Chapter 1 – What’s been going on so far?

Abián has joined the engineering team at PROYPAL S.L. to investigate quality issues in the most complex phase of the manufacturing process: assembly. His unexpected hiring is welcomed by everyone at the factory—everyone except Rayco, the team leader of the assembly phase. Rayco doesn’t take kindly to anyone telling him how to do his job, especially not some arrogant, know-it-all “doctor”. Abián, for his part, is constantly struggling to keep Rayco’s stubbornness from driving him up the wall during the workday.

Jara, the manager of engineering, does her best to keep the peace between the engineer and the operator, aware that Rayco is going through a rough patch as the ongoing quality issues have stalled his chances of a promotion within the company.

Abián doesn’t seem to be in the most stable moment of his life either. He’s abruptly left his home island, cutting ties with his past without warning. His friends, ex-partner, and family are all demanding answers—but for some reason, he just can’t give them.

Abián

32 y.o. || 191cm || 11 November || Scorpio ♏︎

He’s got a PhD in composite materials engineering and just joined PROYPAL as a last-minute star recruit to take charge of the coupling phase and figure out what’s going wrong with the quality. He moved to the mainland just a few days ago, suddenly leaving behind his whole life in Tenerife without telling anyone.

He loves to remind people that he has a PhD.

Rayco

33 y.o. || 186cm || 25 April || Taurus ♉︎

Team leader of the coupling phase. He’s been working at the factory for years. He’s great at what he does and, until now, never had an engineer above him calling the shots. A few months ago, he was out on leave, and since he came back, there have been a lot of quality issues linked to his part of the production. He’s from the Canary Islands.

Rides a seriously slick motorbike and has a bit of a resting bitch face.

Supporting characters

Jara – Head of Engineering. She has a great personality and keeps the factory running smoothly. She gets along very well with Rayco and has been helping him earn recognition within the company.

Joan – Quality Engineer. He’s very enthusiastic about Abián joining the team. He’s also quite the gossip.

Ale – Preparation Phase Engineer. She’s very calm and has a great relationship with both Joan and Rayco.

Carme – Post-processing Engineer.

Abián’s Father – Professor at the university where Abián also used to work. He’s very angry with his son over his sudden disappearance. He gives him an ultimatum: either snap out of his delusion within a month, or face the consequences.

Atteneri – Abián’s ex-fiancée. She found out from Abián’s father that he had left the island just a few days after their eight-year relationship ended.