Inside the temporary workshop, energy levels finally stabilized above a reassuring threshold. Cairo stood before the central workbench, beneath his dark red robes several silver-gray mechanical tendrils operating fluidly as if possessing autonomous consciousness.
They were respectively equipped with laser calibrators, micro-force field generator modules, and high-frequency particle scanning probes, conducting precision operations around an object—that dark gold dodecahedron ancient artifact that had brought him to this world.
Under the workshop's unique mixed lighting—cold white artificial sources interweaving with various equipment indicator lights—the artifact's surface patterns flowed ceaselessly like living things, presenting an almost biological profound beauty.
It hovered on an invisible support constructed from complex force field coils, slowly rotating at constant angular velocity like some otherworldly celestial body.
"Energy injection attempt, seventh sequence. Output frequency adjusted to tau meson resonance range." Cairo commanded quietly, both to himself and the servo-skull hovering beside him recording data.
A tentacle's energy interface emitted humming almost beyond auditory limits, precisely channeling highly purified electrical energy into a specific geometric node on the artifact's surface.
For an instant, energy fluctuations inside the artifact showed faint ripples, surface patterns glowing with barely perceptible light, but immediately extinguished, as if falling into deeper dormancy.
The multi-spectrum detector beside the workbench transmitted low-frequency warning tones.
"Failed again." Cairo withdrew his tentacles, optical lenses automatically adjusting focus, cold mirror surfaces reflecting that motionless creation.
"Conventional energy injection efficiency below 0.3%, vast majority absorbed or dissipated into some... internal dimension hidden beneath Planck-scale spatial structures. This violates all known energy-matter conversion models."
He unconsciously made a motion of rubbing his brow—though the reinforced face mask eliminated this physiological need, this habit from human days remained, indicating he was entering deep deduction mode.
"Perhaps... we fundamentally misunderstood it." He turned to the servo-skull as if addressing a trusted colleague. "What it requires might not be purely physical energy, or at least not entirely. Re-examining perceptual data from the transmigration event... that agony of consciousness structure being dismantled and reassembled, deeper, more fundamental..."
A hypothesis flashed through his processing core.
"Psychic energy?" This term emerged in mechanical tones, carrying wariness belonging to Mechanicus members yet mixed with pure technical curiosity. "Could its activation mechanism relate to the warp... or some similar inter-dimensional energy field?"
In the universe he came from, psychic power meant drawing upon and wielding warp energy—dangerous and uncontrollable. But in this world, the warp didn't exist—at least he'd never detected those characteristic chaotic fluctuations and whispers.
"Servo-skull, retrieve full environmental monitoring data from the transmigration event, focus on analyzing energy spectrum anomalies and my consciousness... fluctuation records."
"Instructions confirmed." Blue light flowed in the skull's eye sockets, projecting a series of complex data onto the main screen.
Cairo reviewed waveform curves and parameter readings. Records of energy being frantically drained remained prominent, but beyond that was an extremely faint anomalous signal previously classified as noise—not electromagnetic or physical disturbance, but more akin to... a consciousness-level resonance frequency that briefly coupled with his intense emotional fluctuations and some deeper mental undercurrent at the time.
"As I suspected..." Cairo murmured. "It needs a 'primer,' a 'key' capable of prying dimensional structures. Pure energy is fuel, but what ignites it, gives direction, is some specific consciousness or mental force... namely what the Warhammer universe calls 'psychic power.'"
Without psykers, how to achieve this? In the Warhammer universe, the Mechanicus had alternative solutions—either find and "utilize" psykers, or... simulate that specific inter-dimensional resonance frequency through energy application far exceeding conventional levels!
"Calculate this," Cairo said to the servo-skull, "if attempting to simulate psychic startup resonance frequency with pure energy, what's the theoretical required energy level?"
The servo-skull fell into brief silence, internal processors running full speed, combining artifact absorption characteristics, transmigration event energy loss, and Cairo's proposed theoretical model for calculations.
Finally, a number appeared on screen with intuitive equivalent conversions:
[Theoretical minimum activation energy threshold estimate: Approximately equivalent to one-third of Night City's total power grid peak load output, sustained for 1.7 seconds. Or, total energy released by instantaneous fission of fifty kilograms weapons-grade enriched uranium under ideal conditions.]
Cairo stared at that number. Even with a Tech-Priest's calm disposition, his optical lenses couldn't help flickering slightly.
"One-third of Night City's electricity... or fifty kilograms enriched uranium..." He repeated in nearly sighing tones. "Truly... an awe-inspiring threshold."
In the Warhammer universe, even on the fringe forge world he came from, this wouldn't be difficult. A medium promethium reactor could suffice; as for psykers, the Mechanicus never lacked "resources"—purchasing psychic slaves from black markets or "applying" to the Inquisition for captured mutants, though processes were tedious, was feasible.
But here, in this cyberpunk world with deviated tech trees, energy monopolized by megacorps, and psykers unheard of, this requirement seemed almost absurd.
Siphon half a city's power? Would require infiltrating and controlling municipal or corporate energy network core nodes—movements that would inevitably alert corporate security forces.
Fifty kilograms enriched uranium? National-level strategic material tightly controlled by giants like Militech—any black market circulation would trigger highest-level investigations.
His fingertips lightly touched the artifact's surface. Those patterns seemed faintly heating beneath the metal.
"Dimensional transporter..." He quietly spoke the closest designation the servo-skull had derived by comparing energy characteristics, structural scans, and ancient databases. "Legacy of the Dark Age of Technology... proof that humanity once touched divinity then fell. What an awe-inspiring creation."
The path home seemed close at hand, yet blocked by a vast energy chasm.
He had to seriously consider a path previously not prioritized—cooperating with corporations.
Utilizing corporate resources to achieve objectives wasn't absolutely forbidden in Mechanicus doctrine, as long as the ultimate goal was acquiring knowledge and technology, methods could be flexible. After all, the Mechanicus itself would conduct limited transactions with certain planetary governors or even xenos.
However... dealing with corporations in this world carried extremely high risk. They were greedier, more unprincipled than Warhammer guilds, lacking even basic reverence for the "Omnissiah." Dancing with tigers—one misstep meant eternal damnation.
"Need to reassess risks versus benefits, formulate multiple contact plans." Cairo muttered to himself, adding "potential corporate cooperation feasibility analysis" to his to-do list, elevating priority to highest.
He carefully stored the dimensional transporter in a specially made energy-shielded storage case. The path home lay ahead, yet the signpost pointed to a treacherous route requiring enormous tolls, littered with thorns.
He walked to the workshop window, gazing at the desolate landscape etched by wind and sand outside. Night City's neon glow twisted and flickered on the horizon like a cold yet alluring dream.
"The plan needs major adjustment." He declared facing the window.
The servo-skull hovered silently behind him, blue light in eye sockets steady, recording this thought turning point filled with uncertainty.
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