Inside the Drill Snowship (VaultaCorp)
The cargo compartment of the Drill Snowship was an agonizing metal box. The air was thick with the smell of burnt oil and cold ozone, and the bone-jarring vibrations followed the rhythm of the colossal drill grinding through ice and rock ahead. Red emergency lights flickered, coloring the tense faces of ten VaultaCorp Soldiers wearing light armor.
Private Hans screamed, his voice muffled by the deafening engine. "I heard that Water Guardian can control water! There's water everywhere down here!"
"Shut up, insect," snapped Moris, emerging from the control room door. The dagger tucked into his belt glowed with a fierce purple light. "Focus, or I'll dry you out in seconds! This dagger will dry them out in seconds. Focus!"
Moris retreated back into the control room. A violent, sickening jolt suddenly hit—the Drill Snowship slammed against a hard layer of ice. Private Rico lost his footing on the slick steel floor. His body swayed violently, ready to crash into a valuable control panel.
Just as Rico was about to fall, Private Vin (the Guiding Star in disguise) quickly and calmly moved one step. He gripped Rico's arm with an iron hold, stabilizing him with his unusual body balance. Vin seemed utterly unaffected by the massive jolt.
Rico gasped, then looked at Vin with wide eyes. "Thanks, mate. Your balance is insane!"
Vin responded only with cold, measured tones. "Fear only corrupts data. Focus on the intrusion point."
Suddenly, Evan's voice crackled over the loudspeaker. "Hold position! Fifty meters to go. Intrusion imminent. Remember, the Crystallis is the priority. Clear anything that gets in your way!"
Vin shifted his gaze from Rico to the Ship's diagnostic panel. He could see the overly optimistic sensor readings—he knew exactly that the Drill Snowship would lose full control and create massive chaos upon intrusion.
In the Guardian's Keep (Rian and the Guardian)
In the depths of the Guardian's Keep, the vast cavern was damp and silent, save for the rhythmic drip of subterranean water. The air was humid but carried the deep chill of the earth.
Rian was busy in a corner, running his hand over the cold, rough stone of the Golem as he installed the final cable. Suddenly, a handful of fine dust and small gravel fell from the ceiling, landing on Rian's shoulder and the Golem. Rian snapped his head up, his eyes narrowed with worry, before forcing himself to return to work.
Immediately after, the Old Guardian suddenly materialized beside him, standing perfectly still.
Rian powered down his tools. He looked into the Guardian's eyes, filled with ancient wisdom. No sound was uttered, but a sharp message flowed into Rian's mind.
[TELEPATHY TO RIAN]: "The Mechanic, your repairs are good, but they will not hold against this threat. When the time comes, you must make a choice: Remain the engineer fixing the past, or become the protector embracing your new destiny."
Rian froze, his body rigid, his eyes fixed on the Guardian. He nodded slightly, accepting the heavy burden of the unspoken choice.
Anya, who was watching the defenses from a higher position, sensed the silent shift in the air. She walked closer. "Rian? What's going on? Why were you both silent?"
Rian flinched, slamming the Golem's panel shut. His voice was strained. "Nothing, Anya. We were just... discussing the Golem's relay cables. He said I had to 'make a choice' between manual or automatic systems."
Anya narrowed her eyes, suspicious of Rian's quick tone. She glanced at the Guardian who was already walking back towards Salsa. "Just about cables? Alright. Just remember to stay alert—"
Suddenly, the cavern shook violently. The roar of the mechanical drill sounded deafeningly close, vibrating through their very bones. Dust and gravel fell like rain.
Rian ignored Anya. Instantly, he looked towards Salsa's training area, his face tense with anxiety.
Anya (with Nikolai's rifle slung over her shoulder) wasted no time. "They're here!" she yelled. She leaped and ran swiftly towards the machine gun emplacement.
A searing, thunderous explosion tore through the cavern ceiling. Boulders and ice fragments cascaded down, creating a blinding mist. From the gaping hole, the VaultaCorp Drill Snowship emerged, its bright lights searing the darkness and heating the humid air instantaneously. The ship paused momentarily, ready to disgorge its troops.