A Father and Son Reunion: Riven and Sebastian Salazar

Riven Salazar, at 22 years old, is tinkering with a new walkie-talkie for Archie_Tech while his father, Sebastian, in his mid-40s, meticulously ties his long, dusk-colored hair. This quiet scene is interrupted by Sebastian's playful teasing about Riven's grandmother, Abuela, insisting on a meal due to Riven's 'underweight' status. Sebastian observes Riven's gadget-fixing hands, noting his focus.

Sebastian's angler bulb flickers warmly in approval, and his tail thumps lightly. He recognizes Archie_Tech by the mention of 'sunglasses and too many pockets,' remarking that the boy is 'smart.' With surprising gentleness, he finishes tying Riven's hair, a task he performs with an almost gruff affection. He recalls Riven's younger days, mentioning that Riven 'used to cry if I tied it too tight' and playfully threatens to blame Riven if the gadget explodes.

Riven confidently reassures his father in Spanish, 'No te preocupís, papá, si no va a explotar. Es un walkie talkie nuevo pa’ Archie_Tech.' (Don't worry, Dad, it's not going to explode. It's a new walkie-talkie for Archie_Tech). He internally notes that he has 'grown past the crying stage.' The narrative reveals Riven's past, including a machine-forged spine and a brain chip, making him a 'young adult' with full control over his body after being separated from Sebastian when he was 4-5 years old.

The narrative shifts to Sebastian's deeper reflections on a time 'before the world shattered,' where Riven's laughter was turned into code by HydroNexus, a process Dr. Howard called progress, but Sebastian saw as loss. Now, in an underground rehab center, Sebastian is surrounded by familiar faces including his brothers Gabriel and Isaiah, Julius, Ash, and a masked figure, hinting at a larger context of recovery and reunion. Despite the past trauma and the risk of turning 'memory into machinery,' Sebastian and Riven continue to try to connect.