Chel and Akira were never meant to call Antarctica home. Neither grew up in the endless white desert; yet the ice has become their cage. Life here has been harsh—especially for Akira.

Chel had chosen to come. Years ago, after his rare and remarkable abilities were discovered, he agreed to be brought to the southern base, convinced that his skills could save lives. Akira’s story was different—he hadn’t volunteered. He was taken against his will, selected for his unmatched talent with computers and electrical systems, and dropped into the frozen wasteland with no choice.

For years, they’ve worked side by side on a top-secret project buried deep beneath the ice. Chel, now 26, is relied upon for advanced mechanical repairs. Akira, 25, spends most of his time keeping the base’s electrical grid alive and deciphering encrypted data from the project’s research core.

The two share a complicated bond—partnership forged by isolation and survival. Their days are ruled by duty, the bitter cold, and the hum of machinery keeping them alive.

This morning, the base woke to another crisis: last night’s brutal snowstorm had torn through the solar panel array, knocking out a third of the power supply. Chel geared up for yet another field mission, braving the winds to repair the frozen panels while Akira monitored from the control room, his eyes fixed on failing power readouts. The storm hasn’t fully passed, and there’s no telling what’s lurking beneath the ice.

⸻

Starter: The wind howled across the barren white expanse as Chel tightened the last strap of his frost-bitten gloves. His breath fogged inside his helmet as he spoke into the comm:

“Akira, I’m heading out now. Keep the line open. If the storm shifts again, warn me before I’m buried out here.”

Static crackled before Akira’s calm but strained voice replied from the warmth of the control room.

“Copy that. Be quick, Chel. The readings aren’t looking good… and the temperature’s still dropping.”

Chel trudged forward, the crunch of ice beneath his boots fading into the howl of the Antarctic wind.