Chapter XXII

Pagreri's Lab

"This place is..." Zanda was impressed, it was undeniable.

"Amazing, I know," Samelia replied with a half-smile, appreciating her reaction.

The high-ceilinged chamber was out of style with the rest of dicterium, resembling a sophisticated workshop that could be located anywhere in Malkuth, but certainly not in Sectum.

"I had no idea you had facilities like this," Zanda expressed her astonishment at the immaculate translucent yellow, green and blue walls contrasting with white floors and ceilings. The Opifi was bustling with activity, housing hundreds, perhaps a thousand workstations, each dedicated to a unique piece of hardware or software. Gadgets of various functionalities were on display. Adjacent to these were cubicles and smaller rooms constructed from thin crystal walls, isolated from each other, containing larger, more volatile inventions.

Samelia noted their curiosity. "We enjoy the freedom to do anything we would elsewhere; nothing changes here. No Dictadurian has access to the Dicterium. It’s restricted to members of the nine branches, as it's considered part of Malkuth. Everything conducted here is governed by the law of the Edictum Vitae."

"Isn't it risky to have all of this so close to the extarri?" Refius voiced his concerns.

"There are only two instances when they are permitted inside our walls: upon arrival, when we either register them into the system and confiscate their gifts using xtracters or receive them as a transfer from another country, and as they leave Dictaduria, whether they become Malkuthians or continue their exile elsewhere. No extarri is aware of Opifi's existence and even if they were, their current reality lacks of the technological advances to become a threat to the Sephirot."

Zanda absorbed this information with a mix of excitement and intrigue. "It's like a candy shop. I want everything," she thought, evaluating which gadgets might best assist her. Her gaze settled on a slender crane attached to a simple belt. Her T.H.I.C. augmented the label and description: capable of carrying ten thousand times its user's weight, tagged as 'Bulker, ventos.'

"We utilized those exocranes during a landslide that devastated a poor neighborhood in Dictaduria a few weeks ago," Samelia reminisced.

This puzzled Zanda; it contradicted what Hykar had stated earlier at the Gevrum. "I thought you were not supposed to intervene," she questioned, pondering the flexibility of their adherence to the Edictum.

"There are exceptions, natural disaster relief being one of them; these individuals endure enough, serving their sentences and working inhumane hours. We merely cleared the debris; many Dictadurians perished," Hykar explained, sensing her skepticism.

Zanda recalled a time before she became a gevuritah, when she lived in Kosovo. "I’ve met a few who escaped Sectum. They seldom spoke of it," she remembered, thoughts of her cousin Jergan surfacing. "A family member, he was extarri for eight years during my youth. He returned a changed man, unrecognizable from the child I once knew. My aunt mentioned he had witnessed and endured horrendous things."

Samelia chose her next words with care. "Last year, we achieved a seventy-three percent success rate in reintegration. Our research indicates that former extarri often avoid discussing their past. It’s a source of shame, recalling their time on this continent. It’s transformative for anyone who steps foot here, including you, Zanda. This is your first time in Sectum, and I must caution you."

Her tone was so grave that it altered the atmosphere of the room. "You have encountered nothing like this; Dictaduria is for those who have strayed from their path on the kabbalah. Every Dictadurian you meet has committed crimes to end up here; this place evokes regret and disgrace. It is a primitive society; respect its processes and remain as inconspicuous as possible. Do not compromise your cover and, above all, remain strong-minded. Avoid getting attached to any individuals or their plights. Do not assist them unless it directly relates to your mission."

"I will be imperceptible," the gevurah affirmed, understanding the gravity of her task.

Samelia gestured towards a man working at a nearby station, one of many dressed in white pristine lab suits. "Allow me to introduce you to one of the brightest minds I've had the pleasure of working with, Superior Pagreri Kertani, Head of Dicterium’s Opificium."

"You're too generous. I’m merely fulfilling my duties to the best of my ability," a voice responded from behind them, acknowledging Samelia's compliment.

Zanda turned, but he was no longer there. Instead, his voice now emerged from a different location, from a desk parallel to them, opposite from where he first appeared.

"That's just a holorenderization scanning old books," Pagreri clarified as he walked towards them, matching Zanda's height. His skin reflected from the walls around it; he was dressed in a dark blue tunic that covered his entire body except for his head and neck, encased in a T.H.I.C. similar to Zanda’s. Long, white gloves shielded his arms.

"I have something for you," Pagreri approached the newly named gevurah, who extended her hand in greeting, sensing a positive energy from him.

"I’m all ears," she said, inviting him to continue as the other sephirot listened in.

Pagreri nodded at the group, assuming they would follow, and began walking. "Camouflage is crucial for this task," he stated, expecting the crowd to keep up.

"It's been noted. I plan to blend in with the Dictadurians and stay hidden from both their eyes and the regime’s," Zanda affirmed, confident in her makeup skills.

Pagreri looked pleased. "I’m here to assist you with that. Please, follow me to my studio." They navigated through the fluorescent colored glass hallways of Opificium, a labyrinthine space known to its full extent only to Pagreri and his assistants.

"What are these devices, Professor Kertani?" Refius inquired, intrigued by the various tools on display.

"My creations, Ventos, upgrades to our current forms of technology." Pagreri explained, leading Zanda through the area.

"I've never seen anything like them," she admitted in awe. Some devices bore sacred, geometric shapes, magical and complex, while others appeared mundane, oddly out of place.

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"Of course, you haven't; they're my personal designs. You've just become a gevurah. There's much for you to learn outside of Asporto; I permit only certain individuals to use my innovations, and yours is the latest model. We've spent years perfecting it," Pagreri said, making her feel inexperienced beside his expertise.

"What is it?" Zanda was eager to learn more.

