The council chamber was a repurposed storage container, its metal walls scarred and dented from years of use. At the center of the room sat a long table made from a door balanced on two rusted barrels. The seven council members—community elders and leaders of various settlement departments—were already seated when Kareem arrived. Their faces were etched with worry, reflecting the gravity of the water crisis.
At the head of the table sat Councilor Fatima, a stern woman in her late fifties who had led Oasis for the past decade. Her weathered face broke into a slight frown as Kareem took his seat at the opposite end.
"Let's begin," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "As you all know, our water reserves are critically low. The purification system is operating at less than forty percent capacity, and the last repair attempt failed. I've asked Kareem to present his proposal for a solution."
Kareem took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. He had decided to present his idea as a theoretical design he had developed from studying pre-Fracture texts, rather than revealing the true source of his knowledge.
"Council members," he began, "I've been studying atmospheric water generation systems from before the Fracture. The principle is simple: extract moisture from the air and condense it into drinking water. With the right materials and design, we could build a device that produces fifty liters of clean water per day, regardless of rainfall or groundwater availability."
A murmur went through the council members. Councilor Rashid, who managed the settlement's resource allocation, shook his head.
"We've tried atmospheric collectors before," he said. "They're inefficient, require too much maintenance, and produce barely enough water to justify the resource cost."
"This design is different," Kareem countered, spreading his drawings on the table. "It uses a crystalline matrix to enhance condensation, and a solar-powered cooling system that operates at maximum efficiency. The materials needed are all available in our depot—copper wiring, scrap metal, and a few silicon crystals."
Councilor Fatima studied the schematics, her expression skeptical. "This looks... complex. How long would it take to build? And what guarantees do we have that it will work?"
"I can build a prototype in two weeks," Kareem said confidently. "As for guarantees, the theoretical principles are sound. But we won't know for certain until we test it."
The council members exchanged worried glances. Two weeks was a long time when water rations were already being reduced.
"We don't have two weeks to waste on experiments," said Councilor Mariam, who oversaw food distribution. "The children are already showing signs of dehydration. We need immediate solutions, not theoretical possibilities."
"What if it fails?" Rashid added. "Those materials could be used for repairs we know will work, or traded for water with neighboring settlements."
Kareem felt his frustration rising but kept his voice steady. "The repairs you're referring to are temporary fixes. They'll last a month, maybe two at most. This system could solve our water problems permanently."
"Permanently?" Fatima scoffed. "Nothing is permanent, Kareem. You of all people should know that."
The debate continued for another hour, with council members raising objections and concerns. Kareem answered each question methodically, his confidence growing as he explained the technical details. He could see that some council members were beginning to consider the possibility, while others remained firmly opposed.
It was Layla, who had been standing silently against the wall, who finally tipped the balance.
"With respect to the council," she said, stepping forward, "our current situation is unsustainable. We have three options: continue with failing systems and watch our community weaken, trade resources we can't spare for water that may not be clean, or try something new. Kareem's proposal may be a risk, but doing nothing is a greater risk."
Her words seemed to resonate with the council members. Fatima studied Kareem for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
"Very well," she said finally. "You have two weeks to build your prototype. But you'll work with limited resources—we can't afford to divert too much from essential repairs. And if it fails, you'll be responsible for replenishing what you've used."
Kareem nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Councilor. You won't regret this."
"I already do," Fatima muttered, but there was a hint of hope in her eyes.
As the meeting adjourned, Layla approached Kareem. "That was risky. What made you so confident it would work?"
"The science is sound," he said, which was true, if incomplete. "But I need your help."
"With what?"
"I need to work undisturbed. Can you make sure no one bothers me in my workshop? And I'll need some additional materials that aren't in the depot."
Layla's eyes narrowed. "What kind of materials?"
"Some specific electronic components. I think I saw them in the old communications tower on my last scavenging trip."
She considered this for a moment. "That's Baron territory. Dangerous."
"I know. But they're essential."
Layla sighed. "I'll organize a small team. We leave at dawn. But Kareem, whatever you're hiding, you'd better be sure it's worth the risk."
As they parted ways, Kareem felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He had taken the first step toward implementing the Archive's knowledge, but the path ahead was fraught with challenges. Still, for the first time in months, he felt hope—not just for himself, but for the future of Oasis.