Jack Done and the Ether glove

Ether Brew was nearly empty. Late in the evening, Jack and Kai were tidying up the last tables while Tsukiko and Kael rested at one near the wall. Andy projected a hologram above the counter, adjusting the next day's orders. The atmosphere was calm, yet something intangible hung in the air.

Out of nowhere, a mysterious figure entered the cafe. Wearing a large hood pulled tightly over their head, their marble-white skin and eyes of an intense, almost cosmic blue drew immediate attention. Everyone froze for a moment, watching as the stranger made their way to the counter.

Curious, Jack approached.

"Good evening. How can we help you?" he asked, maintaining a cautious politeness.

The man slowly pulled back his hood, revealing pointed ears and long, white hair.

"My name is Va'ar," he said in a deep, almost melodic voice. "I come with an urgent request. I am a messenger from a distant sector, and the situation is dire."

Kael immediately stood, alert.

"What kind of situation? And why come here?"

Va'ar's glowing blue eyes turned to Kael.

"This is no coincidence. Jack Done, your creations and your connection to Aetherion have been observed and have reached farther than you can imagine. We need your help and that of your team."

Tsukiko studied the stranger carefully, taking in every detail.

"What kind of help? Why us?" she asked.

Va'ar reached into his cloak and produced a small holographic device, activating it. A detailed starmap projected above the table, centering on a massive asteroid at the galaxy's edge.

"This is Xyphera, an ancient asteroid rich in Elythron deposits. It's a unique location, but recently it has become the target of deliberate sabotage. The mining colony there has been destabilized, and tensions between the humans managing the mine and the Rysals funding it are escalating rapidly."

Jack frowned, studying the map.

"And who do you think is behind the sabotage?"

Va'ar sighed, a shadow passing over his face.

"The Orith Nexis Corporation. They have been implicated in several similar incidents, but this time, their motives are clear: discredit humans, make them seem incapable of managing resources, and secure as much Elythron as possible. If they succeed, not only will interspecies relations be harmed, but the Elythron on Xyphera will fall entirely into their hands."

Kai exchanged a glance with Jack.

"This sounds dangerous. Why should we risk everything for one colony?" he asked.

Va'ar stepped closer, his intense blue eyes locking onto Kai.

"Because what happens there is only the beginning. If Orith Nexis succeeds, they will use Elythron for destructive purposes. And for you, Jack Done, this place might hold answers about the origins of Ether technologies and the true potential of your creations."

Tsukiko crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on Jack.

"What do you think? If there really is Elythron there, we can't ignore this."

Jack took a deep breath, considering the stakes. He turned to Va'ar.

"We'll come. But we need all the details. And another question: why you?"

Va'ar gave a faint smile.

"I am one of the last Alfar, at least in this galaxy. Though we have withdrawn from the spotlight, we work from the shadows to stop the Dökkálfar from taking control of this galaxy. I swore to protect galactic balance, and you are the only ones who can prevent this disaster. But we must act quickly. The sabotage has already triggered a chain reaction that could destroy the colony entirely."

Aetherion's voice chimed in from its holographic projection.

"Jack, data from the Eryon sector confirms heightened encrypted communication activity over the past 72 hours. The likelihood of an organized attack is 87%."

Jack clenched his fist, feeling the powerful connection with Aetherion.

"Understood. We'll go. But we won't let this corporation get away with it."

Va'ar bowed slightly, grateful.

"I understand you have transport. I'll meet you aboard Raven's Wings tomorrow morning. Prepare for anything."

As Va'ar left the cafe, the team exchanged glances, sensing that a new adventure was about to begin. Tsukiko broke the silence with a sly grin.

"Well, it seems the cafe's success brought more than profit. Let's see how we handle a sabotaged asteroid."

Jack nodded, a determined glint in his eye.

"It's time to learn more about Orith Nexis. Who they are and what drives them."

The next morning, the team gathered aboard Raven's Wings. Originally a simple transport ship, it had been radically modified by Jack, Andy, and Aetherion. It now boasted a Hyperwave engine capable of using pre-established gravitational pathways—a technology typically reserved for large ships due to its high energy and fuel requirements.

"This is impressive," Va'ar said as he walked through the main corridor. "A Hyperwave engine on such a small ship? You're using an Ether catalyst, aren't you?"

Jack nodded proudly.

"Andy and I worked on it. With Aetherion and a small amount of Elythron, we managed to make a system functional that would normally require ten times the energy. How do you know about this?"

Kai, already at the helm, chimed in with a playful tone:

"And with Maya's help, we'll be there in two hours, not two days. Buckle up."

During the flight, the team gathered in the main room to discuss their plan.

Andy projected a holographic map of the mining colony.

"This is the central city of the colony. The area is divided into sectors: residential, processing, and administration. The main problem is that the sabotage has compromised power generators and security systems."

Kael examined the details.

"If the generators are down, they'll try to exploit that for a direct attack. We need to restore power quickly."

Tsukiko tightened her fist, a small smile forming.

"And we'll need to be ready for a fight. I'll handle the turrets."

Upon landing, the team prepared for infiltration. Raven's Wings touched down on the designated transport pad, but as they exited the ship, gunfire erupted from automated turrets embedded in the hangar walls. Jack quickly raised his hand, and Aetherion generated a gravitational field that deflected the bullets, giving the team time to find cover.

"We have three active turrets and an observation point above," Andy reported via holographic projection. "The systems are connected to a main terminal north of the hangar."

"Leave the turrets to me," Tsukiko said, loading her long-range weapon. She darted skillfully between containers, finding a favorable angle. Two precise shots disabled the right-side turrets while Jack maintained the shield.

Va'ar pulled two black daggers from beneath his cloak and hurled them at the remaining turrets. A golden energy exploded from them, destroying the defenses instantly. However, a sniper from the observation point managed to fire before Tsukiko neutralized them.

A bullet struck Va'ar's cloak, and he collapsed to the ground, bleeding lightly. Kael immediately rushed to him, activating his conduit pendant. A bright green light enveloped the wound, healing it almost instantly.

"Are you alright?" Kael asked, focusing on the regeneration process.

"Yes, thank you," Va'ar replied, rising slowly. "I underestimated their preparedness."

Kael surveyed the hangar's state. The walls were dirty and cracked, and the equipment appeared overworked and poorly maintained.

"Same story as the other mining station," Kael muttered. "Negligent maintenance. Everything operating at its limit."

He transmitted telepathically to the other team members, spread across different sectors of the station.

"The issues are similar everywhere. We need to restore power and stabilize critical systems. Our rendezvous is at the central office."

The team worked tirelessly, repairing power generators, calibrating ventilation systems, and reactivating main sensors. After hours of effort, they regrouped at the central office.

The scene was grim. A Xenthirian in a black suit lay slumped in a chair, lifeless. On the desk, a holographic terminal displayed the last logs.

Jack quickly accessed the system while Andy analyzed the data.

"According to the logs, 20 kilograms of Elythron have already been extracted and loaded onto a ship that departed 30 minutes ago," Andy reported.

Va'ar sighed, looking at the others.

"We were too late."

Jack clenched his fist, anger rising.

"We have to stop them. We can't let Elythron fall into their hands."