09:30, February 21, 2295


    Tech Lab, Deck C, DSS Isazi, Earth Orbit


    The tech lab hummed with energy as Jabari entered. Walls lined with holographic interfaces, crystalline memory banks glowing with stored data, and at its center, a specialized diagnostic chair where Ume sat motionless, eyes closed.


    Optical cables snaked from her temples to Seydou''s Android Modifier, a device resembling a complex crown of gray and blue. Each component pulsed with subtle light as it interfaced with Ume''s positronic brain.


    "Just in time," Seydou said without looking up, fingers flying across multiple holographic panels. His technical medallions clicked softly as he worked. "Final calibration sequence initiating."


    Celine stood nearby, arms crossed. Wilhelm leaned against a console, casual posture betrayed by tension in his shoulders.


    Jabari moved closer to Ume, studying her dormant state. Her synthetic features were perfectly composed, as if in peaceful sleep, but her stillness and lack of breathing were unsettling. The kimono she''d worn since their rescue had been replaced with a medical garment in Directorate emerald.


    "How long will this take?" he asked, unable to mask his concern.


    "The extraction process should complete within the hour," Seydou replied, adjusting his protective goggles. "Though with Imperial encryption, one can never be certain. Whoever put the data did lots of hard-coding stuffs. Either they were short on time, or simply assumed nobody would hack through."


    Celine''s checked the comm device in her left ear briefly before continuing. "Chairman Kofi will be joining us shortly. He wants immediate updates on our findings."


    "Any word on Prince Laurent?" Jabari asked, his voice carrying an edge that made Celine turn toward him.


    "Even with the Crystal on our list, My priority is finding the Prince," Celine stated firmly, her posture straightening. "The moment this extraction is complete, I intend to set course for Zeeman Crater, regardless of what''s in the android''s memory banks."


    Wilhelm raised an eyebrow. "Rather decisive, aren''t we, madam?"


    "Laurent is Kimaris Warband''s commander. Your commander." Celine replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Without him, we are operating at reduced capacity. The Crystal, whatever its value, is secondary."


    A holographic pad nearby activated, coalescing into the imposing figure of Chairman Kofi Mensah. His emerald robes caught the light in complex patterns, traditional gold medallions gleaming against his chest.


    "Kimaris," Kofi''s suave voice filled the space, his accent emphasizing certain syllables in a rhythm like traditional drums. "Status report."


    Seydou straightened, adjusting his posture almost unconsciously. "Extraction procedure at seventy-eight percent, Oguamtrani. We''ve bypassed the initial security layers, but Imperial encryption remains formidable."


    "Intels says the Imperium and the Alliance are both on the move. How quickly can you complete the process?" Kofi asked, attention focused entirely on Seydou.


    "Chairman," Jabari interjected, stepping forward, venturing a statement that he felt would sound just right to anyone. "Ume''s systems are delicate. Rushing could damage her consciousness."


    Kofi regarded him with mild surprise. "Your concern is noted, Lieutenant. However, the data that U6-M9 carries may be vital to Directorate interests."


    "Agreed, Oguamtrani," Celine added. "Once we''ve extracted what we need, we should immediately set course for Zeeman Crater. Prince Laurent''s last known coordinates—"


    "One mission at a time, Dr. Kamara," Kofi replied smoothly.


    The Android Modifier hummed louder, its components glowing brighter as Seydou continued the extraction. On multiple screens, cascades of code flowed—strings of data so complex they resembled abstract art more than any meaningful strings to Jabari.


    "Five nested For-loops? Please, whoever compressed this data, I could do better when I was sophomore!" Seydou announced suddenly, excitement overtaking his usual measured tone. "Oh wait, oh wait, yes yes yes, and breakthrough achieved! Accessing primary data nodes now."


    The main display shifted, showing fragmented images—crystalline structures that pulsed with inner light, ancient stonework, and maps of Osram that focused with increasing detail on two distinct locations: Mare Imbrium on the Near Side and a smaller site within an unassuming crater on the Far Side.


