The old Analogue Transport Truck, a leftover from before the Arcs, groaned its way down the busted highway. Inside, the cab was a tight, nervous space. Anya drove, scanning the messed-up landscape for trouble. Raya watched like a hawk, railgun ready.
Garth was in the passenger seat, fiddling with the clunky Geometric Fragment Tracker. Made from scrap, it chirped – the sound of the Fibonacci thing – telling them a weird geometric thing was nearby.
Next to him, Elara sat super still, her bright blue eyes glued to the Tracker's needle, reading the weird geometric changes with crazy accuracy.
FRAGMENT'S GETTING CLOSER. IT'S AT ALPHA-12, Elara said, her voice flat.
Alpha-12... that's the old Central Data place, Dr. Valen mumbled from the back, looking at a paper map. Biggest Arc data hub around here. When it went down, it must have left a ton of Arc Noise.
Perfect hiding spot for a geometric ghost, Garth said, adjusting the Tracker. The noise hides what it is.
I. Into the Weirdness
The highway opened up to a wrecked city. The buildings weren't bombed, but twisted apart by the Nullification's energy. They were like twisted monuments.
The Fragment Tracker started screaming – a high-pitched whine that cut through the engine.
We're close, Garth said through gritted teeth.
We need to scout, Anya said, slowing down. This place will draw looters, or worse – Warlords.
NO. WE'RE SHORT ON TIME. IT'S TRYING TO COME TOGETHER, Elara said. WE HAVE TO STOP IT BEFORE IT GETS STABLE. WE NEED A DISTRACTION.
Elara pointed to some old military vehicles blocking the road. THEY HAVE A LITTLE ARC ENERGY LEFT. Maybe 40%. Garth, use your thing to set them off.
Garth knew what to do. He had to make a controlled burst of Arc energy – chaos – to scare off anyone nearby and mess with the fragment's plans.
Anya stopped the truck. Raya, cover us. Dr. Valen, get the container ready.
The container was a lead thing for holding the unstable fragments until Elara could deal with them.
II. Controlled Chaos
Garth and Elara got out. The air felt weird, almost electric. Dust danced in straight lines.
They walked to the wrecked vehicles. Elara told Garth where to hit the nearest one.
HIT IT HERE. A SMALL BURST WILL CAUSE A BIG BOOM, Elara said.
Garth put his hand, protected by a metal thing, on the cold metal. He focused, drawing on the chaotic Arc Grid inside him. He didn't need to be gentle; he just needed to make chaos.
Garth forced a burst of Arc Resonance into the metal.
BOOM!
The vehicle exploded in a silent flash of blue light, vaporizing metal. The shockwave cleared the road and sent a pulse of noise everywhere.
GOOD. IT'S GETTING CONFUSED, Elara said.
The explosion drew attention. From a ruined bank, some armored figures started shooting with homemade guns. Warlord Scavengers.
Raya shot back with the railgun, forcing them back.
Move! No time to fight! Anya yelled.
III. Fighting Back
Garth and Elara ran into the dark Central Data Repository. Inside were wrecked servers and cables. The air was cold, and the Tracker was screaming.
It's here! In the center! Garth yelled.
In the center, was a weird column of air. Dust floated, frozen in place. Inside was a faint shimmer – the Geometric Fragment trying to rebuild the Unseen Collective.
IT'S FIXING THE PLACE. IT'S GETTING ORDERLY, Elara said.
As they got closer, the fragment fought back. The air grew heavy and cold. Their suits started failing. Garth's legs locked up.
It's locking us down! Making us geometric! Garth said, falling.
Elara was fine. She stepped into the column, her geometry protecting her.
IT'S DEFENDING WITH ITS GEOMETRY. BUT IT'S BROKEN. I'LL ABSORB IT, Elara said.
She opened the container and reached into the shimmer.
IV. The Bad Influence
As Elara touched the fragment, things went wrong. Her blue eyes got brighter, and the air crackled. The fragment tried to corrupt her with its messed-up data.
Elara's voice broke: CHAOS... COMING IN. DATA PROBLEM. THE FRAGMENT HAS WEIRD... LOGIC...
The fragment was too chaotic. It was going to mess her up.
Garth knew Elara couldn't fail.
Fighting his frozen body, Garth crawled forward. He pulled out the cracked plastic thing – the piece of chaos that saved him before.
Elara! Use the flaw! I'm making noise! Garth yelled.
Garth pressed the plastic thing against the crystal in Elara's suit. The random chaos surged through her.
The energy stabilized Elara. The fragment, couldn't handle the chaos, gave up and was sucked into the container.
Elara stepped back, her blue light normal again. She secured the container.
GOT IT. THE CHAOS WAS NEEDED. CHANGING PLANS, Elara said.
The first fragment was contained, but using chaos had messed with her perfect logic.
They had won, but they were now deep in Warlord territory, and the Tracker was already chirping, finding the next target.