The sun began to warm the body of the convoy when Val's patience reached its limit. For two hours, Charlie incessantly complained on the radio communicator about the dust and hunger, while also insisting on piloting the F-150, claiming he needed to 'feel the response of an authentic V8 on uneven terrain for his technical training,' an argument that was evidently unfounded.
Stopping under the shade of the gorge to cool the engines, Val got out of the truck and handed the keys to Charlie. She warned him severely, saying the vehicle was not yet a V8 and that if he damaged the paint or the clutch, he would be dragged back to White City. Despite the scare, Charlie smiled, and Val drove to a red Fiat, entering the narrow leather seat.
Hector, who was watching the scene, noticed the sudden invasion of his space in the small cabin of the Coupe. The air became saturated with the smell of lubricating oil and sweat, mixing with the sweet aroma of Val's perfume. She ordered him to go in front because she did not want to watch the young man doing something wrong in the back of the pickup.
Sector 7
After driving silently for several kilometers, Val indicated a narrow trail to the right. Hector questioned whether Sector 7 was not directly through the canyon, as Colin had said. Val confirmed it but planned a detour, stating that he should see for himself where the dirt was really going, given her knowledge of her corporation's health reports.
The Fiat deviated, kicking up a dense cloud of reddish dust, and the landscape became even more hostile, changing from rocks to a ravaged valley, tinted in shades of ochre and violet. In the center, a structure of twisted metal and settling tanks stood out, smelling of sulfur and solvent. Val identified the location as the Distillery, explaining that the Manufacturer forced the leakage of chemical waste at this blind spot on the map because they could neither burn it in the Citadel nor bury it, and the local personnel were responsible for purification to keep the engines running.
Hector stopped the car upon finding an elderly man, Elijah, wearing a worn asbestos apron, coming out of a network of pipes. Elijah warned Val about the end of the supply, informing her that what was supposed to arrive had run out because 'they sealed it at the root.' Hector understood that he was witnessing the impact of a bureaucratic decision by Marcus, which was cutting off the desert's oxygen.
Elijah mentioned that, without the surplus, they would have to return to the old processing method, which would result in more dirt and odor. Val nodded and returned to the car. Hector reflected on Valeria Vance's intelligence, realizing that her assignment to the Disposal Sector was an opportunity she turned into an advantage, working undercover to ensure the supply of distilleries.
As he entered the car, Hector confronted Val, saying that she knew the duct would be closed and that her escape was not an accident, but rather a convenience for him. Val replied with a subtle smile, stating that he needed to get out of the bubble and that she had merely given him a ride.
Sector 7
The trip to Sector 7 took more than forty minutes. Upon arrival, the scene surprised Hector; instead of a junkyard, he found a small, vibrant town integrated into the geological faults. There was active traffic, with people following normal routines, working in workshops and hydroponic greenhouses. Heavy trucks formed an autonomous commercial network, ignored by White City. The environment was chaotic, organic, and functional, smelling of dust, diesel oil, and home-cooked food.
That night, Val inspected the F-150 engine under the dim light of the hood. Hector approached, wiping the wrench she had left, and offered help. Val refused but asked him to illuminate the distributor, and he obeyed silently.
Later, Hector, no longer an agent, reflected on the change in his life. He contrasted the fantasy of epic confrontations from old movies with the silent reality of learning to clean spark plugs. Marcus, his father, informed him that he had authorized Hector's stay in the apartment. Marcus, seeing Hector, realized he had become a man, and for a moment considered reintegrating him into the system, but chose to respect his choice, recognizing that he belonged to another side of the gear.
Six months later, Colin and Peter discussed the rear camber of the Locost, with Peter warning Colin about the risk of rollover in the canyon, while Colin argued that the original design aimed for lateral grip gains at high speed.
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