Joe’s first day at the lab began well before the sun had risen. The sky was a dull, steel-gray as he made his way briskly through the quiet streets of Fandheim, his breath forming small clouds in the chilly morning air. The city was eerily still, a rare moment of calm before the chaos of the day. Joe's nerves were stretched taut, and his stomach churned with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He’d barely slept the night before, obsessively reviewing the research data Dr. Mool had sent him. Line after line of results had blurred together as he tried to piece everything into a coherent picture. And, of course, he’d spent nearly the entire night with Zera. Somehow, he’d managed to catch the last train into the capital city, arriving just in time.

Fandheim, even at odd hours, never really slept. People hustled through the streets, driven and restless, their expressions hardened with purpose. In this city, you either came from a wealthy family or worked yourself to the bone just to survive. Joe knew which category he belonged to.

Dr. Mool’s research was as wild as anything he’d ever seen, almost surreal. The files were similar to what they’d discussed during his interview, but now there was more detail—yet still not the full picture. It seemed they were trying to open some kind of portal. Stabilizing it, however, was proving to be a monumental challenge. According to the notes, they had successfully managed to create one briefly, but the energy generated was so massive and volatile that it spiraled out of control, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.

The lab was in the same building where Joe had been interviewed: the headquarters of the Dinkins Corporation. This was the beating heart of their research division—the major leagues of innovation. If you worked here, you were considered the best of the best. Success at this level wasn’t just a career achievement—it was a ticket to a life of luxury and influence.

After wandering the unfamiliar streets for several minutes, Joe finally reached the imposing building. It loomed high above him, with a grand staircase leading up to its entrance. The architecture was brutal and unforgiving, a stark reflection of the city’s ethos: survival of the fittest. Joe couldn’t help but notice how inaccessible it was for anyone less than physically perfect. “Lose your legs in the war, and you might as well lose your place in society,” he thought grimly. That was Fandheim for you—weakness wasn’t tolerated.

Pushing through the heavy doors, Joe was greeted by the sterile, biting smell of disinfectant. The faint hum of machines coming to life filled the air. Glancing at his phone, he saw the time: 6:58 a.m. Just in time. Barely.

The receptionist, Nadia Keller, greeted him with a radiant smile that felt just a bit too enthusiastic for the hour. “Good morning, Dr. Falks! Welcome to the team! I’m so happy to see you again. Dr. Mool is expecting you. You’ll find her in Lab 3 down the hall to your left—on the 71st floor. Oh, and if you’d like, I baked some cookies! You’re welcome to have some.”

Joe forced a polite smile, nodding as he muttered a quick, “Thanks,” before heading toward the elevators. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d have to endure Nadia’s chirpy voice every morning from now on.

The hallway leading to the elevator was brightly lit, with pristine white walls lined with posters showcasing the corporation’s groundbreaking achievements. One in particular caught Joe’s attention: a photograph of Dr. Mool shaking hands with the King himself. Her sharp gaze and commanding presence practically radiated off the image. Joe stared at it for a moment, feeling a mix of intimidation and awe. “I didn’t realize she was that successful,” he thought. Usually, meeting the King was reserved for people who had conquered nations or achieved legendary feats.

Stepping into the sleek, glass-paneled elevator, Joe pressed the button for the 71st floor and leaned back against the wall. His heart pounded in anticipation. The elevator climbed rapidly, offering brief glimpses of the city through its transparent walls. From up here, Fandheim looked both magnificent and menacing, its sprawling skyline bathed in the faint glow of the rising sun.

When the elevator doors slid open, Joe found walked directly into the lab, stepping into a completely different world. The lab was state-of-the-art, a sprawling space filled with gleaming equipment and buzzing with quiet activity. Researchers moved purposefully between workstations, their faces a mix of focus and fatigue.

Dr. Mool was standing at the far end of the room, her presence impossible to miss. She was speaking with a group of researchers, her tone brisk and authoritative. As Joe approached, she turned to him, her piercing eyes locking onto his.

“Dr. Falks,” she said, her voice sharp and direct. “You’re right on time. Good. I trust you’ve had a chance to review the data I sent you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Joe replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’ve gone over everything, though I have a few questions about the energy stabilization parameters.”

“Questions are good,” she said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “But answers are better. Let’s see if you’re as sharp as your credentials suggest. But first we unfortunately have to sought out the business part.”

Joe followed Dr. Mool to a nearby workstation, where she pulled up his employment contract for the next three months. As he read it, his jaw nearly hit the floor. He would be earning more in one week than he had in his entire life up to this point. The conditions were strict—long hours and high expectations—but he was used to that. His first thought was of Zera. He couldn’t wait to call her tonight. She’d be thrilled, and maybe, just maybe, this meant she wouldn’t have to move to Ecalia after all.

