Authors Note:
Sorry for the late upload kinda having a hard time at work, please support my novel if you like the story so far ill try to release everyday with more quality chapters..
______________
Leaning against a console with his bandaged chest stinging in pain beneath the torn jumpsuit, Kael huffed.
"You're all safe now," he said, his voice still a bit hoarse, and those words seemed to fill the vast, cold cryo-bay with a fragile warmth.
Sera just stands there with her amber eyes softened as she glanced toward Kael and crossed her arms.
"Safe," she muttered, her voice almost low to herself. "For now. This Vault is a crumbling deathtrap, Kael. We need to find a way out sooner or later." Her gaze flicked to a nearby wall panel its diagnostics still showing the Vault running on auxiliary power at a mere 35%.
Clara, her orange hair tucked behind her ears, wiped fresh tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her brown eyes are wide and we're fixed on Kael with an expression of profound worry and dawning admiration. "Kael… you… you really went through all that.. For us.. When you didn't even know who we were?" Her shy glance met his then darted away, a blush coloring her cheeks.
Rosa's vibrant pink hair bouncing as she shifted restlessly on the edge of her pod lost her earlier playful smirk, her brow furrowed. "Man, you died?" she breathed the words heavy. She paused with a worried look on her face. "That's… that's seriously messed up."
Kael rubbed the back of his neck and a faint blush crept up his own cheeks under their gazes. "Yeah, well... Asha said you all needed me, that the pods were failing. I couldn't just… let that happen." He met Sera's intense gaze for a moment, then turned to offer Clara a reassuring smile, and then to Rosa, trying to convey that it was okay, even though his heart still hammered when he thought about how close it had been.
Asha (voice in Kael's mind): "Kael, your display of selfless determination and subsequent reassurance has positively impacted your social standing. Affinity Increased: Subject Seraphina Valerius +2% (Total: 12/100). Subject Clara +3% (Total: 10/100). Subject Rosalie +2% (Total: 8/100). The Phoenix Core tracks these interpersonal bonds meticulously, as group cohesion is a primary factor in survival probability. Higher affinities may unlock unique dialogue options, cooperative combat arts, and strategic benefits. Current HUD interactive options: [Reassure Clara Further], [Compliment Sera's Perceptiveness], [Encourage Rosa's Spirit]."
Before Kael could even process Asha's social calculus or select an option, a sharp, ugly CRACK echoed across the bay, making them all jump. Further down the row, all of a sudden the cryo-pod for Unit 737 sparked violently, its control panel flashing an angry red.
[ERROR: POD 737 - COOLANT LINE BREACH - CATASTROPHIC LEAK IMMINENT]
A fine, icy mist began to spray from a joint pod, hissing as it hit the grated floor and instantly created a treacherous patch. Sera's eyes snapped to the malfunctioning unit. "Move! Now!" she yelled, her voice cutting through the sudden tension.
"If that coolant ignites or the pod destabilizes it could cause a chain reaction through this entire bay!" Her boot slipped on the rapidly spreading ice on the floor as she moved towards the danger.
Kael despite his injuries reacted faster with his arm shooting out, catching her gracefully by the waist before she could fall. Their hands tangled for a moment and his grip firm around her much smaller hand.
"Sera, you okay?" Kael asked, his voice soft with genuine concern. She blushed deeply and suddenly pulled away from him, though not before he felt the faintest tremor in her hand.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, though her tone lacked its usual biting edge, her hand lingering for a split second on his arm as if to steady herself, or perhaps him. "Focus, Kael! We need to shut that pod down before it takes us all out!" She whirled, addressing the others despite her own flustered state.
"Clara! Get to that panel! Find an override, a manual shutdown or anything to stop the coolant flow from the system side! Rosa! There should be a main valve for each pod block – look for a large, red lever or wheel near the base of this row and try to close it! And you, Kael," she rounded on him, her eyes blazing. "Go help where you're needed most. And try not to bleed on anything vital!"
Clara nodded, her earlier shyness overshadowed by a new, determined focus. "R-right! Kael, the… the system tool kit, can you help me find it?" Kael, quickly spotting the battered kit through his HUD, he grabbed it and hurried to her side.
She knelt by the sparking panel of Pod 737, her fingers brushing as he handed her a multi-driver. The accidental contact was brief, but her brown eyes met his for a moment, a small, grateful smile touching her lips. "Thanks, Kael," she murmured, the blush returning to her cheeks as she quickly turned to the task, her nimble fingers already flying over the damaged interface.
Asha (to Kael): "Affinity with Subject Clara: +2% (Total: 12/100). Her trust in your immediate support enhances her problem-solving efficiency and overall group morale."
