Four days later, on the landing pad of the Solendel command center, a high-speed special transport from Aegis Industries made a soft landing. The ship's ramp slid open, revealing the final pieces of their puzzle.
Dr. Aris and Lina stepped out first, their eyes wide with amazement at the scale of the facility and the technology that seemed to have been well-prepared. Following them was a figure in an all-black operational suit that concealed every inch of their body. The seamless, jet-black high-tech helmet had only a dark red visor that reflected the image of everyone waiting.
"You finally made it," Zaria was the first to greet them.
The armored figure gave her a slight nod before turning to Zen and slowly raising a fist. Zen smiled and gave a light fist bump in return... This was the first real meeting between best friends who had known each other through a screen for most of their lives.
"You won't even show your face to a friend you've known for over ten years?" Zaria couldn't help but tease. "This is a clan of ninja assassins, for sure."
"I asked to see his real face the whole way here, but he wouldn't show me!" Lina added with disappointment. Dr. Aris, standing nearby, tried to lightly touch his helmet, but the figure in black moved faster than thought, causing Dr. Aris to just raise his hands in surrender.
A voice came through the helmet's speaker. It was Karess's voice, but slightly modified, sounding flat and emotionless. "Space travel always has its risks... Protecting one's identity is fundamental to my family," he replied, his playful tone hidden beneath the coldness of technology. "So... is the 'playground' here ready for me to assemble that 'toy' of yours!?"
Just as everyone was about to head into the command center, the arrival alarm for a large spacecraft blared throughout the area. The "Aurora's Path," a ship several times larger than Zaria's, was descending gracefully for a landing.
"Mother's here!" Zaria exclaimed excitedly. "She must have brought the most 'important package' herself... Let's go!"
The massive ship's door opened, revealing Lysera Polaris, who walked down with a smile. Behind her was a large team of workers who began to transport the secure containers holding the "Resonexium Dust" into the material storage hangar.
After a brief greeting and introducing the new team members to her mother, Lysera spoke with Zen and Zaria as they walked to the main research lab.
"I heard about your project from Sylvester... it's amazing. Especially that 'Resonexium Dust'," she began. "When I received the order to pick up this ore from the Asphodel Reach, I was still surprised. The preliminary report said it was just a powder with no special reaction, but the VVIP client was very insistent... I never thought that client would be my own daughter."
"It's the heart of everything, mother," Zaria explained. "It's the 'medium' that will connect everything."
When they reached the main research lab, Karess let out a soft whistle through his helmet's sound system. "Whoa... this playground looks pretty good... Aren't all these pieces of equipment the latest models from Aegis?"
"My father... when he does something, he always goes all out," Zaria replied proudly.
In the observation deck high above, made of smart glass, Sylvester and Lysera stood watching the Solendel team beginning their work with gusto.
"They work well together," Lysera commented. "That Mr. Kaelen... looks like a leader with vision. And Karess has extraordinary skills. Our daughter is like the glue that holds them all together."
"It's a balanced team," Sylvester replied flatly, but his eyes were filled with interest. "But the technology they're building... it could change the balance of the entire universe, Lysera... We have to watch them closely."
In the lab below, the work had begun in earnest. Dr. Aris and Lina experimented with the Resonexium Dust and found that it really did react to the brainwaves of the tester, confirming Zen's theory with tangible scientific principles.
This discovery was like a spark for everyone. They all worked tirelessly for the following weeks. The collaboration became a routine. Zen and Karess spent most of their time together. Zen acted as the "theorist," projecting holograms of runic structures, explaining the hidden meanings and intent, while Karess was the "craftsman." He used his utmost concentration to inscribe those runes onto the core, imbuing his own "will" into every stroke. Meanwhile, Zaria and the science team monitored the energy and calculated the stability without rest.
Time passed... from a holographic outline, it slowly became tangible parts... and finally, the last piece was assembled.
The diagnostic system chimed its confirmation... CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE.
At the center of the now-quiet research lab, a large spherical object now stood. It wasn't just a machine; it was a work of art. The shimmering silver metal structure was intricately inscribed with complex and beautiful runic characters. The lines of the power circuits seemed to emit a faint, internal glow, even though it was still silent and unawakened.
The five members of Team Solendel stood looking at their masterpiece, exhausted but filled with an overwhelming sense of pride.
They... had done it.