Joe signed the contract with a trembling hand, still reeling from the reality of his new life. Just as he finished, the door to the lab swung open, and an older man stepped in. His sharp, critical eyes scanned the room.

“Ah, Dr. Wilson,” Mool said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t you have anything better to do? Or is pestering those of us actually doing the work your full-time job now?”

The man chuckled dryly. “Franziska, you know I’m just waiting for you to make a mistake big enough to shut this nonsense down for good. Your entire research line is pure fantasy. Why don’t you save everyone the trouble and redirect your team to something useful—like contributing to my projects?”

“Yes, of course,” Mool replied with biting sarcasm. “And after work, shall I give you a foot massage as well? No, thank you. I still believe I’m capable of achieving something far beyond your limited imagination.”

Wilson smirked. “I thought as much. Regardless, Robert is deeply concerned about your reckless experiments. Starting immediately, you’ll send me weekly progress reports. We don’t want another disaster like last time, do we? Oh, and I’ll be assigning one of my team members to monitor your work. Am I clear?”

Before she could respond, he added with a sneer, “Oh, and about that massage—drop by my office around six. Just make sure you wear something... less ugly.” With that, he strode out of the lab, leaving Mool speechless for a moment.

Joe stared, unsure how to respond. “Who was—”

“Let’s start,” Mool cut him off abruptly, recovering her composure. She pulled up a series of complex diagrams on the screen. The equations and schematics were overwhelming, but Joe forced himself to focus. This was what he’d been preparing for, and he couldn’t afford to falter now.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The day unfolded in a whirlwind of activity. Mool was relentless, pushing Joe and the team to their limits. By midday, Joe’s head was spinning, but he couldn’t deny the exhilaration of working on something so groundbreaking.

As the sun set over Fandheim, Joe found himself standing by one of the lab’s massive windows, gazing out at the bustling city below. Despite the exhaustion and pressure, he felt a flicker of hope. He was here, in the heart of innovation, working on something that could change the world—or destroy it.

At one point, Clara, one of his colleagues, leaned over and whispered, “Welcome to the madhouse. Don’t worry; she only bites if you’re slow.”

Joe managed a weak smile. “Good to know.”

Mool approached him. “It’s 7 p.m. Would you like to grab something to eat, Dr. Falk? We can discuss the stabilization issue over dinner.”

Clara, overhearing this, whistled softly as she walked away, earning herself a sharp glare from Mool.

“Sure,” Joe replied. “I think I’ve got an idea for that. Just let me grab my notes.”

“Meet me in room 71.341 in ten minutes,” Mool said before heading off.

Clara offered to show Joe the way, peppering him with questions about his life during the two-minute walk. When he entered the room, he was greeted by a sprawling buffet filled with food of every kind—meats, vegetables, desserts. Joe couldn’t resist piling two plates high before sitting across from Mool. Naturally, she wasn’t eating; her sole focus was the research.

Does this woman have some kind of hidden battery? Joe thought to himself.

“So, Dr. Falk,” Mool said, leaning forward. “Impress me. We need this.”

Joe swallowed a bite of food and began. “Are you familiar with the principles behind the Kesaze Wheel Beacons?”

Mool tilted her head. “It’s a system the Kesaz Province uses to manage its energy grid, correct? Although I’m not well-versed in the specifics.”

Joe launched into an explanation, detailing how the system worked and how it could potentially be adapted to stabilize the portal’s energy overflow. Mool listened intently, her sharp mind evident in the barrage of questions she fired at him.

After nearly two hours of intense discussion, Mool picked up the phone. “Clara, come here. Now.”

Two minutes later, Clara appeared in the doorway, looking curious but cautious. “How can I help?”

“Team 21 needs to travel to the Kesaz Province and retrieve one of their Wheel Beacons. How soon can it be done?”

“No problem,” Clara replied. “It should be ready by tomorrow morning.”

“Then get to work immediately,” Mool ordered before turning back to Joe. “Dr. Falk, I want a complete implementation plan on my desk by tomorrow morning. You’re dismissed.”

Joe left the room, his stomach growling from the half-eaten meal he’d abandoned. Back in the lab, he gathered his things and headed downstairs, where Nadia, the receptionist, stopped him.

“Mr. Falks, I’ve got the keys to your apartment,” she said with her usual overly enthusiastic tone. She handed him the keys and explained several details about his new accommodations, including when his clothes would be collected for cleaning and when the cook would prepare his meals. Joe couldn’t help but feel a bit ridiculous hearing about such luxuries.

When he finally entered the apartment, he was stunned. It was easily twice the size of his old place and by far the most beautiful home he’d ever seen. Despite his awe, exhaustion overtook him, and within two minutes of hitting the bed, he was sound asleep.

