"Synthetic nutrients? What flavors?" Pilar couldn't help asking, his face full of dread for expired military rations.
"Nutritionally balanced, providing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals," Cairo's answer was quite technical, "flavor options include standard energy bar or unflavored nutrient paste."
Pilar's face fell. Rebecca rolled her eyes: "Better than starving! Deal!" She gritted her teeth, forcefully slapping Pilar's arm. "Better than getting chopped up by Maelstrom or dying of thirst and hunger! Plus he can fix your busted shoulder!" She tried to mask inner unease and a hint of excitement with loud promises.
Pilar took a deep breath, nodding, trying to look composed though his calves were still somewhat weak: "Alright, sir. We accept your proposal. We'll work for you." At least the other party seemed to value efficiency and practical benefits rather than taking pleasure in torturing people—already quite rare in this hellhole.
"Wise decision." Cairo withdrew the arm armor, movements fluid. "Primary step: Conduct adaptive modification. To ensure work efficiency and collaborative reliability, reduce unnecessary wastage."
Two mechanical tentacles steadily and firmly extended toward the two, tips flickering with gentle calibration light. Rebecca nervously closed her eyes, long lashes slightly trembling. Pilar also held his breath, body slightly tense, preparing to face unknown modifications.
"Relax," Cairo's voice remained calm, "this will be much better than your experience installing those inferior cyberware."
The modification process wasn't filled with imagined pain and terror, but rather carried a peculiar, beyond-imagined precision and efficiency. Cairo's movements were skilled and steady, each operation just right, as if rehearsed countless times, carrying the composure unique to technical masters. The mechanical tentacles' movement trajectories were elegant and economical, without a trace of excess motion.
"Your optical implants are cheap versions of Tsunami Type III," he calmly commented while operating, tentacle tips extending minute tools, "severe lens wear, image processor is previous generation. No wonder you're always squinting."
Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise: "How do you even know that?"
"Scans show abnormally high focal adjustment frequency, and infrared imaging function almost failed." Cairo's answer was as direct as always. "Now loading new sensor suite and processing unit for you, granting environment scan highlighting and enhanced night vision, with basic threat identification capability. Expected to improve your resource recognition efficiency by over fifteen percent and significantly enhance low-light environment adaptability and situational awareness."
The process flowed smoothly like replacing standard modules in precision instruments. Tiny laser welding points flickered briefly but brought no discomfort. Rebecca only felt a slight warmth, then her vision began changing.
For Pilar, the operation was even more delicate. Tentacle tips extended minute probes and nano-repair units, emitting almost inaudible high-frequency humming. "Left shoulder neural interface, third and fourth conduction bundles show obvious signal degradation and cross-interference," Cairo diagnosed, "should be subsequent problems from cheap wiring during last 'Kerenzikov' installation. Seriously affects fine operation stability."
Pilar's eyes widened: "You even know I had a 'Kerenzikov' installed? That thing burned out from overload a month ago!"
"Burned circuit trace characteristics are obvious," Cairo calmly answered while precisely repairing his shoulder's neural interface, "now recalibrating and reinforcing primary neural interface. Should effectively eliminate your operational tremors and improve reaction speed by approximately ten percent. Next time installing speed-type cyberware, remember not to cheap out with second-hand connection cables."
After completion, Rebecca couldn't wait to open her eyes, instantly impacted by the information flood from her new vision. Everything in her field of view seemed granted new layers and details. Distant component outlines were highlighted, dark corners became clearly visible, she could even roughly distinguish material density differences.
"Whoa! This... this is so cool!" She excitedly looked around like a child with a new toy. "I can see piping layouts behind walls! Pilar, is that wrench in the third layer of your toolbox missing a corner?"
Pilar carefully moved his left arm. His shoulder transmitted an unprecedented lightness and fluidity, face showing incredulous delight. That stiffness and dull pain that had plagued him long, making him anxious during every precision operation, completely vanished. His arm operated effortlessly, stable and powerful.
"Amazing..." he murmured, trying several virtual grips, then made several complex tool manipulation gestures. "This is even better than after spending big money adjusting at the ripperdoc's! Sir, how did you do this?"
"Standard neural interface optimization procedure only," Cairo answered lightly while silently completing monitoring and location module implantation—standard operating procedure for Mechanicus Tech-Priests, rational decision based on risk management. "Now your survival and work efficiency should be significantly improved."
The siblings were completely immersed in the joy and excitement of gaining new abilities, completely unaware. The possibilities brought by new equipment and new bodies temporarily diluted all worries.
"Now," Cairo withdrew his tentacles, pointing to the mess outside, "first task: Clean up external waste, systematically recover all usable parts and resources. Subsequently, detailed report and mark locations in nearby areas you know that might contain high-value components, rare materials, or stable energy."
He paused briefly, adding: "Consider this your first field efficiency evaluation. Results will affect subsequent resource allocation and upgrade priority."
Rebecca and Pilar looked at the battlefield outside requiring cleanup, felt the new power surging in their bodies and enhanced perception, then looked at that silent, towering red-robed figure. Initial fear hadn't completely dissipated but had been replaced by strong pragmatic mentality, newfound hope, and a hint of eagerness to prove their worth.
"Let's go, Pilar," Rebecca rubbed her still-adapting new optic implant, leading the way out, tone carrying eagerness and energy. "Let's show the boss we're not freeloaders! And do some good scrounging—my new eyes seem able to spot some good stuff!"
Pilar sighed, adjusted his goggles, resignedly following, habitually muttering: "Hope the boss's 'synthetic nutrients' aren't expired military compressed biscuits... best have some flavor... but then again, this arm is something else, worth it..." He flexed his nimble wrist, already unconsciously evaluating which parts on which corpses were most worth prioritizing for recovery.
Cairo watched the two begin working. Though movements were slightly clumsy and unfamiliar, their attitude was fairly positive. His crimson optical lenses flickered slightly. The servo-skull silently drew close, jaw gently opening and closing.
Internal logs calmly updated: Two new temporary external collaboration units added. Loading corresponding management sub-protocols: resource recovery, area reconnaissance, auxiliary security. Initial tasks assigned. Monitoring efficiency performance and adaptability.
He hoped their actual output could match the energy and parts investment consumed. At least they seemed much livelier than most silent servitors, perhaps bringing some unexpected data samples and... noise. He turned to focus on processing that critical promethium battery, providing sustained energy supply for his newly expanded, noisy and uncertainty-filled new project team. The massive red figure once again immersed himself in the technical work he was familiar with and passionate about.