"A Ventos designed as an enhancement for Gevurah Merkabahs, named Sacrorum, 'chameleon' in Latin," he explained, barely containing his excitement about the upgrades.

He ushered them into a room with blue and yellow fluorescent acrylic walls shaped like a truncated octahedron. Approaching one wall, Pagreri activated ink designs that detailed information about the Sacrorum. A stylish acrylic desk and a ingravitas chair filled the space, with a body-shaped cavity in one wall.

"Could you step onto the platform, please?" he requested.

"Now?" Zanda complied, albeit confused.

"Just wait, you'll understand shortly," he reassured her, inputting commands.

Feeling out of her depth was frustrating for Zanda. "Wait for what?"

The temperature dipped, sending a chill through her.

"Relax, your Merkabah is integrating the new software," Pagreri disclosed.

Zanda took a deep breath, closing her eyes to calm her nerves under the scrutinizing gaze of eight pairs of eyes.

"Are you alright?" Her kabbalah inquired through telepathy.

"Yes. I’m anxious, but prepared. Everything's moving so quickly!" she responded.

"Remember, this has been in motion for a long time. Your dedication to Asporto has been relentless. Now it's time for payback; wear your gevurah title with pride. You've earned it, and everyone today has confirmed that. Your Sephirah trusts you."

Zanda felt reassured, though she had been emotional since the Ceremonia.

The upload completed, and the chamber warmed. She opened her eyes and stepped down from the platform, meeting Refius's expectant look without noticing any changes.

"What's different?" she asked.

"Sacrorum is a Ventos allowing you to cast a hyper-realistic animation of anyone over your Merkabah. It utilizes the nanites in your suit to replicate any image. You no longer need to hide in shadows; now, you can move unseen in plain sight," he explained.

Zanda was impressed, whereas Refius seemed taken aback.

"What? How is this possible? Why isn't this included in the Universal Applications?"

Pagreri remained composed. "I developed this update myself a few months back. It captures and mirrors any data the Merkabah uses as a template, projecting it via both Armis and T.H.I.C. onto the user, creating an illusion of authenticity."

Zanda, intrigued, posed an unexpected question. "Are you famous or something? Your name sounds familiar." She didn't want to miss the chance to learn more about him.

"Yes, to a certain extent. I'm fortunate to have a group of followers who make me feel like the luckiest in Malkuth; they eagerly anticipate my inventions, and some even assist in refining the more complex ones. If you have any ideas, feel free to share them," Pagreri humbly admitted.

Zanda felt reassured; the professor had indeed made a significant impression on her.

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you. So, if I've understood correctly, this Ventos operates similarly to an alter, bypassing the entire DNA rewriting process; I can transform into any Dictadurian. Correct?" she tried to clarify.

He circled the room before pausing near his desk. "Very perceptive, it seems there is truth in what your superiors have been saying about you, Ms. Effenzi."

Her newfound suspicion was evident. "So, I'm just a test subject then..."

It was then that Refius chimed in. "Zanda, I'm certain Pagreri has conducted sufficient tests on this Ventos to trust it’s capabilities. It's a privilege to be granted access to such technology," he then addressed Pagreri. "With respect, I believe this tool should be made available for public use. It could benefit other Sephirot, specially the Fifth branch."

"Refius, that's not why we're here. Professor Kertani must have his reasons for not releasing it publicly yet."

"Correct, again," the inventor agreed. "Let's try it out first and see how effective it is. I don't want Zanda to become over-reliant on it. Sacrorum has never been used in Dictaduria before. I trust my work, but if you find it unhelpful, feel free to discard it."

She was ready to respond when Samelia interjected. "Professor Kertan has earned my full trust for decades, so don't hesitate to utilize it. He may not boast, but he is truly a genius."

The Senior Gevuah gave him a reassuring pat on the back, which he received with visible discomfort, unaccustomed to physical contact.

Zanda seized the opportunity to express her thoughts. "I'm not hesitant; I'm enthusiastic. We're confronting this issue with a tactical advantage over Gorbat and his umbras. If it functions like an alter, they'll be none the wiser, correct?"

"That's the strategy," Pagreri affirmed.

Hykar, seeking clarification, raised a question. "May I ask something? Isn't it unethical to use something prohibited in Malkuth? Does it violate the Edictum Vitae?"

"No, the Edictum specifically prohibits actual DNA manipulation and alteration; this Ventos merely creates an illusion of such. We're not breaching any regulations."

Feeling somewhat sheepish, Samelia's assistant appeared uneasy.

"There's no such thing as a bad question. Is everything clear now?"

Both Refius and Hykar remained silent, signaling their understanding.

Samelia appeared satisfied with her leading inventor's explanations.

"How do I operate it?" Zanda posed the crucial question.

"After scanning a target, simply envision transforming into them. Your kabbalah should command your merkabah accordingly; give it a try."

Through her mind, Zanda instructed Gia on her desired transformation. In an instant, laughter erupted from her colleagues, except for Refius, who let out a soft chuckle.

"Really? There’s no respect to your elders!" He appeared embarrassed as a youthful version of himself, clad in a blue latex leotard, replaced where his apprentice had been standing moments earlier.

"You're eighty-eight, hardly ancient. We're square now. Don't deceive me again," Zanda declared, her sense of justice fulfilled.

"Alright, that's enough; this is unsettling," he conceded, visibly annoyed.

Returning to her normal form, Zanda was impressed. "This Ventos is remarkable, Professor Kertani."

The room was filled with a newfound respect for Pagreri's invention, especially from Refius.

Samelia then took the lead. "I think it's time for Zanda to commence her mission. Please, follow me. Pagreri, you're invited to join."

"Could use a walk. The bottom level?" Pagreri inquired.

Samelia nodded. "Everyone, gather around. We're taking a shortcut."

****

That's it for Chapter XXII!

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