Lilia didn’t protest when the Elders asked her to help collect data from an old research center. It gave her something to do, something to focus on other than the hollow ache inside her.

Miniet, however, seemed to be having the time of her life. “I mean, what kind of research center are we talking about? Biological? Cybernetic? Ooh, what if it’s an abandoned alien experimentation lab? What if there’s still something in there?”

Lilia couldn’t help but smile—just a little. Miniet’s energy was infectious, her words tumbling over each other faster than she could catch them. It was something grounding, something real, in contrast to the numbness she had felt for weeks.

The facility loomed ahead, half-hidden beneath vines and rusted scaffolding. Miniet all but bounced ahead, her small frame darting from one point of interest to another. “Look at this door—looks like something scratched it! And this—this console’s still on! Lilia, Lilia, come look!”

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Lilia followed, warmth flickering in her chest. She adored Miniet. The way she never slowed down, the way she saw the world like it was brimming with possibility, even in the ruins of something forgotten.

She let Mineit ramble as she worked, brushing dust off an old console and pressing a few buttons. A screen flickered to life, and lines of data scrolled across.

Lilia’s breath caught.

“This place still has power,” she murmured.

Miniet skittered over, nearly knocking over a rusted chair. “Which means…?”

Lilia’s fingers hovered over the keys. There was still functionality here. Still something to use.

An idea took root.

She turned to Miniet, eyes sharp with rare intensity. “We can use this.”

Miniet’s nose scrunched in curiosity. “For what?”

Lilia knew.

And she wanted to fuck around find out.