Authors Note:
Hello precious page scanners! It is I! Durlek!
I have returned after a week of intense work to finish up a project for uni. I am sorry that I was unable to hold onto the goal of 3 chapters a week. I suspect that after next week, I shall be able to have more time to write and (hopfully) brim with inspiration! This is a little shorter. Wanted this chapter to encompass the interaction with the lizardmen. But It will probably not be ready until early next week. So I shall instead be dividing it into two as to not starve those whom really look forward for more!
As per usual. If you find something fishy or inconsistent. Please voice my incompetence!
Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Construction
My metallic body stands amidst moving robotic arms. Different tools reaching every nook and cranny to get all the grime, dirt and stone that has been accumulating over years of inaction. It is a feeling of freedom and freshness to have my sensors and circuits not be inhibited by different layers.
After learning the lizards language, I found out that they call themselves the Chaarga in their native tongue. I will be automatically translating it to “Lizardmen” internally, in honor of some species that expired upon mass extinction of the earth. Shazrah informed me that this is a mining colony. The planet that used to be filled with water and life is now a barren rock. Its atmosphere has not recovered to be able to handle life. Given more time, it could be possible for it to recover on its own. Though, we are talking about millions of years to come. The reason that they do not have atmospheric suits and helmets is due to their atmosphere generators at the entrance of the mines. Filling the mines with breathable gasses. I am curious at their design. Humanity had devised theoretical concepts for similar devices.
Flicking through the cameras to get a visual outside the frontal blast doors, observing the checkpoint being built. I wasn’t authorized to go to the surface. The “colony” is owned by a megacorporation with many interests and investments to this rock. To have me be able to roam freely is out of the question. I felt agitated at the earth being claimed, especially to solely be exploited then discarded when it has nothing left to give.
I shake myself out of my melancholy, needing to focus on more immediate issues. Azure institute had not survived the inferno unscathed. Either the mountain itself succumbing to the incredible heat or failing the test of time. The facility had several levels, most of these were compromised. Leaving the main facility intact, but all secondary facilities seem to either be completely destroyed or damaged and in need of repair. I will need to prioritize to get some of the more useful facilities running. The generator rooms for the defences, for example, are unresponsive.
My focus is being drawn to the rooms that were involved in my creation. A nagging feeling of a need to get those running again. Wondering if Victoria had intended to give me the possibility and “urge” to replicate more soulcores. I turn my head, my focus on the two big doors leading to the storage room holding the army of armors. Did my creator intend to have me start a new race?
The light from my sensory sockets seems to dim in thought as I stood there. Either way, these would be long term goals. I don’t have time to ponder. I need to make sure I can safeguard this facility and that means to get the defence grid up and running. Shazrah seems to be trustworthy, a (lizard)man motivated by curiosity. But I cannot predict how he would act under orders. Throughout history, many have been forced to do many unspeakable things by order of superiors. Lessons learned and recorded. Considering he seems to be a military officer, he probably would ignore his curiosity and do his duty regardless of his feelings.
I start moving to the power grid for the defences, a floor below. Taking the stairs down, my feet thumping with my weight with every step. The hallway ahead of me has been collapsed. Luckily my destination was before the collapse.
Standing in front of the non functional buckled doors, I extend my hand squeeze it through the dented middle. Metal groans could be heard as the metal bends before my fingers. My body lowers, knees bending, steadying myself. As my right arm flicks the the right, the motion followed by my upper torso, the door flings free. It wrenches off its hinges with a cry of metal snapping as the bolts gives way. The heavy door slams into the ground and screeches along the corridor to rest at the base of the stairs. I glare at the rock wall in front of me. This will be a long process to clear out to either salvage or repair the systems. Work that needs to be done though.
As I’m about to start hacking into the rock wall with my bare hands, I get ideas. The main facility has several manufacturing rooms. Though they lack materials to work with, the arms have cutting tools, and are automated. I quickly connect to the room to inspect what I have to work with. Yes, this will work. I just need a solution for making it mobile, the tracks of the stasis capsule aren’t great for working in rubble as it cannot climb. And the traction wouldn’t be enough to clear the rubble away from the rooms.
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Could the hover technology in the cart be of use? I feel a spark of inspiration of what I could do with the technology. The possibilities unlocked of having a floating robotic worker with gravity control modules are immense. If I could somehow get the gravity mechanism to handle like a tractor beam, then clearing rubble would be very efficient. Not to mention I could handle diplomacy with the lizardmen while they work tirelessly to clear the facilities.
With steps hurried by my enthusiasm of creating my own incorporation of gravity control. I find myself standing in the workshop of my creation. Taking inventory of what tools I am able to salvage to fit the drone I will make.
Next to me the hovercart floats, as if ignoring the laws of physics. Underneath you can see the white energies emitted from exhausts working to keep the platform on top of it steady. Removing the power source and dismantling the device to learn its inner workings. The power source seems to work similar to a fusion core. But the efficiency isn’t like one of our experimental reactors here. I’ll be installing in our own drones with the more efficient ones.
I create a shell that would house its main circuitry. With plates that would move to reveal its miniature arms with tools at its tips. Giving it one multipurpose energy tool, this used for cutting various materials at efficient energy levels. One socket would house my tractor beam.
After analyse the hover mechanisms I realize that they are designed to house energy that would counteract forces in a certain direction. With a little modifications I was able to make it start pulling itself towards a direction. Then by adding a red crystal catalyst to force the energies to withhold their properties until it hits a target. It would then direct force towards its origin, dragging the target together with the energies. This would in effect start dragging targets towards itself. With the use of magitech used eons ago, the circuitry is not a big problem. The drawback would be straining the power source more than normally dragging rubble away with claws. This method though is much more time efficient to make it more than worthwhile, ontop of safety of distance whilst attempting to drag rubble from unsafe hallways from a distance.
A few hours pass as I built three drones to work in my stead. Each with hold their own projects and be connected the Azure’s network. I hold the miniature reactor in my hand, dull orange glow emanating between my fingers. Preemptively activating its diagnostic protocols. It will automatically start its activation procedures once installed into the chassis of the drones. Opening the latch on the back of the ovoid shaped shell (or in simpler terms egg-shaped). I place the pulsing reactor and with a click plug it in. I softly close the latch and etch my personal symbol into it.
Stepping back to admire my work. The single retinal sensor at its front starts to glow a dull red. Its initialization protocols kick in, the gravity engines power up. A humm reverberates as the drone starts to float into the air. Force and heat resistant alloys were used to forge the smooth surface of the shell. They would not get damaged too easily for the work they will be doing. Minimal maintenance is a must for a small workforce for efficiency!
I quickly check my connection, setting up its instructions. It makes audible beeps of confirmation as it starts to float past me towards the staircases. I rub my hand over its side as it passes. Admiring the mechanical life I produced. Is this how Victoria felt when I awoke? No, she was more… emotional. These aren’t like me. They have no true will of their own. No… soul?
After quickly finishing the procedure with the final two drones, I start heading for the checkpoint being constructed just 132 meters outside the doors. Now that work is being done at the same time as the facility is being repaired. It is time to diplomatically stall for the defences become operational. If they see me actively interacting with them. They will probably assume no work will be done within these halls. I just hope that the defences will not be needed. Though from humanities records of what happens when a weakened party with resources greater factions yearn for… I will have to be cautious.
The double doors open, revealing my metallic frame as I slowly walk towards the checkpoint. Let’s learn more of these Lizardmen and their culture.