Cyber Chronicles 2: Prime Voyage

Chapter 23: Crystal

The setting sun cast a warm golden hue across the decaying cityscape, painting the abandoned buildings in a melancholic glow. Crystal sat alone on the rooftop of their temporary headquarters. This building wasn't as ruined as the others in the city because Hayden used his reversal ability to restore it enough so that it was safe and usable.

Her eyes were fixed on the desolate surroundings, the solemn beauty of the city resonating with her somber mood.

As the distant sounds of the team working echoed in the background, Crystal's introspection was interrupted when she heard a familiar footstep behind her. Hayden had joined her on the rooftop, as he would do more often lately. He sat down beside her, offering his presence, but he didn't say anything as they watched the sunset together in silence.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, a subtlacknowledgementnt of his presence.

"You know," Hayden finally spoke, breaking the silence, "I can see it in your eyes. Something is bothering you. Are you still unsure of what the stone is?"

Crystal hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "It's not the stone. It's... how we never questioned that we had it. How did it tinker with our memories when it had no charge at all?"

Hayden nodded thoughtfully, "ModCytron must've used its remaining energy to manipulate our memories, just like it did with Lincoln. Maybe it wanted to ensure that the reliving of his memories goes the way it should gPerhapsaps it planned to reveal the truth about the stone when the time was right."

Crystal frowned, a mix of frustration and confusion evident in her eyes. "It feels like it's playing some sort of game with us."

Hayden placed a hand gently on her shoulder, offering comfort and reassurance. Crystal was taken aback by the gesture, but she decided to allow him to do it. She felt like she had already caused him enough trouble. "We'll figure it out, Crystal. The answers will come to light when the time is right. Moderators were powerful and mysterious creatures. Maybe it wanted to ensure that this world and the universe doesn't get ruined further. It could've been waiting for someone worthy to carry its knowledge and protect the balance of the universe."

Crystal silently disagreed with Hayden's evaluation, opting to gaze off into the distance, lost in thought.

As she pondered, her mind wandered to the unopened box in the chest. She realized that there was still more to discover and that it might even entail reliving another person's life. How much longer until she's done with this? When would she be able to fulfil her pledge to the Council and reveal the reality about the last moderator and its possible reappearance? When can she prove the prophecy to them?

"It's too much," Crystal admitted, her voice tinged with weariness. "Things are getting too complicated. What if I break my promise?"
Hayden nodded sympathetically, understanding the weight of her responsibilities. "I know it's not easy, Crystal. But remember, you're not alone in this. We're all here for you, supporting you every step of the way. We can do this together, that's for sure."

Hayden's words lingered in the air, and for a moment, the weight of responsibility felt just a little lighter on Crystal's shoulders. With a hint of gratitude in her eyes, she mustered a quiet "Thank you."

Hayden was surprised by her response. Crystal wasn't one to express her gratitude, especially in words. But he understood that her brief acknowledgement held a deeper meaning than she let on. With a warm smile, he looked at her, and his eyes reflected the trust and understanding they had built over time. He felt himself getting closer to her, especially now. "You're welcome," he replied gently.
In the silence that followed, Crystal's thoughts began to settle. She found comfort in knowing that Hayden was there, as he had always been, to offer support when she needed it most, and so were the rest of their team.

As the night enveloped the ruined city, Crystal found solace in knowing that she wasn't alone in her journey. The stone in her hand may hold mysterious powers, and their quest to find the remains of ModCytron might be fraught with danger, but she had the unwavering support of her team – her friends. With that realization, Crystal knew that they were ready to face whatever the universe had in store for them.

They found a moment of peace on the rooftop, a brief break from their tireless search for the truth. They sat together, gazing at the
crumbling city and the twinkling stars.

"You wanna go back?" Hayden asked, and Crystal nodded , and they suddenly disappeared from the rooftoop.

They reappeared back into the room they used for Crystal's memory diving. The soft hum of the machinery filled the air. Hayden took his arm off her shoulder, allowing her some space. The rest of the team noticed their arrival, and warm greetings filled the room.

"Welcome back, you two," Lucien said, crouching next to Crystal's memory capsule. "How was it?"
Crystal nodded in response, her eyes briefly meeting Lucien's curious gaze. She wondered if he could sense any residual emotions or thoughts from her. After all, Lucien was not only a skilled engineer but also highly perceptive.

Ann stood nearby at the control panel, the mindmage's focus momentarily shifting from her work to Crystal. A smile tugged at her lips as she asked, "You ready?"

Crystal gave a small nod, still processing the visions she had witnessed. She wasn't ready to share the full extent of her experiences yet, but she knew she couldn't hide anything from Ann. Her mind-reading abilities were both a blessing and a concern for Crystal, knowing that no one's thoughts can ever be hidden from a mindmage.
Hayden placed a reassuring hand on Crystal's shoulder, offering silent support.

Ray and Amadh, engaged in their conversation, turned their attention to Crystal and Hayden's return. Ray approached with a warm smile, his analytical mind no doubt already processing the mission's progress.

"Good to see you back," he said. "Any breakthroughs?"

Hayden spoke for Crystal again, "Well, Crystal's going to jump back in, we'll take it slow, but I know we're getting close."

Crystal felt a sense of gratitude for Hayden's understanding. He knew that she needed time to process everything she had witnessed, especially the enigmatic stone and its connection to ModCytron.

As the team continued their preparations, Crystal took a deep breath, finding strength in the unwavering support of her friends. The weight of her responsibilities as the only energy manipulator in the universe was immense, but she knew she could rely on her team to share the burden.

With Ann's mindmage abilities, Crystal wondered how much of her inner turmoil was visible. Then again, she also knew Ann would keep them all to herself. She was determined to keep going, explore the depths of her memories, and uncover the truth about ModCytron and the mysterious stone.

As Ann adjusted the controls, Crystal settled back into the capsule, and it closed with a soft hiss.

As the stasis liquid enveloped her, she felt a sense of calmness wash over her. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. Memories of Lincoln, though distant, began to surface, transporting her to another time.

In the darkness of the stasis, Crystal's consciousness is connected with the memories of another era. The world around her faded away, replaced by visions of a bygone era. It was as if she had stepped into the pages of history, becoming an observer of the life of Lincoln.

Her heart quickened as she felt Lincoln's presence, the aura of his energy surrounding her. The images were vivid and immersive, giving her the familiar feeling of experiencing his life firsthand.

As the memories unfolded, Crystal found herself caught in a bittersweet dance between Lincoln's 'past' and 'present' timeline. She saw Lincoln's struggles, his triumphs, and his sacrifices. The weight of his legacy bore down on her, and she felt the familiar deep sense of connection to the energy manipulator of a century ago.

As the threads of her consciousness intertwined to Lincoln's, Crystal's thoughts drifted back to the enigmatic stone. The vision of it absorbing her energy played on her mind, leaving her with more questions than answers. Was it really a piece of ModCytron? And if so, how does she find the rest of the pieces? Or perhaps this was the only piece?

In the depths of the memory capsule, Crystal lost herself in the labyrinth of time. She knew with each dive, she was edging closer to the truths that lay beyond the enigmatic stone and the secrets of ModCytron and all the moderators before it.

As she reached the climax of the stasis liquid's effect, everything suddenly went black.