The base did not feel the same after their return. It was not just because the portal had disappeared, but because they had seen something they could not ignore. Elisa was still out there, somewhere beyond their reach, and that knowledge refused to let them rest. Jenny stood in the main room, staring at the large screen where Zoe and Louis had projected the remaining energy readings. The signal was still there, faint but steady, like a distant echo that refused to fade.
Zoe worked continuously, adjusting and recalculating, trying to understand the new pattern. This time, the energy was not forming a clear path like before. Instead, it appeared scattered, almost as if it had been broken into pieces. Louis suggested that the collapse of the portal might have caused the energy to spread across different points rather than one stable location. Kevin studied the data carefully and began to see a possibility forming. If the energy was no longer in one place, then maybe the portal did not need to reopen in the same way. Maybe it could be rebuilt using those scattered points.
Stebin leaned forward, his frustration slowly turning into focus. He asked the only question that mattered. If they could not find the original doorway, could they create a new one? Jake remained quiet for a moment before answering. It would not be easy, and it would not be safe, but it might be possible. Mira, who had been listening carefully, finally stepped forward and confirmed it. The rings themselves were connected to the same energy they were tracking. If they could combine their power in the right way, they might be able to force a new opening.
Jenny looked down at her hand, her thoughts steadying. This was different from anything they had done before. It was not just about using their powers, but about controlling them together with perfect timing. Zoe explained that even a small mistake could make things worse, possibly creating another unstable collapse. The risk was clear to everyone, but so was the choice. Doing nothing was not an option anymore.
After a moment of silence, Jenny raised her head and spoke with quiet certainty. They would try. Not blindly, and not without preparation, but they would find a way to open a path again. One by one, the others agreed. The fear was still there, but it no longer controlled them. They had lost their first chance, but now they had something else. A second path. And this time, they would be ready for it.