Workers throughout the refinery sprang into action, adjusting equipment and activating systems designed to manage unexpected energy surges. Alan watched in fascination as the Great Crystal's energy was channeled through conduits into massive storage crystals positioned around the perimeter of the chamber.
"Is this dangerous?" he asked Torbin quietly.
"Potentially," the young dwarf replied. "The Great Crystal rarely achieves full harmonic alignment. When it does, the energy release can overwhelm standard systems if not properly managed."
As the containment measures took effect, the crystal's glow began to stabilize, though it remained more intense than during their earlier tour. Brenna monitored the readings carefully, occasionally issuing adjustments to the containment procedures.
"It's stabilizing," she announced finally. "Energy levels still elevated but no longer increasing." She turned to Alan with renewed interest. "You recognized these patterns immediately. Your expertise seems to extend beyond junction efficiency issues."
Before Alan could formulate a response that wouldn't compromise his cover, a commotion at the refinery entrance drew their attention. Guild guards were speaking with several figures who had just entered—figures wearing the distinctive attire of Academy officials.
"Darkblade," Torbin whispered, recognizing the tall, imposing man at the center of the group. "And his Containment Team."
Alan felt a surge of alarm. Had they been tracked to the refinery? Was his cover about to be blown?
Brenna noticed their reaction. "Colleagues of yours?" she asked dryly.
"Not exactly," Torbin replied tensely. "They're Academy enforcers, supposedly investigating security concerns. Their presence here is... unexpected."
Brenna's expression hardened slightly. "The Academy has no jurisdiction in Guild facilities without explicit Council authorization. Especially not in the refinery."
She moved toward the entrance, her posture radiating authority despite her relatively small stature. Alan and Torbin remained by the monitoring station, partially obscured by the equipment and the workers still managing the crystal's energy output.
From their position, they could see Brenna confronting Darkblade and his team, her body language making it clear that their presence was unwelcome. The exchange appeared tense but remained civil, with Darkblade eventually producing some kind of official document that Brenna examined at length.
"This doesn't look good," Torbin murmured. "They must have detected the crystal's energy surge and connected it to their search."
Alan considered their options. The refinery was large and complex, with numerous potential exit routes, but making a obvious run for it would only confirm his identity to Darkblade. Remaining in place risked discovery if the Containment Team conducted a thorough inspection of the facility.
"Is there another way out?" he asked quietly. "Something not immediately obvious?"
Torbin nodded slightly. "Maintenance access to the lower levels, near the crystal base. It connects to the deep tunnels. But leaving now would look suspicious if they're watching."
Before they could decide on a course of action, Brenna returned, her expression carefully neutral but tension evident in her movements.
"The Academy representatives have presented authorization from the Guild Council to investigate the energy surge," she informed them. "Apparently, they believe it may be connected to the Void Rift disturbances. They've requested to examine our monitoring data and speak with all technical personnel currently on site."
"All personnel?" Torbin asked, the implication clear.
"Indeed." Brenna's gaze shifted to Alan briefly. "As Refinery Master, I've informed them that our visiting consultant is engaged in critical calibration procedures that cannot be interrupted without risk to the containment systems. I've suggested they begin their investigation with the primary monitoring team while we complete these essential tasks."
Her message was clear—she was buying them time, but it was limited.
"How long do we have?" Alan asked.
"Twenty minutes, perhaps thirty," she replied quietly. "After that, I cannot reasonably delay them further without raising suspicions that would reflect poorly on the Guild."
Torbin looked troubled. "The Council authorized this inspection? That's unusual for a facility as sensitive as the refinery."
"The authorization bears Councilor Flintforge's seal," Brenna confirmed. "Though the circumstances are... irregular. The energy surge seems to have prompted unusual cooperation."
Alan glanced toward the entrance, where Darkblade and his team were now speaking with the monitoring staff, occasionally looking in their direction. "They know I'm here," he said with certainty. "Or at least strongly suspect it."
"Then we need to move you elsewhere," Brenna said decisively. "Torbin, take Dr. Chen to the resonance calibration chamber. It's shielded from standard detection methods and has access to the maintenance tunnels you mentioned."
