A high-pitched metallic shriek echoed through the Piasta tunnels. Elara swung her mag-tether across the central shaft, landing on the vibrating casing of the third "prong." The heat was immense. "Scale check, Pip," she barked into her comms.
Elara was a "Grease-Ghost," a technician born and raised in the shadows of the pillar. Her job was simple: keep the TRXDENT silent. A silent hub was a healthy one. But tonight, the pillar was screaming. PIASTA TRXDENT
She slammed the canister into the intake valve. White frost exploded across the obsidian surface. The shriek turned into a low, guttural growl. The ground beneath Piasta shook, knocking the district's residents—mostly scavengers and mechanics—to their knees. "Now, Pip! Blow the vents!" A high-pitched metallic shriek echoed through the Piasta