A corporate surgeon stood before Del Peck, giving him an update on the status of the new cybernetics that had been recovered from the operating suite.

“Geracht has responded well to the new enhancements of his brain and core. That was to be expected. His borg physiology makes him most compatible, and able to bypass the DNA encoding on the parts. The cybernetics parts appear to be working, though their purpose is still somewhat a mystery. Geracht has expressed feelings of exhilaration and vitality since their install. As suspected, they seem to be having some effect on his brain,” the surgeon paused for a moment.

“But they’re missing some central component. I expect that the spine is needed to make it all function properly. We tried to replicate what the previous team had been doing with the Byun boy. We used all of the left-over pieces as you’d requested.” A curious expression expanded on the surgeon’s creased face. “Forgive me for asking, but it may help our efforts to know more. Why did you want to use those particular pieces, sir?”

Del, leaned back in the leather chair behind the mahogany desk that had once belonged to Gradius Byun. He had been enjoying the view through the newly replaced window, when the surgeon arrived. He had continued to do so, until this last question was asked. Turning around in the chair, Del looked the man in the eye. “Is that all, doctor?”

“Yes, sir,” the surgeon felt his boldness deflate within him. “Um. I’ll be on my way.” He turned and left the office hurriedly.

Del stood and walked to the window. The ashen core of the ground zero clean up efforts was now in full view after all these years. The jutting remains of skyscrapers along the perimeter had now been demolished and pushed out to sea. However, there was still much work to be done, and barely enough budget to push it through. Del had no envy for those in charge of these efforts. He also had no pity for them.

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Every event was an opportunity. Every error, every cataclysm, and every setback was a gift. Such events made for a truer reflection of the self than any mirror. They showed people who they really were inside. Del had long ago learned the power of these opportunities. That is how he and Gradius had come to build this company in the first place. Opportunity from chaos.

He looked to the spot where the NAU towers had once been. Such a waste, but also… An open door. NAU had weathered much of the rage that followed the bombing. They hadn’t been allowed to operate within the city as they once had. This left them open to new friendships.

Gradius had wanted to focus his efforts on low cost cybernetics improvements that would increase the quality of life for all. Del had insisted on another venture entirely. One that would help NAU to crush Consortium and become the true corporate world power.

After Donna’s passing, Gradius fell in line with the plan, abandoning his cybernetics research. Or so Del had thought. In truth, Gradius had continued his cybernetics work privately.

What was Gradius thinking in those last days? What drove him to such stupidity?

Del thought over the known facts.

Gradius signed his portion of SaeSyn ownership over to Del. He deleted all project files, including the work for NAU and every mention of the old cybernetics R&D. Then he installed his secretly developed prototype parts into his own son. The arms that he’d used…

Del set his jaw askew. Everything was gone. NAU was awaiting a demonstration of CellarDoor, and he had nothing to show them. The company would fold if he didn’t do something. A knot in his gut tugged at him. There was something he was missing, and it involved the kid.

He pulled his phone from a pocket and tapped the screen before raising it to his ear. “When Geracht is ready, I want him and the team to find the Byun boy. He is expendable, but the cybernetics must remain unharmed.”