    "There," Seydou highlighted a segment of the map. "The Moondust Crystal''s primary mass appears to be located in this Vault of Primal Urges beneath Mare Imbrium. Extensive security systems, likely Neptunian in origin."


    "And this second location?" Kofi''s hologram moved closer to the display, his interest visibly piqued.


    Seydou enlarged the image. "A fragment, separated from the main Crystal. Located in Zeeman Crater, Far Side. Much smaller, but potentially just as important. Someone must''ve gone through a lot of work to separate that shard."


    Celine studied the display, her expression shifting subtly. "Zeeman Crater. Where Laurent disappeared."


    "Two objectives in the same location," Wilhelm murmured. "Convenient."


    "Not necessarily," Seydou cautioned, bringing up new data streams. "The fragment is at the crater''s edge, while Prince Laurent''s last transmission came from deeper within. Different sectors entirely."


    Jabari watched as more information materialized on the screens—schematics of ancient structures, energy readings, and fragments of what appeared to be warnings in multiple languages.


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    "Chairman," Celine stepped forward. "With respect, our primary duty must be to Prince Laurent. If he''s still in Zeeman Crater—"


    "I understand your loyalty, Dr. Kamara," Kofi interrupted, his tone suddenly decisive. His hologram expanded slightly. "Kimaris Warband will proceed to Zeeman Crater—not for Prince Laurent, but for the Crystal fragment. The other powers will be too occupied fighting over the main body to notice our acquisition of the shard."


    "Sir," Celine''s voice remained steady despite the clear disagreement. "Prince Laurent—"


    "Will have to wait," Kofi concluded firmly. "I''ve dispatched Nyame Warband to conduct search operations. Your priority now is securing that Crystal fragment before anyone realizes its existence."


    Celine''s expression remained neutral, though Jabari could see the conflict behind her eyes. "Understood, Oguamtrani."


    "I''ll expect regular updates on your progress," Kofi continued. With that, his hologram flickered and dissolved, leaving the tech lab in momentary silence.


    Wilhelm broke the tension, pushing away from the console. "Seems our course is set, hey?"


    Jabari remained by Ume''s side as Seydou began disconnecting the optical cables from her temples. "Will she be alright?"


    "More than alright," Seydou assured him, his earlier urgency giving way to professional confidence.


    "She returns to her quarters afterwards," Celine interjected, already moving toward the exit. "Her role is complete."


    "Ma''am. Ume chose to help us." Jabari said, feeling heat rise to his face. "She deserves better than to be used and discarded."


    "I agree," Seydou said, surprising everyone. "Besides, Ume may be essential to locating the fragment."


    Celine turned, one eyebrow raised. "Explain."


    "The resonance frequency we extracted—it''s not just data, it''s a sensory input," Seydou explained, removing his protective goggles. "Ume''s systems could be recalibrated to detect it. She could lead us directly to the fragment, even through interference that would blind our instruments."


    "You''re suggesting we bring an android—an Imperial android—on a critical mission to the Far Side?" Celine''s skepticism was palpable, her voice rising.


    "I''m suggesting we utilize every advantage," Seydou countered.


    "To some more than others," Wilhelm remarked with a knowing glance at Jabari.


    Celine''s expression hardened. "This isn''t about what an android ''deserves''. It''s about mission parameters and security protocols."


    "Dr. Kamara," Jabari pressed, "She did fight alongside us in Taiwan."


    "She''s a machine programmed to simulate emotion," Celine replied, an unexpected edge in her voice. "Don''t confuse programming with loyalty."


    "Actually," Seydou interrupted, "11th-generation synthetics like Ume possess advanced neural networks that allow for genuine emotional development. Their consciousness isn''t programmed so much as cultivated like those 22nd Century models — "


    "Save the technical lecture," Celine cut him off. "I''ve seen what happens when people anthropomorphize these things. Nothing good comes of it." Her gaze flickered toward Ume''s still form.


    Before Jabari could respond, a soft sound drew everyone''s attention. Ume''s eyes had opened, amber irises adjusting to the light as awareness returned to her features.


    "How... how long was I offline?" she asked, voice slightly mechanical before self-calibrating to its usual timbre.


