That makes sense. You are trading kinetic assistance for absolute sharpness. I heard from Gustov that you made it look effortless, but spectators rarely see the sweat."

  Leik let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

  "It looked easy because I had no choice. But afterward? My hands shook so bad I could barely hold the reins."

  Divento looked at her sharply.

  "Did you tell Strider?"

  Leik shook her head immediately.

  "No. He worries too much as it is. Especially now. I'll be fine. I just need rest."

  "And a doctor." Divento’s voice was firm. "Please do see him."

  He turned his attention back to the blade. He spun it slowly on the cloth.

  "I can improve this. The balance is all wrong for a Galvanizer's style. I can't give it a motor, but I can retrofit a new hilt with a terminal box. If I fit a fine set of micro-chains along the spine, we might get some sawing action without ruining the integrity of the edge. It will be time-consuming. The blade is so thin that mounting anything to it will be a nightmare. But... it is an exciting challenge."

  Leik smiled at his enthusiasm.

  "You always did love a puzzle. Take your time. I won't be using it for a while."

  She looked toward the roaring furnace in the corner.

  "And the armor? Did Jona bring it down?"

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Divento gestured to the heat.

  "It's in the crucible. I'm trying to melt the Adamantine down to its refined state. If I can liquefy it, I might be able to cast the serrated teeth for the micro-chain out of the same material. A sword with an Adamantine chain... that would be a weapon worthy of a king."

  Leik’s eyes widened.

  "That is a brilliant idea. When will it be ready?"

  Divento sighed and rubbed his temples.

  "The melting point of this stuff is absurd. Even with the furnace burning at max output, it might take a full day just to get it to soften. It fights the heat."

  He looked up at her.

  "Where exactly did you find all this? The sword, the armor... it's a fortune."

  "It was on the man we brought back. He was fully equipped. And there was a truck at the crash site. The frame was solid Adamantine. I'm so sorry we couldn't bring the whole thing back. It would have drastically improved our armory."

  Divento nodded slowly.

  "Leaving it was likely for the best. A signal that strong? God knows what else you might have invited back to our Biome if you dragged a beacon like that across the sands. We have to be careful."

  He leaned forward.

  "Speaking of the man... are you sure he isn't a threat? We don't know who he is."

  Leik shrugged.

  "I know. He isn't awake yet. We can't question a coma patient. But I instructed Jona to strip everything from him. No hidden gadgets, no beacons. Just in case he has hostile intentions. When he wakes up, I bet he'll be shocked to find he has become a defenseless bunny. We did rescue him from those Rusters. Maybe he'll be grateful and help us out."

  Divento snorted.

  "Don't get your hopes up. Gratitude is rarer than water."

  He picked up a caliper and waved it at her.

  "Go on. Get to the clinic. I have work to do, and you have a baby to protect."

  Leik pushed off the table.

  "I'm going. Don't work too hard, Divento."

  "Impossible."

  Divento started smiling as she left. His mind already raced with schematics for the ultimate weapon.

  ...

  Leik walked through the corridors toward the medical bay. As she approached the clinic entrance, the door swung open. A young man stumbled out.

  It was Davis. His right arm was heavily wrapped in fresh white bandages that stood out against his greasy jumpsuit.

  "Oh! Madam Leik."

  He bowed awkwardly.

  Leik stopped and looked at the injury.

  "Divento told me about the grinder. How is the arm?"

  Davis grimaced and cradled the limb.

  "It throbs like a drum, ma'am. But the Doc patched me up good. He says it will be about a week before I can use it properly again. I feel like such an idiot."

  "Accidents happen, Davis. Just be careful. We need those hands."

  She patted his shoulder gently and stepped past him into the clinic.

  It was a modest place, pieced together from white plastic panels and stainless steel tables salvaged from the old world. Compared to the rest of the Biome, it was sparkling clean. The smell of UST was strong enough to make her eyes water. It had its own generator grid, feeding from a Rust Core. Therefore despite the electrical shutdown across the Biome, the clinic could still operate at night.

  Dr. Thin stood by a cabinet. He arranged vials of clear liquid. He was a tall, skeletal man who looked as if he hadn't slept in a decade, yet his hands were steady.

  He turned as the door clicked shut.

  "Leik. I was expecting you. Kingham called ahead. He sounded... forceful."

  Leik smiled apologetically.

  "You know how he is. He worries."

  "With good reason. Come. I have the room prepared."

  He led her into a small examination room curtained off from the main area. Leik sat on the padded table while Dr. Thin washed his hands.

  scrub-scrub.

  "Let's check the vitals first. Then the baby."

  He placed a cold stethoscope against her back. Leik took deep breaths as instructed. Then he had her lie back. He applied a gel to her abdomen and pressed a handheld ultrasound scanner against her skin. The screen flickered with grainy gray shapes.

