Rowan stood in his lab, his fingers lightly tapping against the control panel of his science station. The sonic wave shower had been a massive step forward, but now his mind was fixated on something even bigger - a discovery that could redefine how technology and biology coexisted.

He had spent days analyzing the anomaly his machine had detected during the mind-melding experiment. If the data was correct, it wasn't just a random glitch; it was a new energy signature - one that didn't belong to him or Oliver. Something else had been present.

"You're doing that thing again where you forget the world exists," Oliver's voice broke through Rowan's thoughts as he stepped into the lab. "Tell me you've at least eaten today."

Rowan barely glanced up. "Not important. I think I found something."

Oliver sighed, walking over to the workstation. "If I had a dollar for every time you said that, I'd be able to fund this whole lab. What is it this time?"

Rowan turned the monitor toward him, his eyes glowing with excitement. "Look at this. The machine recorded an energy spike when we mind-melded. That shouldn't have happened - it was only meant to sync brain waves between two people. But something else interfered."

Oliver frowned. "You mean like? another person?"

Rowan shook his head. "Not a person. Not in the way we understand it. This frequency doesn't match any biological pattern I've ever seen before. It's something new. Maybe even? sentient."

Oliver let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, that's insane. What are you saying? That we contacted some kind of - what, intelligence?"

Rowan hesitated before answering. "I don't know. But I have to find out."

Oliver crossed his arms. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that? Just? mind-meld again and hope this thing picks up?"

Rowan smirked. "Not exactly. I'm going to amplify the signal. If something - or someone - is out there, we're going to make sure they hear us."

Oliver exhaled, shaking his head. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"

Rowan grinned. "Wouldn't be as fun if I did."

Later that evening, as Rowan and Oliver took a break from their research, Rowan decided to cook something quick in the kitchen. Distracted by his thoughts and the possibilities of their latest discovery, he turned up the heat too high and stepped away for just a moment.

Within seconds, the oil in the pan ignited, sending bright orange flames licking up toward the range hood.

Rowan's heart stopped.

For a split second, he was no longer standing in his kitchen but trapped in a memory - a raging fire, the acrid smoke curling through the air, the panicked screams of his parents trying to save him when he was just a baby. His chest tightened, his hands trembling as he stepped back, the heat from the flames stinging his face. The roaring fire before him was too familiar, too close.

"Rowan!" Oliver's voice cut through his panic like a blade, snapping him back to the present. "The stove! Move!"

Rowan wanted to react, to do something, but fear had frozen him in place. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused.

Then Oliver was there, moving without hesitation. He grabbed a nearby dish towel and smothered what flames he could before lunging for the fire extinguisher mounted on the wall. With practiced precision, he pulled the pin and aimed the nozzle, releasing a powerful jet of white foam directly onto the fire. The flames hissed and recoiled, shrinking under the force of the extinguisher's spray.

Rowan forced himself to breathe, the sight of Oliver standing fearlessly in front of the stove grounding him. The fire alarm blared overhead, the shrill sound pressing against Rowan's skull, but it was drowned out by the pounding of his heart.

Oliver didn't stop until every last ember had been smothered. He stepped back, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, his face and arms lightly dusted with the residue from the extinguisher.

The distant wail of sirens grew closer. Oliver let out a breath, shaking his head. "You're welcome, by the way."

Rowan gave him a sheepish grin, though his hands were still shaking. "Yeah, yeah. You saved my kitchen. And my pride."

Oliver smirked. "You were about ten seconds away from losing both."

Rowan swallowed hard, the lingering fear still clinging to the edges of his mind. He met Oliver's gaze, seeing nothing but unwavering steadiness in his friend's eyes. "I? froze."

Oliver nodded, his expression softening. "You had a reason to. But you're safe, and that's what matters."

A heavy knock at the door signaled the fire department's arrival. Rowan sighed. "Great. Now I have to explain this."

Oliver patted his shoulder. "Let me do the talking. I think we both know you're better at handling science experiments than kitchen experiments."

As Rowan opened the door, he couldn't help but laugh, though his nerves were still raw. It had been dramatic, sure - but thanks to Oliver, disaster had been avoided. And somehow, in the chaos, he felt more certain than ever that they were heading toward something extraordinary.