The year is 2326, and the desert landscape stretches out before them like an endless, arid sea. The air is thick with the smell of metal and sand, and the sky above is a deep, foreboding haze. The mood is one of tense hope, as the crew gathers around Aika and the young child, their faces etched with concern and anticipation.
Aika's hands, adorned with the glowing blue of CORE7, hover over the arm of the young child, its skin a canvas of scars and wounds. The child's eyes, wide with a mix of fear and curiosity, lock onto Aika's, and for a moment, the world is still. The only sound is the soft hum of the CORE7 broadcast rig, a constant reminder of their mission to find the Polyák family. The crew surrounds them, their faces a picture of rapt attention, as Aika's eyes bore into the child's, searching for a glimmer of recognition.
“Can you feel that? The pulse is weak, but it's there.”
“We need to be careful, the wounds are deep, but I think we can stabilize them.”
“Look at me, child. I need you to focus. Can you tell me your name?”
As Aika's words hang in the air, the child's eyes begin to focus, and a spark of recognition ignites, changing the course of their mission forever. The crew's hope, tentative until now, begins to solidify into a sense of purpose, as they realize that this child may hold the key to finding the elusive Polyák family.