    "Approximately forty-three minutes," Seydou answered, monitoring her vitals on a nearby display. "How do you feel?"


    Ume''s expression shifted through subtle changes as yellow lines of energies danced in her amber irises. "Memory banks fragmented. Some data corrupted. But core systems intact." She turned to Jabari, recognition warming her features. "You stayed."


    "Yeah." he replied simply, nodding.


    Ume attempted to rise from the chair, movements stiff at first. Jabari offered his arm for support, which she accepted with a nod of gratitude before her small feet touched the floor.


    "We''re heading to Zeeman Crater to retrieve a fragment of the Moondust Crystal." Celine stated, watching Ume with undisguised caution.


    "The Crystal," Ume repeated, her expression momentarily distant. "I remember now. The data showed a shard, separated from the main body."


    "The guy storing the data in you did not want you to have read-write access those partitions. But I''ve — ''added them back''." Seydou commented eagerly, raising a hand to adjust his goggles. "Any other details you can recall?"


    Ume lowered her head briefly before turning to Seydou''s gaze. "The fragment resonates at a specific frequency. I can... sense it somehow. Like a song I''ve heard before but can''t quite name."


    "Precisely why she should join us," Seydou declared triumphantly as he turned to Celine. "She''s essentially a living detector for the Crystal''s signature!"


    "Far Side of Osram isn''t exactly a pleasure cruise, though," Wilhelm countered, standing between Jabari and Seydou. "Radi-Mons, magnetic anomalies—not to mention whatever defenses might surround the fragment itself."


    "I want to help." Ume said quietly but firmly.


    Celine looked between them, clearly calculating variables and risks. Finally, she sighed. "You have three hours to prepare her for…whatever roles you decide to assign her to." With that, she exited the lab, leaving tension in her wake.


    "Don''t take it personally," Wilhelm told Ume once Celine was gone. "She has... history with Da-Ji models."


    "I understand," Ume replied.


    "Thank the Elder Gods she said yes," Seydou moved to a nearby workbench, retrieving something, "This is for you, Ume."


    He held out what appeared to be a modified Plasma Handgun. It gleamed with an emerald hue accented by polished gold inlays along its frame and barrel. The upper chamber housed a specialized energy core, visible through small illuminated ports, while featuring a textured grip with the Directorate emblem subtly embedded at the base. Small status indicators glowed softly along its side, and the barrel''s aperture was slightly wider than standard models.


    "Your personal firearm, modified from what Jabari gave you." Seydou explained. "I''ve made some improvements based on my studies on how androids hold and operate objects like it."


    Ume accepted the weapon, holding it with unexpected familiarity. "It feels heavier than I remember."


    "Enhanced stabilization core," Seydou nodded, pride evident in his voice. "But the true modification is the overcharger module. Hold the trigger, and it builds energy for a concentrated blast. Release, and it creates a small explosive impact."


    The gun seemed to fit perfectly in Ume''s hand, as if designed specifically for her proportions. She examined it with analytical precision, then looked up at Seydou. "Thank you."


    "Test it in the firing range on Deck F when you get a chance," Seydou suggested. "I''ve calibrated it to work optimally with your neural processing speeds and targeting algorithms. Uploaded some custom knowledge on weapon usage and field operation into your long-term memory while digging for the Moondust data, too."


    Jabari watched this exchange with mixed feelings. On one hand, arming Ume further integrated her into the team. On the other, it suggested Seydou had plans for her beyond simply detecting the Moondust Crystal.


    Before he could add to the conversation, Wilhelm called from across the lab. "You all! Prep meeting in thirty minutes. Need to go over Scarab and Anioma deployment protocols for Far Side conditions."


    With a nod of acknowledgment to Wilhelm, Jabari turned back to Ume. "Rest if you need to. Whatever Celine thinks of you, we''ll figure something out."


    "I don''t need rest, Jabari," Ume said with unexpected determination. She adjusted her grip on the modified Plasma Handgun, a gesture that seemed to symbolize her resolve as her small lips bloomed into a smile. "I need purpose."