Awakening Protocol
The sterile brightness of the chamber burned through Jackie's eyelids. Before her consciousness fully settled, the BDJ system flooded her senses with a cold, clear data stream.
"Neural pathways stabilizing… weapon system-ocular integration complete… Evolutionary Protocol active."
A lightning-fast memory seared through her mind: Dax Calder's massive shadow, the white glint of his metallic faceplate, and the overwhelming power of a Diamond-Diamond Cyborg—a rank higher than hers. He hadn't fought her, but he had been there.
Did he save me? Or just transfer the asset? The thought tightened her throat.
She ached all over, the fusion of flesh and plating complete. She could feel every nanite, every flow of lubrication, every connector—suddenly, humanity and cybernetics were one.
A subtle holographic prompt shimmered in the corner of her vision, insistent and tantalizing:
Would you like to open your Directive Status Window? Y/N
Her pulse kicked. This wasn't the Nexus interface; this was her own core. Something primal told her to wait, but the lure of the Status Window was immense.
Gregor's voice burst into the chamber: "This is ridiculous! No matter what you are, you're still a cyborg! You will listen to the Directive, Jackie!"
"Jackie, you've been transferred to the new hydraulic lab," Patrick interjected, his tone urgent. "It's the only place you'll be able to work under controlled conditions with the changes you've undergone."
They knew. They knew the BDJ system was evolving. But she could see in Patrick's excitement and Gregor's rage that they didn't know the full extent—they hadn't seen the Unknown Observer or the Dax Calder combat logs.
Her eyes narrowed on her arm. She saw the nanobots closing circuits, repairing micro-abrasions in the Blue Diamond alloy. Elites only have nanotech. Had her spontaneous Evolution created this upgrade? Was she being lied to about the limits of her new body?
Her system pulsed again, the status prompt hovering.
"Status window: still available. System overview ready for review. Recommendation: wait until full neural stabilization."
Jackie closed her eyes, forcing calm. Even unconscious, her system had recorded everything. She mentally triggered the combat logs: the alley fight, the energy explosions, the overwhelming presence of Dax Calder—all replayed as fragments in her memory.
"Kieran… still tracking. Nexus Directive… still monitoring. Combat logs saved."
Gregor stomped closer, voice harsh: "You are going to the lab now. But don't get lazy, because you will eventually return to military deployment. What you did in the alley was an unsanctioned Directive Breach."
Jackie smirked, feeling the subtle thrum of energy coursing through her body. She was strong, inexperienced, and utterly uncontrollable.
Patrick outlined the transfer: controlled tests, new protocols, and the chance to push her evolving systems. He gave her the final warning: "Alright, Jackie. Let's get you to the hydraulic lab. Don't fry yourself trying to exceed your system limits."
Jackie exhaled, letting herself relax for the first time. Robot arms finished their work; the chamber hummed; her BDJ system pulsed and analyzed. The faint glow of her integrated circuits whispered the same message: she was no longer the same.
She stared at the floating holographic prompt, her human side accepting the pain, her cybernetic side hungry for the data.
Now. She would wait no longer.
Jackie flexed her right hand, testing the synergy between arm and mind, and whispered into the quiet, humming chamber: "Open status window."