The moment they got back to the apartment, Ava
tossed her new tools onto the workbench
and turned to Lucas.
"Alright, Bai," she said, crossing her arms. "Let's see what you
recklessly
threw twenty power cells at."
Lucas,
completely unbothered
, set the
mystery case
on the table with a satisfied smirk. "Impatient,
Beauty
?"
Ava scoffed. "I'd call it
cautious.
You, on the other hand, have a
spending problem.
"
Lucas chuckled, gesturing toward the case. "Then by all means, make me feel better about my purchase."
Ava sighed, rolling up her sleeves.
The case was
old-world tech
, sleek, reinforced, and
heavily encrypted.
Her
Blueprint System had flagged it the second she saw it, but it still couldn't crack the full details.
Which meant she needed to
open it manually.
She grabbed her new
micro-welding set
, scanning the
seams for weak points.
[ANALYZING...]
[Locking Mechanism: Digital & Manual Hybrid]
[Override Attempt: 32% Success Rate]
[Recommended Approach: Precision Cutting]
Ava exhaled. "Alright, this thing's locked up
tight.
I can force it open, but if there's anything
fragile
inside, you might regret it."
Lucas shrugged. "That's a risk I'm willing to take."
"Yeah, because
you
didn't just spend hours hunting for proper tools."
Lucas smirked. "You love a challenge,
Beauty
."
Ava
ignored him
and got to work.
She activated the
precision cutter
, carefully tracing
the edges of the case
, watching as her
system mapped out the internal structure.
Sparks flickered. The lock
sputtered, glitched—then disengaged.
Ava leaned back. "Done. And I didn't even break anything."
Lucas grinned. "Yet."
Ava rolled her eyes and
popped the case open.
Inside, nestled in
shock-proof foam
, was something
unexpected.
A
compact power core.
Not just
any
core—
a military-grade fusion cell, stabilized and intact.
Ava
stared.
Lucas
whistled.
"Well. That's
definitely
worth twenty power cells."
Ava ran a
quick scan.
[Power Core – Model: X-17]
[Fully Functional – High Output]
[Compatible with Advanced Weaponry & Tech Systems]
Ava exhaled. "Bai... this isn't just
rare.
This thing could
run an entire section of the bunker
if we wired it right."
Lucas's
grin widened.
"Or? It could power
something much more valuable.
"
Ava narrowed her eyes. "You already have a plan for it, don't you?"
Lucas just smiled.
Ava
sighed.
Of course he did.
And something told her?
She was about to get
dragged straight into it.
Ava barely had time to
process the military-grade power core
before Lucas strolled back into the apartment,
carrying something else.
Something
wrapped in reinforced casing
, the kind used for
high-value tech.
Ava
raised an eyebrow.
"What now, Bai?"
Lucas set the case on the table with a
satisfied smirk.
"Just something to go with our new power core."
Ava
narrowed her eyes.
"If it's another overpriced mystery box—"
Lucas flicked open the
heavy latches
and pulled back the lid.
Inside, folded neatly, was a
Bio-Suit.
Not just any
Bio-Suit
—but a
top-tier survival model
, built for
hostile environments, radiation shielding, and enhanced mobility.
Ava
stared.
Her
Blueprint System flared immediately
, scanning the material, breaking it down in real-time.
[ANALYZING...]
[Bio-Suit Model: Aegis-09]
[Status: 87% Functional – Minor Repairs Required]
[Upgradable Components Detected]
Ava exhaled. "Bai...
where
did you get this?"
Lucas grinned. "Let's just say I have friends in interesting places."
Ava crossed her arms. "And how much did
this
cost you?"
Lucas shrugged. "Less than the power core, more than your patience."
Ava muttered a curse under her breath and reached in,
running her fingers over the material.
The suit was
light but reinforced
, built for
speed, durability, and adaptability.
More importantly?
It was
meant for exploration.
Ava looked up, meeting Lucas's
too-casual gaze.
"You're planning something."
Lucas chuckled. "When am I
not
?"
Ava scowled. "Be specific, Bai. What's this for?"
Lucas leaned against the counter, golden eyes gleaming. "It's for
you
,
Beauty
."
Ava
froze.
"What."
Lucas smirked. "You said you needed better gear. So here you go—armor, environment protection, the works."
Ava's
mind raced.
This wasn't just
gear
.
This was
investment.
Lucas Bai was
preparing her for something bigger.
And that meant
he had plans for her.
Ava exhaled, shaking her head. "This isn't just about making me
safer
, is it?"
Lucas grinned. "No,
Beauty
. It's about making you
unstoppable
."
Ava
stared at the Bio-Suit.
It was sleek, dark, reinforced with
military-grade plating
over key areas. The material was
light but strong
, meant for
speed and endurance
.
Her
Blueprint System pulsed in the back of her mind
,
scanning every fiber, every seam, every hidden function
.
[ANALYZING...]
[Bio-Suit Model: Aegis-09]
[Status: 87% Functional – Repairable]
[Thermal Regulation: Active]
[Kinetic Absorption: Limited]
[System Sync Potential: HIGH]
Ava exhaled slowly.
This thing wasn't
just armor.
It was a
game-changer.
She dragged her eyes back to Lucas. "Alright, Bai. I'll bite.
Why
are you giving me this?"
Lucas smirked. "Because you need it."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "And?"
Lucas chuckled,
completely unbothered
. "And because I have plans that involve you
not dying
."
Ava crossed her arms. "Try again."
Lucas sighed dramatically. "Fine. You want the truth?"
Ava
tilted her head.
"For once? Yeah."
Lucas leaned against the counter, golden eyes
watching her too closely
.
"This bunker is stable
for now
," he said. "But the outside world? Still a disaster. We need resources, tech,
power.
And the only way to get it is to send people
out there
."
Ava's
stomach twisted.
"You're building an exploration team," she guessed.
Lucas grinned. "More like
securing assets before the military does
."
Ava
exhaled sharply.
Of course.
The bunker leaders weren't going to
stay neutral forever.
Eventually, they'd start
organizing proper expeditions, taking control of whatever was left out there.
Lucas Bai?
He was
getting ahead of them.
Ava
folded her arms
. "And let me guess—you want
me
to be part of this little operation?"
Lucas's
smirk widened.
"Come on,
Beauty
. Who else can fix my gear
and
keep up with me?"
Ava scoffed. "I haven't
agreed
yet."
Lucas chuckled. "You will."
Ava glanced at the suit.
Her
system pulsed again, highlighting possible upgrades, modifications, things she could improve.
Lucas was right about
one thing.
If she was going to
survive out there, she needed better protection.
Ava sighed. "Fine. I'll fix the suit first.
Then
we talk about your little expedition."
Lucas clapped a hand over his chest. "You wound me,
Beauty
. No trust at all?"
Ava picked up the suit and slung it over her shoulder. "I trust you
exactly as far as I can throw you.
"
Lucas smirked. "Good thing I'm fast, then."
Ava rolled her eyes and walked off.
She had
a suit to upgrade.
And
a lot of thinking to do.