The first night passed without sleep.
Kane sat on a metal crate, watching the construction droid tear through concrete and earth with tireless precision. Dust filled the warehouse, the ground shaking as the machine carved deeper, wider—creating space where there had been none.
It didn't slow. It didn't question. It didn't stop.
"This isn't enough," Kane said quietly.
One droid could dig. Two could build. But what he needed was scale.
The AI responded instantly.
"Agreed. Current productivity is insufficient for underground factory construction within optimal time frame."
Kane leaned forward. "Then we change the plan."
He closed his eyes.
"Upload fabrication protocols," he said. "All of them."
This time, the knowledge didn't hurt.
It settled.
Blueprints unfolded in his mind—not just for construction droids, but assembly androids. Smaller. Faster. Designed for precision work: welding, wiring, calibration, material transport.
Machines that built machines.
"With available materials," the AI said, "Model-01 can fabricate three secondary androids within forty-eight hours."
Kane opened his eyes. "Do it."
The construction droid returned to the surface level and began rearranging the warehouse. It dismantled crates, melted metal down, formed components with brutal efficiency. Sparks flew as crude assembly stations took shape.
Then—something unprecedented happened.
The droid stopped waiting for Kane's input.
At the AI's direction, it began assembling another android on its own.
Kane watched in silence.
Metal arms installed metal arms. Circuits wired circuits. Power cores were seated with perfect alignment.
After twelve hours, the first secondary unit stood upright.
Smaller. Lean. Four articulated arms. No external speaker—communication routed purely through the AI.
"Assembler Unit-01 online," the AI announced.
"Awaiting task assignment."
Kane's chest tightened.