The RV stood quiet, smoke trailing faintly from its vents.
Lu Zhen crouched near the open side panel, hands covered in dust and half-synthesized adhesive. The old cargo crate nearby had given them a few extra minutes of cover—but not comfort. He could still feel the silence left by the raiders who vanished too easily.
"If we stay here too long," he muttered, "we'll be blind to flanks."
Yue scanned the surrounding rubble from atop the RV with her blade resting across her shoulder. "No movement yet. But you better work fast."
Lu tapped into the HUD, syncing his crafting menu with the Phoenix's partial systems.
[Core Relay – Status: Burned Out][Internal Wiring: 38% damaged][Power Routing Frame: Replace Required]→ Solution: Synthesize Modular Junction | Output to HUD > Fuse Linkage
He breathed slowly and began.
[Material Synthesis Initiated – Polymer Mesh + Wiring Coil + Scrap Insulation]→ Output: Modular Core JunctionEstimated Time: 3m 40sMental Load: Moderate-High
The components began to shimmer in midair, thin filaments weaving into a crude but viable energy core interface. The Phoenix Rig didn't need elegance—it needed to move.
Halfway through, the HUD pinged again.
[Interior Module Detected – Storage Bay Slot Compatible]Blueprint Match Found: Modular Interior System (Partial)→ New Craftable: Storage Bay Unit (Tier 1)→ Function: Expand cargo access, isolate supply sections
Lu's eyes widened slightly. This wasn't just power. This was purpose.
"If I route this relay properly," he muttered, "we can activate the internal mounts."
Yue leaned over from above. "English, please?"
"I can finally build the first storage bay. And if I finish the linkage, we'll have power flow to light and vent systems."
"Good. Then we can actually live in this thing."
He smiled faintly and opened the blueprint.
[Crafting Initiated – Storage Bay Unit (Tier 1)]→ Required: Composite Panels, Synth Insulation, Flex Bolts→ Substitutions: Available→ Estimated Time: 5 minutes→ Focus: High→ Mental Load Impact: +30%
Lu inhaled sharply. Then, with both hands glowing in the system's pale-blue grid, he began to build.
Each step pulsed through his nerves. Weld points formed in the air like ghostly silhouettes. The bay shell snapped into alignment with the RV's back wall. Screws rotated, synthetic tubing locked into place.
[Crafting Complete – Storage Bay Installed]→ Interior Grid Sync: 1/3 Active→ HUD Storage Mapping Enabled: Inventory access now optimized by category→ Quick Transfer Function Unlocked→ Crafting EXP: +30→ Current EXP: 88 / 300
He leaned back, panting. Vision slightly blurred.
"You okay?" Yue asked, now crouched beside him.
"Fine. Just... close to mental strain threshold." He shook his head, then smiled. "But now we've got space."
She opened the bay door. Inside, shelves lined the compartment, reinforced with impact mesh. Enough for water packs, ammo cases, salvaged food, maybe even spare power cores if they were lucky.
"Looks stable," she said. "No rattle."
Lu wiped sweat from his brow. "Give me thirty more minutes and I'll finish stabilizing the core relay. After that… this thing will be able to run again, properly."
"We'll need it soon," Yue said. Her gaze drifted east. The sky was starting to dim—faster than usual. "Clouds are moving in strange patterns again."
Lu's HUD blinked.
[Fracture Twilight Approaching – Estimated Time: 58 minutes]Warning: Dimensional energy fluctuation rising. Surface activity will spike after sunset.
He frowned. "One hour left. Then we don't move until morning."
Yue didn't argue.
Back inside, Lu leaned over the main dashboard to reroute residual power. His hand brushed something under the central console. Curious, he pulled out a cracked compartment panel—revealing a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
Inside was a worn military ID tag. The name had faded, but part of it still read: Lin Ze.
Tucked behind it was a folded note—handwritten, faded, almost torn in half.
"If you're reading this… you're the next pilot. Don't waste the rig."
Lu stared at the words for a long moment. He said nothing. Just nodded to himself.
When he looked up again, the dashboard interface shimmered.
[Mobile Base Detected – Phoenix Rig Recognized]→ Features Enabled: Storage Management, Interior Sync, Base Status Display
He exhaled slowly. "We're not passengers anymore," he murmured. "We're crew."
Yue glanced over, eyes softening for a second. "Then start acting like the captain."
Lu smiled faintly. He looked at her, then at the RV.
This was more than scrap.
It was history. And now—home.
—