The reinforced gates groaned closed behind Ethan as he returned to the fortress. Hydraulic pistons hissed, sealing the entryway and purging the airlock of exterior contaminants. A mechanical voice confirmed his status.
[System Update: Oxygen Levels Stable | Bio-signs Normal][You have entered Fortress Omega - Safe Zone Active]
Ethan removed his helmet and made his way toward the medbay. His thoughts were still on the girl he'd rescued—the first real sign of humanity since the System had activated.
She was awake now.
Sitting up in the medpod with a blanket over her legs, the faint glow of the scanners washing across her pale features. She looked much better than she had hours ago—color returning to her cheeks, eyes clearer.
"Hey," Ethan greeted, placing a sealed nutrient pouch beside her. "Eat. You need it."
She took it cautiously. "Thanks… I'm Lira. Lira Valtor."
"Ethan," he said simply, arms crossed. "You're lucky. Another hour in that wreck and the infection would've killed you."
She lowered her gaze. "I didn't think anyone would come."
"I almost didn't."
A tense pause followed, broken only by the soft hum of the med equipment.
[System Notification: Survivor Successfully Stabilized]
Name: Lira ValtorAge: 19Condition: RecoveringProfession: Logistics Analyst – RoyalLine Evac DivisionPotential Role: Fortress Logistics Officer
Unique Trait: "Efficient Categorizer"• Increases resource organization speed by +15%• Unlocks Logistics Optimization Module
Ethan's brow lifted.
"You were RoyalLine?"
"My dad ran a regional evac station. I helped coordinate cargo loads before everything fell apart. That's how I knew about those emergency crates."
He took a step back, thoughtful.
"Then maybe you can help with this."
He brought up his HUD, flicking his hand as the System Interface appeared—holographic, floating, and responsive.
[Shelter System – Inventory Interface Activated]
[Main Inventory – Fortress Omega Warehouse Linked]
Warehouse Status: OperationalCapacity: 11% Utilized
🔹 Available Resources:• [x4] Industrial Fuel Cells• [x6] Grade-C Alloy Plates• [x12] Vacuum-Sealed Rations• [x1] High-Grade Medkit• [x1] Solar Battery Array
🔹 Personal Inventory Slots: 10/20 Used
• [x1] Modular Rifle (Custom)• [x2] Repair Kit (Field-Grade)• [x1] Emergency Beacon• [x1] Crate Scanner Module• [x5] Field Rations
"You have an inventory?" Lira blinked.
"It's linked to the warehouse. Everything I scavenge out there goes in here, and it auto-sorts once I'm inside the Fortress."
She whistled. "That's some serious tech. You could rebuild a city with this."
"First, I need to rebuild a life," Ethan muttered, closing the interface.
[New Mission Alert: Expedition Run – Resource Hunt I]
Region: Urban Commercial Zone – Sector DeltaThreat Level: Moderate
Objective: Secure essential resources from abandoned logistics depot
Bonus Objective: Locate RoyalLine Priority Crates
Estimated Rewards:• Construction Materials• Food Supplies• Chance of Rare Tech Components
[Accept Mission?] Yes | No
Ethan accepted immediately.
"I'm heading out," he told Lira. "Depot 4 is nearby. I need parts and maybe food."
Lira's eyes lit up. "Depot 4? That was my route! You'll want to check under the main terminal platform. That's where my father used to hide RoyalLine reserves—marked with a red 'R'."
[Logistics Tip Recorded – Success Chance +5%][+2 System Credits Earned]
"You just earned your keep," Ethan muttered.
[Time Elapsed: +49 Minutes]
Ash drifted over the lifeless city as Ethan arrived at the ruins of Depot 4. The place was cracked and covered in collapsed beams, but the central structure was intact enough for him to work with.
His scanner blinked—there it was.
Detected: RoyalLine Crate – Type R• Lock: Biometric + Pin• Status: Power Offline
[Bypass Options: Manual | Override Chip]
"No power… but I've got a trick."
Ethan slotted in a cracked biometric override chip—synthesized from Lira's medpod retinal scan—and held his breath.
Click.
Crate Unlocked. Contents Secured to Inventory.
[x3] Emergency Alloy Supports
[x1] Medical Synth Kit
[x6] High-Calorie Ration Blocks
[x2] Battery Packs (Solar)
[x1] Personal Box [Designated: Lira V.]
Ethan paused at the final entry.
He opened the smaller crate gently.
Inside was a digital photo frame, a pendant, a leather-bound diary, and a rabbit-shaped ration bar.
He swallowed hard and sealed it up.
[Return to Fortress Omega – +2 Hours]
Lira sat up as he returned, eyes widening when he held out the crate.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
"My… mom gave me this before she left."
She held the pendant to her chest. "I thought I'd never see it again…"
[Survivor Bond Strengthened]
Trust Level: Basic ➤ ModerateMorale +3
New Title Unlocked: "Sanctuary Keeper – Level 1"Bonus: +5% to Survivor Morale Gain
[Fortress Stability Increased]
Ethan let her have the moment, then returned to the command interface.
[Shelter System Update]
New Feature Unlocked: Expedition Role Assignment
Available Survivors:• Lira – Logistics Officer (Passive Role)
Effects:• +10% Expedition Storage Efficiency• Auto-Sort Active• Debrief Report Processing Enabled
Fortress Omega wasn't just a relic anymore.
It was becoming a home.
And for the first time since waking in a dead world… Ethan wasn't alone.