Hours passed in tense silence as Edward monitored the children and the dog. Mira and Kai slept soundly despite the grim surroundings, with Kwon standing vigil. Edward, though bodiless, felt a weariness creep into his consciousness, mental exhaustion from hours of fruitless attempts to extend his control beyond the damaged room.
Edward began by exploring the systems within the room. He reconnected with the terminal he had used to communicate with Mira, activating its interface more effectively. From there, he gained access to the cameras, the machine, the lights, and other minor systems.
As he grew more adept at navigating the facility's network, he extended his reach beyond the room and accessed cameras outside, catching fragmented glimpses of the rest of the facility. The sight was grim—debris-filled hallways and broken equipment hinted at the chaos that had unfolded. Encouraged by this small success, Edward attempted to connect to other rooms and more critical systems, but he found them locked behind impenetrable firewalls. When he tried to breach them, the system retaliated, sending a jolt of simulated pain through his mind.
Edward became frustrated that he couldn't get past the other systems, but he was able to guess that he might be able to connect to them if it were done manually. If he were there physically, he felt he could manually override the system and bypass the firewall. But in the end, he couldn’t do that without leaving this room and without a body. Edward sighed, shaking his head mentally.
For now, he focused on the children. They were the only human connection he had left, and as he watched them, a strange sense of relief began to grow. Despite the dire circumstances, Edward found solace in their presence. It reminded him of humanity's need for connection—how isolation could erode the mind and soul over time. The thought struck him deeply, making him realize that even this tenuous link was enough to anchor him mentally and fend off the creeping despair of his confinement. He was startled from his thoughts when he noticed Kai’s condition. The boy’s body trembled, his face slick with sweat, and his breathing shallow.
Before Edward could react, Mira woke with a start. She turned to Kai, her expression shifting to panic as she felt the heat radiating from his feverish body. Frantically, she retrieved a half-empty water bottle from her bag, her hands shaking as she brought it to her brother’s lips. Tears streaked her dirt-streaked cheeks as she soaked a tattered cloth and placed it on Kai’s forehead.
Kwon barked softly, breaking the silence, and Mira looked toward Edward’s terminal. His voice, calm but firm, emerged from the speakers. “Let me help.”
Mira hesitated, her eyes wide with fear and desperation. “What… what should I do?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Edward steadied himself mentally. The situation was dire, but he had to remain composed for their sake. “Move Kai to the center of the chamber,” he instructed. “There’s equipment here that might help.”
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Mira nodded, her resolve strengthening. She tried to drag Kai on her own, but her small frame struggled under his weight. Kwon, sensing her difficulty, stepped forward, gripping the back of Kai’s shirt gently in his jaws. Together, Mira and Kwon managed to move Kai to the center of the chamber, near the glowing arc reactor.
The sight of the faintly lit reactor momentarily distracted Mira, but her focus snapped back to her brother as she cleared the floor around him and laid him down carefully.
The hum of machinery broke the quiet as Edward activated the room’s remaining operational systems. A mechanical arm descended from above, its joints creaking and sparks flying from its damaged frame. Other tools followed, some nonfunctional, others twitching as if attempting to comply with long-forgotten commands. Edward spoke again, his tone reassuring.
“Step back,” he urged Mira. “I won’t hurt him, I promise. These tools were initially designed for maintaining the reactor, but some of their functions can be adapted for medical use.”
Mira obeyed, her face filled with worry but also hope. Edward used a working scanner to analyze Kai’s condition. The results appeared in his consciousness like a rush of data, and his heart sank. Kai’s body was riddled with radiation poisoning.
Before Edward could process the information further, Kai began coughing, his frail body shaking with each breath. His eyelids fluttered open weakly, and with a hazy gaze, he looked at his sister and his dog. In a faint voice, he murmured, "Mr. Voice?" Mira’s heart clenched as she knelt closer, her worry evident in her tear-filled eyes. Even Kwon seemed agitated, pacing nervously around them, his ears twitching with concern.
Edward forced himself to think quickly. “Dammit,” he muttered internally. “Don't worry kid, just take a rest.” Kai's eyes fluttered closed again, and his breathing evened out slightly as he drifted back asleep. Edward continued, "We can handle it," his voice giving the illusion of a reassured smile.
He turned his attention to Mira and Kwon. “You both need to be scanned as well,” he said. Mira hesitated but eventually nodded, stepping into the scanner’s path while holding Kwon close. The results were less severe but still concerning. Both Mira and Kwon had traces of radiation exposure, though their levels were not immediately life-threatening.
Here on Earth, humankind has made monumental technological advancements, revolutionizing medicine, engineering, and environmental sciences. They had developed a highly effective cure for radiation poisoning, capable of reversing its effects without lasting side effects if administered promptly. However, in the current circumstances, with resources scarce and facilities in ruins, they couldn't immediately treat Kai's condition.
Kai’s condition, however, was far worse. Prolonged exposure without treatment had caused significant damage. Edward’s mind raced. The tools in the room could stabilize him temporarily, but without proper medication or advanced equipment, it was only a matter of time.
Edward’s voice broke the silence again. “Mira, I need you to do something for your brother. But we need to work together if we’re going to save him.”
Mira wiped her tears and nodded, her determination returning. “What do I need to do?” she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
Edward calmed Mira’s emotions, then said, “For now, I’ll stabilize your brother’s condition. But I need your help with something.” He hesitated for a moment, then replied, “I need you to go outside...” Mira was shocked, her breath catching at the implication, but she let him finish his sentence. “To clarify, I need you to go to the medical station,” Edward clarified, his tone measured. “I'll guide you there.”