The Chaos Walker

Fire Makes Everything Better

Regis stalked to the lab at Bluenote Aerospace, the sterile scent of metal and chemicals filling the air. The controlled environment, punctuated by the steady hum of machinery, the clicks and whirrs of solenoids, and the clanking of tool use enveloped him, almost sealing out everything else. He couldn't help but notice Nick arriving shortly after him, sharing a brief laugh with Jenna before she turned back at the airlock to attend to other duties. It threatened to pierce the bubble around the zone he was falling into for the day's crucial thruster test, but he quickly beat it away with a mental shrug. It really wasn't his business.

He donned his lab coat and safety goggles, the familiar ritual grounding him in the present. The lab was his sanctuary, a place where precision and predictability reigned. Today, they were working on a new propulsion system prototype, a project that demanded his full attention and expertise.

The centerpiece of his workbench was a complex assembly of valves, tubing, and fuel lines, all carefully arranged to test the propulsion system. As he adjusted the components, the flicker of the pilot light caught his eye. The controlled fire, essential for the experiment, cast dancing shadows across the lab, its warmth a comforting presence. Obviously, the finished thruster design would have something much more high tech than a pilot flame, but that was several stages away still. The old school flame was reliable and comforting in its simplicity. He would miss that when it finally got replaced by something more suitable for the finished satellite.

Regis thrived on the precision required in his role. Each connection had to be secure, every measurement exact. The predictable nature of engineering and the fact that problems had solutions, challenges that could be overcome with a little thought and ingenuity. Things that could actually be fixed, not just understood. He thrived in that space. The laws of physics and engineering principles were constants he could rely on.

He ignited the burner, the flame springing to life with a steady roar. The controlled environment allowed him to focus entirely on the task at hand. His colleagues often marveled at his ability to lose himself in the work, but to Regis, it was more than just a job; it was a refuge.

As he calibrated the sensors and monitored the fuel flow, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease. The rhythmic clicks of the instruments and the soft hiss of the fuel lines became a meditative backdrop. Each successful adjustment, each accurate reading, reinforced his sense of control. Unlike the chaotic world outside, the lab provided clear problems with logical solutions.

As they worked, his team melded into a unit. Everyone had a defined role, a specific task and they were good at it. After manually checking the initial setup and setting the test in motion, Regis stepped back into his position as supervisor, a guardian angel of a sort, watching the others execute the protocols for the test firing. Calm but strident voices called out parameters and adjustments and steady hands made the required changes to the controls.

As the power output in the main stage built to a crescendo, the most crucial and unstable phase of the test, Regis noticed a discrepancy in the fuel mix ratio Nick had set. It wasn't enough out of spec to be dangerous, he didn't think. Still, it could end up melting some of the more delicate components of the injectors. It was also something that would be solely the responsibility of one person, who would take all the blame. For a brief moment, the thought of letting Nick fail crossed his mind—a petty, fleeting desire to take his assistant down a notch. But the professional in him and the simple desire to move the project forward quickly overrode that impulse.

"Nick, hold up," Regis said, stepping closer. "I think there's an issue with the fuel mix. If we continue the test like this, it could backfire."

Nick looked up, eyebrows knit in concentration. "Damn, I must have overlooked that. Thanks for catching it, Regis."

Regis nodded curtly, his mind still buzzing with residual tension. "Let's recalibrate it. I'll jump over to the preignition side and adjust the oxygen flow. You be ready at the injectors to keep the fuel feed stable."

They deftly brought the system back into balance, their movements synchronized. The flicker of tension between them, forgotten for the moment, replaced by a mutual respect that came from working towards a common goal.

This particular run required ten minute burns, half an hour apart over the course of the day to prove the reliability of their design. Hours passed unnoticed as the team meticulously worked on the prototype. The physical temperature in the lab rose even as his emotional temperature cooled to its most temperate state in days. The tangible results of their efforts—a perfectly aligned component, a successful test run—offered a sense of accomplishment and stability.

As they wrapped up for the day, Nick turned to Regis. "Good catch today. We make a good team."

Regis met his gaze, his smile tight. "Yeah, we do. Just..." he shook his head minutely, "you're right. Good work. Thanks for helping get that mix up straightened out. That could have set us back, but I think the deadline is reachable now."

Nick's expression remained unreadable as he nodded. "Agreed. See you tomorrow."

Regis returned his nod and then turned to the rest, "Great job, everyone! Congratulations, give yourselves a pat on the back and enjoy your evening. Let's go home."

Leaving the lab, his tranquility restored, Regis looked at the clear sky and took several deep breaths. At least the day was ending much better than it had started. He gave thanks for small blessings before grimacing when he realized he had parked much further away than the reserved space he had right next to the door.

"Just take the win, Regis," he thought to himself. "A little exercise is a good thing as well."