Joe awoke to the incessant sound of the doorbell ringing. It took him a moment to register what was happening. Groaning, he dragged himself out of bed and stumbled towards the door. As he opened it, Clara stood there, looking as energetic as if it were midday.

“Mool said you’d be late, so she told me to come and pick you up—like a babysitter,” she said with a smirk. “I’m guessing you were up all night thinking about something important?”

Joe rubbed his eyes. “Uh, good morning. What time is it?”

“Five a.m. Now hurry up, get dressed, and let’s head back to the lab. You don’t need a shower; it’ll save us time.”

Still half-asleep and thoroughly shocked, Joe grabbed the first t-shirt he could find and followed her out. The apartment was conveniently located right next to the lab building, making the walk short, though Joe wished it were longer to give him time to wake up properly.

As they entered the building, Nadia, the ever-cheerful receptionist, greeted them.

“Oh, Clara, your hair looks beautiful today! Can we go to the hairdresser together next time? Oh, Mr. Falk, good to see you!”

Joe leaned towards Clara and whispered, “Does this woman ever sleep?”

Clara chuckled. “No, actually, she doesn’t. She’s gene-modified so she never needs sleep. This… enthusiastic personality of hers is a side effect, apparently. Don’t ask me how it works.”

Joe looked at her, stunned. “You’re kidding, right?”

Clara just smiled mysteriously as they stepped into the elevator. Joe couldn’t tell when she was joking and when she was serious. She had an uncanny ability to blend truth and humor in a way that left him perpetually unsure. During the short ride up, she regaled him with stories about the lab’s past projects, each more bizarre than the last.

When they arrived at the lab, Joe was stunned. Overnight, the team had managed to install the Kesaze Wheel Beacon, a device the size of an entire room. Not only that, but they were already connecting it to the portal frame exactly as Joe had outlined in his notes—notes he hadn’t even shared with them yet.

Dr. Mool spotted him and waved him over. “We’re a bit behind schedule, but maybe you can help Sam and his team connect the beacon to the portal frame? We need to run tests today.”

Joe nodded. “Sure, I’ll do my best.”

The frame was housed in a heavily reinforced, explosion-proof room equipped with hundreds of sensors and cameras. Joe joined Sam and his team, who were working in near silence. Sam, it turned out, wasn’t much of a talker—or a smiler, for that matter. Still, they managed to make progress, and after five grueling hours, the construct was complete. The team left the room to allow two separate inspection teams to verify their work.

While the inspections were underway, Joe sat in the lunchroom with Clara, wolfing down two plates of food.

“Did you hear they started the first attack on Leafheim yesterday?” Clara asked, breaking the silence. “I don’t get it. They’ll run out of supplies, end up in a stalemate for a few years, and then what? Can’t these people just talk like normal humans?”

Joe paused mid-bite. “I didn’t know you were allowed to have opinions like that in the capital.”

Clara laughed. “What, do you think we’re slaves told what to think? Relax, I’m just kidding. No one cares about my opinions anyway. But it’s frustrating—all these lives wasted on pointless wars. My father fought in the last one. Lost an arm in an explosion. He’s… not the same anymore. Can’t find work. I take care of him now, which is fine, but…”

Joe’s stomach churned. “Yeah, I understand. My…”

The door burst open, and Dr. Mool stormed in. “GO! We’re ready to test it. Let’s go!”

Joe and Clara leapt to their feet, excitement replacing their exhaustion as they rushed back to the lab. The portal frame was humming with energy, and the air around it seemed to shimmer.

Dr. Mool turned to Joe. “Dr. Falk, would you do the honors? Just press this button here.”

Joe raised an eyebrow. “The big red button? Really?”

“You don’t have to push it if you don’t want to,” she replied dryly.

“No, no, I’ve got it.” Joe took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pressed the button.

The world seemed to hold its breath. The portal frame roared to life, sucking in the air around it before releasing it in a pulse of green light. The Kesaze Wheel Beacon whirred, stabilizing the energy flow. It worked. The portal was open, and the world seemed to have stopped.

Joe felt a strange pull, as though the portal were calling to him. It hummed, and though it made no sound, he felt as if it were speaking directly to his mind. Entranced, he moved towards the explosion-proof door. The alarms blared, but he ignored them.

“What are you doing? Stop!” Dr. Mool’s voice cut through the haze. “Please, step back! We need to run tests first!”

But Joe couldn’t stop. The portal’s pull was irresistible. He stepped through, and the world around him dissolved into a swirling vortex of colors and emotions. Time and space bent and twisted, and he felt as though he were falling through an endless tunnel.

Then he hit the ground. Hard.

A voice, not spoken but felt, echoed in his mind. “Ah, we’ve been waiting for you.”

And then everything went black.