Nate sat quietly in front of the helmet, the one he'd spent five exhausting days building with relentless focus and barely a blink of rest. His fingers brushed along the sleek metal surface, its dark reflective shell holding the weight of too many hopes. A storm of uncertainty brewed in his chest as he stared at it, the room silent except for the faint humming of nearby equipment.
Sera was seated across from him, elbows on the table, chin in her hand as her eyes flicked between Nate and the device. She watched him carefully, concern etched in her features, though she said nothing yet. Behind them, Alice leaned against the wall with arms crossed, clearly not impressed with what she saw.
"When was the last time you slept?" Alice asked, her tone sharp but laced with worry.
Nate didn't even turn to look at her. He kept his eyes on the helmet, almost like he was afraid it would disappear if he blinked. "Five days ago," he replied casually.
Alice's brows furrowed. "You're joking."