Meanwhile, Rosa had darted towards a series of heavy-duty valves near the wall, Her suit that was already stressed out, tore slightly further at her shoulder as she strained against a large, corroded valve wheel, revealing an appealing glimpse of smooth skin beneath. Kael moved towards her.
"I'll help, Rosa!" he offered, seeing her struggles with the valve looking rusted tight. Rosa grunted with her full effort then she caught Kael's accidental glance towards her shoulder as he approached. A playful smirk flickered across her face despite the emergency going on.
"Eyes on the valve, hero," she teased, though her breath was hard as she was exhausted turning all the valves. "Or are you too busy admiring the… view?" She gave another mighty heave. "This thing's stuck! You're not half bad at this saving-the-day stuff, though. Got any of that crazy strength left?"
"Thanks, Rosa," Kael smiled, a genuine warm expression, he admired Rosa's playful personality and it was infectious. "I just want to be helpful for everyone." He placed his hands beside hers on the wheel, his muscles bulge. "Together now?"
Asha (to Kael): "Affinity with Subject Rosalie: +2% (Total: 10/100). Her open admiration and playful interaction style are positively correlated with your [Agility] attribute's responsiveness during cooperative tasks. Consider it… motivational synergy."
With a shared grunt, they put their weight into it, and the valve began to turn with a reluctant screech.
Kael then joined Sera at the damaged pod. She was wrestling with a panel, trying to access the internal coolant lines. The coolant mist had soaked them both, their jumpsuits clinging transparently in places, revealing edges of Sera's cleavage.
"Hold this steady Kael!" she ordered, pointing to a sparking severed wire. Their fingers intertwined with each other briefly as he took the wire, trying to keep it from shorting against the chassis. Her breath hitched, a tiny, almost inaudible tremble as she met his focused gaze for a split second.
"You're doing great, Sera," Kael said, his voice is calm despite the chaos around them, he unconsciously chose the dialogue option Asha had presented earlier to compliment her leadership.
"We'd be lost without you taking charge like this." His sincerity was absolute and it clearly caught her off guard. She paused, and her blush deepened under the grime and sweat she quickly turned her face away, muttering, "Don't get sappy, you idiot. Just… don't let go of that wire."
Asha (to Kael): "Affinity with Subject Seraphina: +3% (Total: 15/100). Your direct compliment, perceived as genuine, has temporarily bypassed several of her defensive subroutines. Leadership synergy with this subject is improving. This may unlock unique tactical options in future group engagements."
With a final, forceful twist from Kael and a skillful maneuver from Sera, they managed to clamp and seal the primary internal coolant line just as the hissing intensified.
Clara cried out, "Got it! Panel overridden! System shutting down Pod 737!" and Rosa shouted, "Valve closed! The main flow is stopped!"
The pod's violent sparking sputtered and died. The hissing mist lessens. The angry red lights on its panel went dark.
The group exhaled almost in unison, a wave of relief washing over them.
Clara smiles at Kael "We did it… thanks to you for being here to help, Kael." Rosa, jumping erratically on her feet, high-fived him "Not bad at all, hero! This place is way less boring with you around!"
Sera stepped back, crossing her arms "Hmph. You didn't completely screw it up, for once," her earlier cold approach thinned. "But don't get any ideas. We're not safe yet. We need food, water, and a real plan to get out of here. Let's move."
Kael nodded, meeting each of their gazes. Clara's gentle gratitude, Rosa's infectious energy, Sera's reluctant acknowledgment.
"Together," his smile even his tired and pain-laced makes them reassured, despite his injuries and the terrifying world they faced, felt a little stronger growing in their bond.
Asha: "Phoenix Core analysis update: Affinity thresholds with multiple subjects are approaching preliminary 'Bond Event' triggers. At approximately 20% Affinity, private, character-specific interactions or short narrative quests may unlock – for example, Subject Seraphina might be willing to discuss her pre-disaster leadership directives, or Subject Clara could share a fragmented technical memory vital for Vault repairs. The Group Cohesion Index is now at 82%. Continue nurturing these bonds, Kael. They are a quantifiable asset critical for long-term survival probability."
As they gathered the few tools they had, these three remarkable young women made the vast, cold cryo-bay feel a little less empty and a little less hopeless.
Sera, Clara, and Rosa were now occupied, examining their new jumpsuits and the meager contents of Locker B-7, their voices a low murmur that Kael barely registered.
He leaned heavily against a sturdy support beam. His HUD still displayed his low HP and stamina,
Kael : "Asha? Can… can we talk with just the two of us?... Without me, you know… talking out loud?"
Asha: "Affirmative, Kael. I can process direct neural impulses for communication. However, sustained internal dialogue at a complex level may place additional strain on your cognitive functions, especially given your current 'Resurrection Sickness' debuff and low stamina. Brevity and clarity are advised."