  "Heart rate is strong." He adjusted the contrast. "Development looks normal for two months. No signs of mutation or radiation sickness. That is the good news."

  He wiped the gel from her stomach with a towel and looked at her with grave eyes.

  "But Leik, your body is under immense strain. I see inflammation markers in your blood work from the last scan. The cortisol levels are through the roof. You are burning the candle at both ends."

  Leik sat up and buttoned her shirt.

  "I know, Doctor. I'm done with the raids. I'm staying inside."

  "It's not just about staying inside. It's about resources. You need calcium, iron, protein. Things we barely have."

  He leaned closer.

  "And you need W-H2O. Kingham mentioned the haul. You need to drink at least one can every three days if you can. That drip of heaven... it is indeed remarkable water. It works wonders to curtail the Rust."

  He paced the small room.

  "I lost a patient last week. A young girl. Her lungs calcified from the dust. There was nothing I could do to help. But I believe... truly believe... that if she had drank the W-H2O in time, it might have given her a slim chance at survival. It flushes the system in a way UST never can."

  He stopped and looked at Leik pleadingly.

  "I am not fully aware of what W-H2O is capable of biologically. But I am hoping Kingham would allocate some cans to the clinic. If I can do extensive studies, run tests... we might find a cure, or at least a better treatment."

  Leik saw the desperation in his eyes. It was the look of a healer with no medicine.

  "I understand, Doctor. I will talk to my father-in-law. I'll advocate for you. If that water can save lives, it belongs here, not just in a vault."

  Dr. Thin exhaled, and his shoulders slumped in relief.

  "Thank you, Leik. You don't know what that means to me."

  He escorted her to the door.

  "Take care of yourself. And that little one."

  "I will."

  They said their goodbyes, and Leik stepped back out into the bustling corridor. She headed toward Sector-Gamma to find her children.

  "Leik! Leik!"

  She turned to see Richie sprinting toward her. He weaved through the crowd. He arrived panting, his hands on his knees.

  Huff-huff.

  "I've been looking all over for you. It's urgent."

  Leik’s heart skipped a beat.

  "Is it the kids? Strider?"

  "No, no. It's the prisoner," Richie gasped. "He regained consciousness. Jona already went to inform Strider and Kingham."

  Leik’s expression hardened.

  "This is important. Let's go."

  She hurried toward the holding area.

  The holding block was a reinforced section of the Biome designated for those who misbehaved or for captives. When Leik arrived, she found Strider, Kingham, and several other Galvanizers gathered by the steel door.

  Strider looked up as she approached.

  "You came in time. We were just about to go in."

  He scanned her face, searching for any sign of distress.

  "Did you go to the clinic?"

  "I was coming from there when Richie found me. The baby is fine. I am fine. Now, what about our guest?"

  "He's awake. Confused, likely."

  Strider checked the charge on his pistol.

  "Who is going in first?" Leik asked.

  Strider stepped forward naturally.

  "I will. And I want you to maintain your distance, Leik. We don't know how dangerous he is yet."

  He looked at the group with a command in his eyes.

  "The man was clearly a well-equipped Galvanizer. There is a possibility of him being a Force user. Until I confirm otherwise, no one else enters until I give the signal. Is that clear?"

  "Clear," the group responded.

  Strider took a deep breath. He unlocked the door and pulled it open.

  He entered the interrogation room alone.

  It was a box with a single metal table and two chairs bolted to the floor. The stranger sat on one side. His arms were bound behind him with heavy zip-ties. He had been stripped of his Adamantine armor and his jumpsuit. The only thing he wore was a pair of boxers.

  The man looked around the room. His eyes were sharp, scanning the corners, the bolts, the camera lens in the ceiling. He looked puzzled about his whereabouts, but there was no fear in his posture.

  'Captured. These people must have found me in the wreck. They took my gear. They left me in my underwear like a common drunk.'

  He looked at the door as Strider entered.

  'Unknown Galvanizers. Their gear is mismatched. Scavengers. These bastards took everything.'

  Strider walked to the table. He did not sit. He stood over the man like a stern menace. He unholstered his gun and placed it on the metal surface with a deliberate, heavy sound.

  Clack.

  It was a sign of intimidation, a promise of violence.

  The others watched from the observation window outside.

  Strider stared at the prisoner.

  "Who are you? Where do you come from? And what happened to the convoy?"

  The man looked at the gun, then up at Strider’s face. He didn't answer immediately. He calculated.

  'They kept me alive. That means they want something. They must have gotten their hands on the precious cargo from the truck. They don't look like enforcers from the Zinc Citadel. This place... the air is stale. The walls are crumbling. It must be a degraded Biome.'

  A smirk formed internally, though his face remained neutral.

  'Filthy rats. Scavenging in the dirt. They have no idea who they are dealing with. If I play my cards right... these fools will be under my thumb in no time.'