Chapter 36: Mission Reward
The heavy blast door slid shut behind them, momentarily sealing away the chilling, digital malevolence emanating from the deep quarantine zone.
Maine's crew, covered in grime, exhausted but buzzing with a fierce excitement, escorted their crucial prize—a cylindrical, military-grade data-storage unit, violently ripped from the core array, its casing cold to the touch, faint containment-field energy still flickering around its interface ports—back to the surface.
The last rays of the setting sun slanted through the gaps in the manufactorum's roof, mingling with the cold interior light, creating an almost surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.
Joric was waiting in the center of the workshop.
As Maine solemnly placed the heavy, dangerous storage unit onto the specially prepared, interference-shielded workbench, Joric's crimson optical lenses instantly locked onto it, their intensity seeming to pierce the very casing. A slender probe-tendril extended with silent, autonomous grace, carefully interfacing with the unit's external diagnostic port.
After a brief data-stream exchange, a low, satisfied, almost sighing whirr emanated from Joric's vocalizer, carrying an undeniable, ecstatic energy.
"Perfect... Perfect! Containment field intact. Internal structure stable. Energy signature is active and... unique!" His voice was filled with the thrill of discovering an invaluable treasure. "Such a strong signal of autonomous logic... It is truly perfect! Maine, your team has exceeded all operational projections! This... 'gift'... is beyond price!"
His rare use of the word "gift" underscored his profound excitement. His "Old Friend" servo-skull drifted closer, its own augurs scanning the unit with maximum priority, its jaw clicking softly, as if echoing its master's awe.
Maine let out a breath, a tired but proud grin spreading across his face. The crew exchanged relieved glances, the tension of the mission finally breaking. The cost had been high—one irreplaceable Combat Servitor—but the reward was clearly deemed worth it.
"So, Boss," Maine wiped sweat and grime from his brow, "about our deal... the 'upgrades'?"
Joric's attention seemed to reluctantly detach itself from the dangerous 'treasure'. He turned to Maine's crew, his crimson lenses sweeping over their battered gear and still-elevated bio-signs.
"The covenant holds," his synthesized voice returned to its usual calm, yet carried a new note of generosity. "Based on your exceptional performance in this commission, and the acquisition of this core research artifact, I will provide one member of your team with a complete, bespoke augmentation overhaul. From foundational framework to neural interface – a full, systemic re-consecration."
"One?" Rebecca blurted out, her green cyber-eyes wide. "Just one? Can't we like, share some of it around?"
"The integration of technological resources has an optimal solution, Rebecca," Joric explained calmly, his tone permitting no argument. "Dispersed, incomplete enhancements are a wasteful allocation of precious materials and energy. A single, complete ritual of augmentation, focused on one subject, yields an exponential increase in efficacy far exceeding piecemeal repairs. This is the most efficient path."
The workshop fell silent. The crew looked at each other, the sudden, exclusive nature of the reward creating a subtle tension.
Maine, as leader, broke the silence. "Boss, this 'complete overhaul'... what exactly does it entail? What's required?"
Joric called up several complex blueprint summaries, the light playing across his dark red faceplate.
"That depends on the chosen subject, and your team's future operational doctrine," he explained. "For you, Maine, it would involve deeper internal skeletal reinforcement and a power core replacement, significantly increasing strength-output and durability. The cost requires rare, high-tensile alloys and micro-fusion cells."
"For Falco or Sasha, a top-tier information-processing and neural-defense suite. This requires latest-generation bio-chips and military-grade firewall hardware, sourced via... non-standard channels."
"For Pilar or Rebecca, deep integration of either precision-manipulation systems or heavy-weapon platforms, requiring specific servo-motors and energy-weapon components."
He paused, his optics sweeping over them. "Acquiring these apex-tier hardware components requires time, access, and considerable risk. They are beyond the current resources of this manufactorum."
The crew's gaze instinctively shifted to Dorio. Joric's lenses finally settled on her as well.
"However," his voice shifted, "Dorio's augmentation path relies primarily on bio-chemical stimulation and regulation. Her foundation is her meticulously conditioned organic form, not extensive metallic implantation."
A mechadendrite gestured toward the cryogenic unit containing the glowing compounds he had synthesized earlier.
"Her 'complete overhaul' would focus on optimizing her metabolic systems, reinforcing muscle-fiber integrity, enhancing neural-reflex speed, and the prescription of a new, more potent, lower-toxicity catalyst regimen. The majority of these components... can be synthesized and administered here, utilizing procured chemical precursors. It does not require waiting for the acquisition of rare, high-end cybernetic hardware."
In an instant, all eyes were on Dorio. She stood with her arms crossed, her bronze skin still smudged with battle-grime, her expression sharp and complex.
Maine took a deep breath and looked at his crew. Rebecca pouted slightly but nodded at Dorio. Pilar shrugged. Falco pushed up his glasses, acknowledging the logic. Sasha, silent in the shadows, gave a slight nod.
Maine turned the decision over to Dorio. "Dorio? Your call. This path... fits you."
Dorio's gaze moved from her teammates' faces, settled on Joric, then flickered to the glowing vials of potent chems. Pure, raw strength—the power to shatter obstacles and protect her family—had always been her goal. More chrome wasn't her ultimate desire.
"I accept," her voice was steady, firm, without hesitation. "Tell me what needs to be done, Boss. I need to get stronger."
Joric's crimson lenses flickered once, a silent acknowledgment of her decisiveness. "Excellent. The list of required materials and potential sourcing channels will be provided shortly. Maine, ensure their acquisition." He retracted his mechadendrites, his attention already returning to the storage unit containing the rogue AI, as if it were the sole focus of his universe.
"Now, if there is nothing else, do not disturb me. I must begin the preliminary analysis of this... 'treasure'."
His voice held the eager impatience of a researcher confronting a profound mystery, already dismissing Maine's crew from his immediate calculations.
The team quietly backed out of the manufactorum, leaving the Tech-Priest to his discovery. The sun had fully set. The only sounds within were the hum of machinery and Joric's low, almost inaudible murmur of excitement as he faced the dangerous prize.
Dorio clenched her fists, her eyes burning with a new anticipation for greater power. And the demon from a bygone age they had brought back lay silently on the workbench, waiting for its new master to break its seals.