[SYSTEM NOTE: COGNITIVE LOAD INCREASED. Stamina Drain +0.01/minute during focused neural interface.
Kael winced as a fresh wave of dizziness washed over him. "Great."Even thinking too hard was going to wear him out. But he had to know about these affinities popping up in his HUD non stop.
Kael (thinking): Okay, I'll try to be quick. Asha, these… 'affinity' things. With Sera, Clara, and Rosa. You said they went up. What does that even mean? And why does my… system… care if they like me?
Asha: "Affinity, Kael, is a quantifiable metric representing the strength and quality of an interpersonal bond between you and others what humans called 'love' with the Phoenix Cohorts. It encompasses trust, respect, emotional resonance, and cooperative potential. Your Phoenix Core AI tracks these metrics because strong social bonds called 'love' are statistically crucial for group cohesion, morale, and collaborative problem-solving – all vital components for long-term survival in a hostile post-cataclysmic environment."
Kael (thinking): "So... it's like a friendship score? To help us work better together? I guess that makes sense. Kinda like Clara with the panel and Rosa with the valve."
Asha: "That is a rudimentary but acceptable analogy for its immediate tactical benefits, yes. Higher affinity can unlock 'Bond Events' – unique interactive scenarios or dialogues – and even cooperative skills or passive systemic bonuses that enhance both your capabilities and those of the cohort member involved.
Kael (thinking): "Okay… so it helps us survive..But… How does… how does 'love' fit into that? I don't… I don't really get 'love,' Asha. It sounds… complicated. More complicated than fighting rats, anyway."
There was a fractional pause from Asha, as if she were accessing and processing a particularly dense data file.
Asha: "Love, Kael, in its biological and sociological context, is a complex neurochemical and emotional state typically characterized by deep affection, attachment, commitment, and often, a desire for procreation and mutual long-term support. It is a powerful motivator for pair-bonding and familial unit formation – foundational structures for societal regeneration."
Asha (her tone remaining perfect yet the words landed with the force of a physical blow in Kael's mind): "And that, Kael, leads to one of the primary, long-term directives of Project Phoenix, and your specific role as 'Phoenix Prime.' Beyond immediate survival and the potential reactivation of civilization-assisting technologies, your most critical function, in conjunction with the fourteen female Phoenix Cohorts, is a genetic imperative: repopulation."
Kael's mind went blank. He felt a sudden, intense pressure behind his eyes.
Kael: "Re… repopulation? You mean… make… babies? With... With all of the 14 girls? Asha, I… I can barely talk to them without saying something dumb! Sera already thinks I'm an idiot! How am I supposed to… to make them… love me? And then… do that thing when making babies..I don't know anymore...Asha."
His head throbbed violently. The very idea was so far beyond his comprehension, so terrifying and awkward, it felt like his brain was trying to tie itself in knots. This was… impossiblefor him he thought.
[COGNITIVE OVERLOAD SYSTEM WARNING: EMOTIONAL DISTRESS LEVELS EXCEEDING SAFE PARAMETERS! Recommended: Cease complex neural processing. Focus on basic somatic functions.]
Asha: "The Project Phoenix directive is clear, Kael. The continuation of the human species is paramount. Your unique genetic enhancements, coupled with the diverse and optimized genetic profiles of the fourteen cohorts, are intended to provide the foundation for a new, resilient human population. The development of strong emotional bonds, including what humans term 'love,' is the most statistically effective pathway to ensuring successful, long-term procreative partnerships and stable family units for the upbringing of the next generation."
Asha (a subtle shift an attempt at a simpler explanation for the overloading Kael): "Consider it another survival quest, Kael, albeit one with significantly more complex variables and a much longer projected timeline. The affinities you build, the trust you foster, the 'Bond Events' you unlock… these are all steps towards fulfilling that core directive. Your earnestness, your protective instincts, your inherent kindness – these are not insignificant assets in this particular endeavor, even if your understanding of romantic protocols is currently… rudimentary."
Kael barely heard her last words. He felt like he was drowning the weight of it – saving them from monsters was one thing, but this… He was just a guy who woke up in a nightmare, who was good at basic things that his instincts told him to, and who mostly just wanted everyone to be safe. He didn't know anything about love, about making anyone fall in love with him. His head spun.
Kael (thinking, a single, desperate thought): "Asha… I… I can't…"
Asha: "Rest now, Kael. Your system is overloaded. We will revisit these… strategic parameters… when your cognitive functions have stabilized. For now, focus on the immediate: recovery, resource acquisition, and the safety of your current cohort. The larger mission will unfold one step at a time."
Kael slumped further against the support beam.