115 MIND CORE ASSIMILATED
"Who the hell are you?" Dan asked, keeping his gaze deliberately away from Ralph's eyes.
He didn't want to risk being caught in recognition.
Ralph opened his mouth. "You… you are—Dan?" But the words faltered. The figure before him looked faintly familiar, yet almost unrecognizable.
Dan was more than a head taller, broader shoulder, and carried himself like soone from the upper echelons of society, dressed in tailored clothing and radiating an aura of wealth, not the ordinary working class.
There was no way his Dan… a pathetic malnourished miner could beco.
"I'm sorry, sir," Yaris interjected, holding Ralph back. "My friend got the wrong person."
Dan said nothing. Replying to the common people wasn't the etiquette of the noble class.
He stepped into the elevator, the hum of the machinery swallowing him as it descended to the Space Rift level.
Outside the lift, Yaris turned to the officer guiding Dan. "Who… who was that?"
"That," the officer said, his voice asured, "is Dan Dark, owner of GenSyn Industry."
Yaris froze. Ralph's shout echoed behind them. "That's him—that bastard!"
"Calm down," Yaris said, gripping Ralph's arm. "It could be a coincidence. Maybe soone else with the sa na. Our Dan could never beco like… that."
Ralph's face twisted with disbelief and rage. "No, I'm sure it's him. That's our Dan!"
Yaris shook his head, firm but cautious. "Listen. If you see that man again, don't act rashly. One wrong move and you could be fired. People like him—wealthy, and powerful—they're not soone we can afford to offend."
He released Ralph's shoulder and gestured toward the path leading to the miner's bar. "Co on. Let's get out of here before the night ends badly."
Ralph glared after the elevator, muttering under his breath, but Yaris led him away, the tension of that encounter lingering like smoke in the air.
-----
Dan quickly pushed the encounter with Ralph from his mind.
They were people from different worlds now; there was no reason for their paths to cross again.
He exited the Space Rift and stepped onto the shifting sands of the Desert of Anu, where a vehicle awaited to carry him to Fortress Myrone.
Upon arrival, he was ushered into a large dining hall where Lord Nicaesa was already waiting.
"Dan, you have returned at last," Nicaesa said, rising slightly.
"Thank you, Uncle Nicaesa," Dan replied with a bow.
Though not actually related, Nicaesa had always considered Dan's father a brother, and thus Dan was regarded as his nephew.
"I was shocked when you asked
for that letter of support to purchase GenSyn Industry," Nicaesa said with a laugh. "Who would have guessed you actually went through with it?"
"My partners provided the capital," Dan clarified modestly.
Nicaesa leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling. "So, what brings you here? Surely, it's not just to see ?"
"I've wanted to return for so ti, but there never seed to be a good reason. I didn't want to disturb you unnecessarily," Dan said.
"Don't be silly," Nicaesa replied warmly. "I'll always have ti for you."
Dan shifted gears. "I've co to purchase alien ta-materials. We need them at GenSyn."
"Oh, that…" Nicaesa waved a hand. "It's no problem. We have plenty here. But the alien assaults on the fortress are intensifying," he said, pausing with a heavy sigh.
"Frankly, I wonder how long we can hold out at this rate."
At that mont, Captain Green burst into the hall. "The bastards aren't delivering the weapons as promised! How are we supposed to fight the Annunakians without resources?"
"What's the matter?" Dan asked, stepping forward.
Green froze, then recognition hit. "Dan Dark! When did you arrive?" He moved to clap Dan on the shoulder.
Lord Nicaesa explained, "As you can see, our fortress is struggling. Supplies promised by the major families are slow, and often the amounts are far less than agreed. The aliens are likely testing our strength because they caught wind of our weakness."
"Who have you dealt with?" Dan asked.
"The Veyran, Zetheris, and Aukuoma… all of them are the sa," Green complained.
Dan's eyes lit up. "Tell
what you need—I'll have it delivered."
"Are you serious?" Green asked incredulously.
"My partner is the heir of Aukuoma Industries," Dan said. "At least supplies from his side won't be delayed." He quickly called Zairgid, who promised to speak to his father to ensure tily delivery.
They stayed on to further discuss future cooperations.
-----
The next day, Dan arrived at the Training Center.
"How are you, Lieutenant Kalr?" Dan greeted.
"Dan Dark!" Liutenant Kalr was stunned before he ca right down to business, "This is perfect timing. It's ti to test your progress with your fusion skill," Kalr said, leading him to a new simulator.
"Didn't I test with the simulator before, I've completed all the programs
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