Ever since the attack by the robots on the outer edge of the colony, training and augmentations had taken priority over building. The mock fight was just the first of many, but with the new recruits we have had to take more conventional methods of practice. Or sneak out into the forest so that they wouldn’t know about it, unless someone tried to follow us.

We will have to plan for the option that we will be alone in our fight. That means faster recruitment and perhaps some defensive structures for the camp. It will also mean we will finally be forced to make some more foundational improvements.

“Well I suppose we should get started then.”

With so many people it was easy to spread out the chores, it gave the rest of us more free time. So I headed into the woods to train more, it would give Myc the time and space to continue his experiments.

“I suppose the most important thing to figure out is the ability to store more nutrients and matter. If we were capable of doing that, I could fight stronger and longer. It was one of the main problems with the first mock fight. They were using simple tools and unwilling to risk the loss of large materials or weapons. It made their moves predictable and simple, with increased materials to expend. We could actually fight real battles rather than worrying about fighting for attrition.”

I wish I had already figured it out, but as I expand, so do my responsibilities. Finding a viable way to increase energy effectively throughout your body should be our number one priority.

Through the process of Myc’s ability he could do most of my bodily functions by creating specific sections of moss to do the job. Unfortunately most of the bodies systems were already relatively efficient compared to Myc’s ability to do them. Some of them were made slightly more efficient, getting rid of things evolution left behind. However, the major one that Myc could do was digestion, the moss that made up Myc was faster and more efficient than nearly any organism on Earth.

So Myc dissolved a majority of my digestive system and recreated it using a simple moss design. We had thought it may be less efficient, but the human body was actually extremely inefficient in its nutrient absorption process. Many of the cells and bacteria in your stomach die and are replaced within days. This means more nutrients and calories need to be used to replace all these dying cells.

The problem with creating an extremely dense material for our use, was the fact that the five main components in the body were not very dense. Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen, they were all relatively light materials. We needed some compound that Myc could easily fabricate and dissolve into the required parts when needed.

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“Perhaps we don’t need a single compound of dense material.”

You are thinking of separating out the parts into several different compounds. I suppose that could work, although I would prefer a more permanent solution.

“If it makes a large enough difference then I say we should use it. If the flock of machinists can’t find the machines before they build up enough, we will need the extra stamina.”

Very well, I suppose if we get nitrogen from the air as you mentioned, we can use cellulose as a basis. The massive number of glucose linked should create a dense enough material, while my work making planks has improved my ability to manipulate the material. While the phosphorus and calcium can be used from enamel, hydroxyapatite is extremely dense. It will take some effort on my part to create an easy and efficient system for my moss to absorb and redistribute the materials where they are needed.

“Well, I suppose I will continue to train to make sure that any system you create does not inhibit my ability to fight.”

I had focused on training my body to fight, more so than my use of Myc. It made my abilities predictable and more human than I would have liked, but it also allowed me to focus my efforts. It lets me fight with strength and speed to match up to any other species that may be immune to the more unique aspects of Myc’s abilities.

At first it had been an attempt to let Myc experiment with my body to try to make a more normalized form for the species as a whole. Improved muscles, more efficient systems, and testing the general limit of his ability to manipulate the body as a whole.

But, after the fight with the XT-489’s, it became clear that a more generalized form would be preferred. Liz’s attempts at increased speed, Scarlette’s practice using heavy shields, or even Malina using unique plants all came with general downsides that the machines could take advantage of. While none of them would be particularly useful in fighting them, except for possibly Nate’s form. His animal abilities created a potent defensive and offensive style, but it would take time to master it.

So we continued our practice, using large chunks of cellulose or rocks as targets. Moving through motions with and without my ax, all in an attempt to make a more deadly and practiced fighting style.

Yet, as I finished my last practiced motions, I couldn’t help but sigh in defeat. It seemed counter-productive to practicing such a violent form when we were trying to create a world without bloodshed. I was stronger and more dangerous than most beings on the planet, all in an attempt to create a world without the need to be strong. The fact that peace took strength made me sick, fighting for the sake of peace was what humans told themselves. They acted like if they killed enough then it would all make things right, like the world would fall to balance if enough bodies tipped the scales.

I understand your distaste for violence, but it is necessary. The humans pretend that fighting each other would somehow make them more compassionate. We are fighting to protect what is ours only, and we truly have a vision for the future.

“You say that, but I can’t help but think that we are only going to heighten the violence that is already ongoing.”

We are talking about creatures that use nuclear bombs as a means of violence. Any species that would risk killing itself all for the sake of destroying its enemy is not one that will find peace that soon. Our compassion is our greatest strength, but humans see it as a weakness. It will take time, but eventually enough of them will see the benefit of becoming part of the whole.

“I hope so.”