The room shook again. The tremor rolled through the walls like something massive had stirred beneath the base.
Max's room was cluttered but calculated. Steel shelves lined with parts and half-assembled machines flanked the left wall. A monitor stood powered off beside a glowing circuit board, still warm from last night's work. The air smelled faintly of solder and coolant. Against the far corner, a white marker board stood beside a long table riddled with sketches, formulas, and system diagrams etched in black ink. Notes crowded every inch, scrawled fast but sharp, like thoughts he didn't want to forget.
The tremor reached him. His eyes opened.
He blinked once, sat up slowly, then rubbed his face.
"Argh... what is going on now?"
Before his feet hit the floor, the door slid open.
Nexer charged in. The bot's body jerked with static. Its voice stuttered, mechanical and clipped.
"Max. Max. The base is under attack. The attack is coming from your lab."
Max didn't speak.
