The bunker hummed. Low. Constant.

  Evan stood by the barrier projector. Calibrating.

  Michael found him there. Watching.

  Evan didn't look up. "Something wrong?"

  "No." Michael stepped closer. Looked at the dual panel system. The wires. The massive battery.

  "That connects to the main house supply," Michael said.

  Evan nodded.

  Michael studied the panels. Two of them. One hot. One cold.

  "I know how this works," Michael said. "Most of it. But not the thermal side."

  Evan's hands paused.

  Across the bunker, near the sleeping quarters, Maya sat on her cot. Her broken hand rested in her lap. Palm up. Open.

  Harshal walked past. Stopped.

  She didn't look at him. But her voice came quiet.

  "How much do you know about Evan?"

  Harshal turned. Looked at her. Face unreadable.

  "Not much," he said. "I know about his work. I know about his grandfather. He used to talk about it. Before."

  Maya's eyes stayed on her hand. "Before what?"

  "Before you came. Before them." He gestured vaguely toward where Michael and Sarah slept. "Before everything got complicated."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Maya said nothing. Just nodded. Once.

  Harshal waited. She didn't continue.

  He walked away.

  Evan was quiet. Then:

  "My grandfather. William Seimen."

  Michael went still.

  "William Seimen," Michael repeated. "Creator of the DBD reactor?"

  Evan nodded.

  Michael's voice dropped. "Werner von Seimen is your grand-uncle."

  Another nod.

  Michael turned to the barrier. Looked at it differently now.

  "They only invented the non-thermal barrier," he said slowly. "The cold one. It was incomplete."

  "I know."

  "But this—" Michael gestured at the thermal panel. "This is different. The design. The tech. The materials."

  Evan finally turned. Met his eyes.

  "It's an imitation."

  Michael frowned. "An imitation of what?"

  "Of what he was trying to build. I never saw the real thing. Just notes. Sketches. Half-built prototypes. I had to guess the rest."

  Evan touched the thermal projector. Gently.

  "So I built this. Not his design. Mine. Based on his. Close enough to balance. Different enough to work."

  Michael stared at him. Let out a breath.

  "Your grandfather would be proud."

  Evan's jaw tightened. "He'd be alive. That would be better."

  Silence.

  Then Evan turned. Looked at Michael directly.

  "How do you know about my grandfather?"

  Michael blinked. Then shrugged. Small smile.

  "I'm an engineer. Well. Was. Before all this."

  Evan waited.

  Michael gestured vaguely. "I like plasma engineering. Always did. Had a YouTube channel—before the Red. Showed what engineering could do. Researched all types of states of matter. But plasma was my favorite."

  He looked at the barrier again. Appreciation in his eyes.

  "Your grandfather's work was famous. In certain circles. People who care about this stuff. He was... legend."

  Evan said nothing. Just watched him.

  Michael met his eyes. "I never thought I'd see his work in person. Let alone his grandson's."

  Evan nodded slowly. Then:

  "What else can you do?"

  Michael tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

  "Engineering. What else?"

  Michael thought. "Basic stuff. Most things. If it has wires, circuits, moving parts—I can probably fix it. Or figure it out."

  Evan looked at the barrier. Then back at Michael. Something shifting in his expression.

  "We might need that."

  Michael nodded. Then Evan asked:

  "Where did you meet Sarah?"

  Michael's face changed. Instant. A flush rising up his neck. Reaching his ears.

  He looked down. Rubbed the back of his neck. Let out a small, embarrassed laugh.

  "Ah. I met her."