The decision was made. Securing the [Advanced Optic Lens (Cracked)] was a major victory, but pressing his luck trying to excavate the buried receiver coil while damaged and relatively low on energy felt foolhardy. Xen cast one last analytical look at the unstable wreckage of the Sensor Array, committing the layout to memory, then turned back towards the relative safety of his crevice shelter.
He plotted the return course on his HUD map, choosing paths marked as stable and avoiding the Giant's immediate collapse zone. He reactivated his [Audio Dampener] as he entered areas where he'd previously detected tracks or heard noises, the energy cost a worthwhile trade for peace of mind while carrying his precious salvage.
The journey back took roughly twenty-five minutes, a tense but uneventful trek through the metal graveyard.
EN: 127.0/150 ([Audio Dampener] active for ~15 mins total on return). [Audio Dampener Lvl 1 skill proficiency increased by 0.2% to 0.9%]
Along the way, he passed the large panel bearing the [Exotic Energy Scarring]. Curiosity momentarily overriding strict energy conservation, he paused briefly under cover to scan it once more.
[Scan Analysis: Structural Surface Scarring - Residual Energy Signature: Faint - High-Intensity Thermal/Exotic Particle Mix (Stable) - Origin Unknown. No change detected.]
<+2 XP Gained! (Environmental Anomaly Re-Analyzed)> XP: 224/250.
Still a mystery. He didn't linger, continuing his journey. Finally, the familiar shapes of the engine block and hull plate marking his shelter came into view. A final safety scan confirmed the entrance was clear.
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[Scan Complete: Crevice Interior Clear.]
He deactivated the dampener and slipped inside. The [Sheltered] buff immediately appeared on his HUD. HP: 99.1/100. Safe. He moved to the back, the familiar coolness of the enclosed space a welcome relief.
He retrieved the [Advanced Optic Lens (Cracked)] from his inventory (Slots Used: 4/5), carefully holding the large, damaged component. He ran his manipulator fingertips over the spiderweb cracks, optics zooming in. The potential this represented – ranged capability – was enormous, but so were the challenges of integrating and potentially repairing it.
First things first: full recovery. Operating at peak physical condition was essential before attempting any delicate analysis or assembly. His HP was already ticking up: 99.2... 99.3... Only one point needed regenerating, which would take just under ten minutes thanks to the shelter buff.
He settled into a low-power resting state, systems quiet, sensors focused primarily on the crevice entrance and his own slow repair process. His mind, however, churned. The lens needed focusing elements, power regulation. Where could he get parts? The [Damaged Flight Recorder] in his inventory was the prime candidate.
His earlier [Data Analysis] Lvl 2 had pulled intriguing keywords: "Atmospheric Entry Anomaly," "Impact Warning," "Mayday Signal," "Life Support Critical." Hints of a disaster, but no technical specs. Could the recorder, an advanced piece of aerospace technology, contain the micro-capacitors or fine wiring needed to stabilize the energy flow for the lens? He hadn't specifically scanned for components yet. Analyzing that seemed like the crucial next step after he finished repairing.
The minutes passed in the quiet gloom. HP: 99.8... 99.9...
He felt the last nagging alert about his frame integrity disappear. Systems optimal. Energy reserves decent (EN: 125.0/150). Inventory holding potential (Slots Used: 4/5). Time to get to work.
He carefully placed the cracked lens beside him and mentally accessed his inventory again, focusing on the icon for the [Damaged Flight Recorder]. System, perform detailed component analysis using [Data Analysis] Lvl 2. Target: Inventoried Flight Recorder.
The real work, the path towards tangible upgrades, was about to begin right here in his makeshift workshop.