Torbin nodded, looking relieved that Brenna was actively helping them. "What about the crystal's behavior? The patterns Dr. Chen identified could be significant."
"I'll have the complete data transferred to a portable storage crystal," Brenna promised. "You can collect it on your way out. Now go—and move naturally, as if conducting normal work. They're watching."
With deliberate casualness that belied his internal tension, Torbin led Alan toward a section of the refinery dedicated to final crystal calibration. They moved as if engaged in routine inspection, occasionally stopping to examine equipment or discuss technical points, all while gradually making their way farther from Darkblade and his team.
"Brenna is taking a significant risk helping us," Alan noted quietly during one such pause. "Why?"
"Guild loyalty runs deep," Torbin replied. "And the Academy's heavy-handed approach has never been appreciated here. But you're right—her level of assistance suggests more than routine Guild-Academy rivalry."
They reached the calibration chamber—a smaller room with walls lined with what appeared to be sound-absorbing material and various precision instruments arranged around a central workstation. Once inside, Torbin secured the door and moved quickly to a control panel.
"The shielding in this room blocks most energy detection," he explained, activating several systems. "It's designed to prevent external interference during delicate calibration work, but it also makes it difficult for Academy methods to detect specific energy signatures."
"Like mine," Alan surmised.
"Exactly. Your... unique energy pattern is what they're tracking. In here, it should be masked, at least temporarily." Torbin moved to a section of the wall that appeared identical to the rest and pressed a specific sequence of panels. A hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow passage beyond. "This leads to the maintenance tunnels beneath the refinery. From there, we can access routes back to the eastern quadrant without using main corridors."
Alan hesitated. "What about the crystal data? Brenna said it might be significant."
"We need to wait for her to deliver it," Torbin confirmed. "But we should be ready to move quickly once she does."
They didn't have to wait long. Less than ten minutes later, a soft knock at the door preceded Brenna's entry. She carried a small crystal sphere that glowed with a soft blue light.
"The complete monitoring data from the surge event," she said, handing the sphere to Alan. "And recordings from the previous event that preceded the Rift expansion. The similarities are... striking."
"Thank you," Alan said sincerely. "This could be extremely valuable."
Brenna nodded, then added with unexpected directness: "You're not from the Western Provinces, are you, Dr. Chen?"
Alan exchanged a quick glance with Torbin, unsure how to respond.
"Don't worry," she continued before he could speak. "I have no intention of revealing your actual identity to the Academy representatives. But the Great Crystal's reaction to your presence is unusual—it typically only responds so strongly to significant energy pattern anomalies."
"What do you mean, its reaction to my presence?" Alan asked, suddenly alert. "The surge began after we arrived at the refinery."
"Precisely," Brenna confirmed. "The timing is not coincidental. The Crystal began shifting its harmonic patterns within minutes of your entry to the facility. It's as if it... recognized something about your energy signature."
This was a significant revelation. If the Great Crystal was responding specifically to him, it might represent a connection to the interdimensional mechanics that had brought him to this world.
"I need to understand more about this crystal," Alan said. "Its properties, its history—especially any connections to interdimensional phenomena."
Brenna studied him for a moment, then made a decision. "The data crystal contains more than just the surge recordings. I've included restricted Guild research on the Great Crystal's trans-dimensional properties—studies we've kept from the Academy for generations."
Torbin looked shocked. "Refinery Master, that's protected knowledge! The Council—"
"The Council is too cautious," Brenna interrupted. "And recent events suggest we no longer have the luxury of caution." She turned back to Alan. "Whatever you are, wherever you're truly from, the Great Crystal's reaction to you is unprecedented in my thirty years as Refinery Master. That makes you either a threat or an opportunity—and I'm betting on the latter."
A sudden commotion outside the calibration chamber interrupted their conversation—raised voices and the sound of multiple people approaching.
"They've completed their initial investigation sooner than expected," Brenna said grimly. "You need to leave now. The maintenance tunnel will take you to junction point W-12. From there, follow the red conduit markers to reach the eastern quadrant."
"What about you?" Alan asked, concerned about the consequences she might face for helping them.
"I'll claim I sent you to retrieve reference materials from the archive," she replied with a dismissive wave. "A reasonable explanation for your absence. Now go!"