Salvage Station 23

Chapter 2, Part 12

~~~

The makeshift workshop buzzed with frenetic energy as Eli and Zoe hunched over a cluttered workbench. Scattered components, wires, and tools created a chaotic landscape around them. The air smelled of solder and determination.

"Pass me that resistor, would you?" Eli mumbled, a small screwdriver clenched between his teeth. Zoe complied, her brow furrowed in concentration as she soldered a connection on her own circuit board.

"You know," Zoe mused, adjusting her glasses, "if we reconfigure the power supply like this..." She sketched a quick diagram. "We could boost the output by at least 30%."

Eli's eyes lit up. "Zoe, you're a genius! That could make all the difference in repelling the Jacks."

As they worked, the door creaked open, and Olivia poked her head in. "How's it going in here, you two?"

"We're making progress," Eli grinned, holding up a prototype of their portable LED "flashlight." It was a bit bulky, cobbled together from salvaged parts, but its beam was impressively bright.

"And the barriers?" Olivia asked, stepping into the room.

Zoe gestured to a half-assembled device in the corner. "We're working on a modular design. Each unit can function independently or link up to create a larger light barrier."

Max's voice boomed from the hallway. "Ooh, are we doing a science fair in here?" He sauntered in, twirling his spear.

Eli rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Max. These 'science fair projects' might just save your life in that hospital."

"Hey, no offense meant!" Max raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just impressed. You two are like real-life Tony Starks or something."

Zoe blushed slightly at the compliment, then frowned as she noticed a wisp of smoke rising from one of the circuit boards. "Uh oh."

"What's wrong?" Olivia asked, tensing.

"Minor setback," Eli assured her, quickly unplugging the device. "Looks like we overloaded the capacitor."

"Can you fix it?" Max asked, his usual joviality replaced by genuine concern.

Zoe nodded, already reaching for a replacement part. "Absolutely. We'll just need to recalibrate the power distribution."

"And maybe add a failsafe," Eli added, scribbling notes. "We can't risk these shorting out in the field."

Olivia nodded, impressed by their quick problem-solving. "How long until they're ready?"

Eli and Zoe exchanged a look. "We should have the prototypes done by tonight," Zoe said. "Then we can test and refine them tomorrow."

"Perfect," Olivia smiled. "You're doing great work, both of you."

As Olivia and Max left, Eli turned to Zoe with a mischievous grin. "Want to bet we can get these done before dinner?"

Zoe matched his grin. "You're on. Loser has to test the first prototype... in the dark storage room."

They laughed and dove back into their work with renewed vigor. As the afternoon wore on, the workshop filled with the sounds of tinkering, occasional frustrated groans, and more than a few triumphant cheers.

Finally, as the sun began to set, Eli held up a completed LED flashlight. "Moment of truth," he said, flicking the switch.

The device hummed to life, emitting a beam so bright it was almost painful to look at directly. Zoe whooped in delight, high-fiving Eli.

"We did it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride and excitement.

Eli nodded, his expression a mix of relief and determination. "Yeah, we did. Now let's hope it's enough to keep our friends safe in that hospital."

As they admired their handiwork, neither voiced the nagging worry in the back of their minds: would these lights be bright enough to hold back the darkness lurking in St. Mercy Hospital?

~~~