Barely three days had passed since Jake’s funeral, and yet an air of unease hung heavy over the base. Last night, a series of muffled groans broke the brief calm from inside the medical tent. An old miner named Hank had fallen severely ill—burning with a high fever, his skin covered in red blotches, his breathing as labored as a bellows. His wife, Mara, sat by his side, clutching his hand tightly while holding their frail daughter, Lily. The child’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes wide with fear.

  Ethan stood outside the medical tent, his brows furrowed. Rebecca and Tara were at his side, all three silently watching the fragile figure inside. Hank lay on a makeshift bed, his sallow face soaked in sweat, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He drifted in and out of consciousness. Mara sobbed quietly, her voice trembling, “He was fine just last night. After dinner, he even said he’d go fix the ventilation shaft. But by midnight, he was burning up, said he felt like he was on fire, and these rashes started showing up… I don’t know what to do…”

  Rebecca crouched down, checking Hank’s pulse, her voice low: “He’s alive, but it’s bad. Heart’s racing—looks like acute infection. I’m no doctor, but these symptoms aren’t normal.” She looked up at Ethan. “If we don’t act fast, he won’t make it.”

  Tara frowned and muttered, “Fever, rashes… looks like poisoning or some weird disease. We better be careful—this could spread fast.” She glanced at Ethan. “If this old guy goes down, the whole base could fall apart.”

  Ethan nodded, his voice grave: “I’ll get Nick to check the water and food. Maybe something got into the supply.” He turned to Rebecca. “Can you monitor his symptoms? Something about this is off. We need answers.”

  Just then, Hank opened his eyes with a wheezing gasp and weakly grabbed Mara’s hand. “Find… Otis…” he said, barely audible, before slipping back into unconsciousness. Mara froze for a moment, then her tears fell harder as she suddenly looked up at Ethan, urgency in her voice: “He said Otis! I know that man… he can help us!”

  Ethan frowned. “Who’s Otis?”

  Mara took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “He’s an old friend from the mines. Used to be a medical officer for the Federation Company. He knows about weird diseases. Later, he took his grandson and fled to Cyber’s Eye. Said the underground city there has treatments for all kinds of strange illnesses—and access to medicine.” She held Lily closer, a flicker of hope in her eyes. “If you can find him, I know he can save Hank!”

  Ethan exchanged a glance with Rebecca. Cyber’s Eye—the Federation’s heavily surveilled planet—not far from Ash Valley, but shrouded in risk and secrecy. Tara perked up at the name and grinned. “Cyber’s Eye? Sounds like a busted-up robot head. But…” Her eyes lit up, “sounds kinda exciting. I’m in!”

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  “This isn’t a joyride,” Ethan cut her off, his tone firm. “If this is infectious, and we don’t stop it, the entire base could go under. Hank’s still alive, but he may not be the last.” He turned to Mara. “Are you sure Otis can help?”

  Mara nodded, her voice unwavering: “He saved me once. There was a strange outbreak in the mines, and the Federation locked everything down. Burned the sick alive. Otis smuggled in meds and dragged me back from the brink. He’s better than their so-called doctors. He knows what he’s doing.” She stroked Lily’s hair. “Please… save Hank. Don’t let Lily lose her father…”

  Rebecca clenched her jaw. “We have to go. Whether it’s for Hank or everyone else in the base.” She looked at Ethan. “But the Federation’s grip on Cyber’s Eye is tight. We’ll need to keep a low profile.”

  Ethan fell silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the miners and refugees bustling outside the tent. Jake’s death had already shaken morale. If an epidemic followed, hope would truly be lost. At last, he spoke. “Alright. We move out. Tara, you and Nick prep the ship and weapons. Rebecca, take as many samples from Hank as you can. Lila…” he paused, “you’ll need to crack Cyber’s Eye’s navigation system. Make sure we avoid Federation patrol routes.”

  Outside the tent, Nick approached, holding a bottle of water, his expression grim. “Something’s off. Water’s mixed with metal particles—probably seeped in from the mine. Smells weird, too.” He looked at Ethan. “This illness might be environmental, but I’m not sure.”

  “Then we need Otis even more,” Ethan said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Tell everyone to get ready. Dawn tomorrow, Dawnbringer takes off.”

  That evening, around the fire at Ash Valley, the team gathered with a heavy atmosphere hanging in the air. Lila reported on the blind spots in the Skydome’s surveillance and outlined the infiltration routes—her terminal glowing with complex coordinates.

  “We leave at dawn,” Ethan finalized the plan, his gaze sweeping over each team member. “This mission isn’t just about Hank’s life. It’s Rebirth Company’s first real step into the world beyond.”

  Tara caressed her blade, her eyes shining. “Finally, no more rotting in this hellhole.”

  Rebecca gently swirled a vial of blood sample, deep in thought. “This illness… it’s too strange. The speed of onset—it’s unnatural. In the Federation, symptoms like these only showed up in certain experimental programs.” She looked up at Ethan. “Finding Otis might uncover more of the Federation’s secrets.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Ethan said, folding the map. “We head to Cyber’s Eye. Find Otis. Save lives. Expose the truth. For everyone in Ash Valley.”

  From afar, Mara stood at the tent entrance, holding Lily in her arms, watching the group. Her eyes were filled with a complex blend of gratitude and worry. The desert wind stirred the dust, blowing past Jake’s grave. His wrench, planted atop the stone mound, gleamed coldly in the dying light—like a silent sentinel guarding this scarred land.