The morning haze lingered outside the warehouse, but inside, the team moved with sharp precision.
Raen stood with Korin and Lira near the core server terminal, observing a large orb-like device suspended in a containment ring.
"So this is Ghost Field?" Raen asked.
"Version 0.9," Korin replied. "We finished calibration last night. It's ready."
Lira tapped on a floating display, activating the field. A low hum resonated across the room.
"How can we tell it's working?" Nyra asked, walking in.
"Simple," Raen replied, then tossed a small hovering drone into the air.The drone buzzed forward, then glitched—its signal dead. It dropped to the ground with a dull clink.
Everyone looked impressed.
"It doesn't just block," Korin added. "It kills the source. Any unauthorized surveillance tech gets scrambled on entry. This place is officially a black zone."
A Leader for Arkbound Construction
"Speaking of zones," Nyra said. "I met someone. Retired from a major infrastructure firm. Built half of Luxor City's smart grid. Disillusioned with corporate politics. Loyal. Smart. Ex-military engineer."
Raen raised an eyebrow.
"That's exactly what we need. Bring him in. He'll run Arkbound Construction—under our terms."
"Already called him," Nyra said. "He'll be here tomorrow."
The Five for Barron
Meanwhile, the bots designated for Barron—NEAR-03 to NEAR-07—stood prepped in the staging bay. Sleek, silent, and loaded with construction protocols, they waited only for a command.
Raen walked by each of them, running a diagnostics tablet in hand.
"You're not just machines," he murmured. "You're the future. Let's make sure you work for the right side."
He turned to Nyra.
"Tell Barron the bots will be delivered on Day Five, as promised. But remind him—he's not buying bots. He's buying trust. These five will work under contract only. He doesn't own them. We maintain full override."
"Understood," she said. "We're in control. Always."
The Future Takes Shape
As the Ghost Field shimmered in the air, and the bots continued their silent construction on new components, Raen looked up at the digital display board now hanging over the main lab floor:
ARKBOUND CONSTRUCTIONVision Beyond Steel
"Now," Raen said, "let's build the world we want."