Days later, deep within the massively reinforced and expanded workshop beneath the desert.
Completely different from the desolate clamor above ground, this underground space was shrouded in nearly sacred solemnity.
Air multi-filtered—clean and dry, carrying obvious mixed scents of ozone and coolant. Only the energy core's steady low hum and circulation systems' faint hissing composed this place's eternal background rhythm.
Light primarily came from neatly arranged cold white light strips along the workshop ceiling, illuminating the central area bright as day while surroundings vanished into orderly shadows, highlighting the core here—that complex apparatus built for testing the dimensional transport device.
The dark-gold regular dodecahedron ancient relic was securely installed on a custom platform cast from specialized alloys.
Multiple energy conduits thick as adult arms, wrapped in substantial insulation and shielding layers like giant python blood vessels, extended from the nearby partially completed fusion reactor, precisely connecting to reinforced interfaces at the platform base.
Surging energy within conduits was continuously delivered. Through the platform's internal multi-stage voltage stabilization and frequency modulation systems, it transformed into heart-palpitating steady energy flows injecting the relic's base.
Cairo's tall dark-red figure stood before the main control console. His crimson compound optical lenses steadily focused on several hovering light screens. Data streams poured silently like waterfalls, reflecting on his expressionless metal face mask.
Left screen displayed real-time core parameters of the fusion reactor: power output percentages, plasma confinement stability, energy conversion efficiency curves—all readings stable within preset green zones.
Right screen monitored the relic's own feedback: surface energy field intensity, internal resonance frequencies, structural stress micro-variations—groups of numbers and waveform graphs jumping, revealing this creation's responses to external energy injection.
Central largest screen ran control and monitoring programs he'd personally written based on recent research results. Complex code lines occasionally flickered with key status markers.
Multiple mechanical tentacles of varying thickness—tips carrying different functional modules—quietly extended from behind his back support rack and beneath robe sleeves like independent-minded metal snake groups, in standby mode.
Their mounted miniature force field generators, high-precision spectrum analysis probes, and emergency energy diversion devices were all pre-warmed, ready to handle any unplanned fluctuations.
"Initiating first micro-channel opening attempt. Objective: Establish stable subspace information fissure lasting no less than thirty seconds. Bandwidth priority over stability, but must ensure controllability." Cairo's synthesized voice rang through the silent workshop—steady and clear—both confirming self-operations and informing the sole observer.
The servo-skull hovered silently behind his left shoulder. Blue glow in eye sockets followed master's gaze, synchronously recording every data change on light screens. Its metal mandible maintained a nearly frozen slightly-open state, as if holding breath.
Mind stirring slightly, a virtual slider on the control console was precisely raised one notch.
Reactor output power increased by zero point five percent—an extremely subtle adjustment, but in experiments demanding such precision, already a significant step.
Low-frequency humming transmitted from energy conduits grew imperceptibly heavier.
Energy flow intensity injecting the relic correspondingly increased, like continuously knocking on some invisible door with slightly heavier force.
On the relic's surface, those originally dormant dim patterns—like liquid metal slowly flowing—began gradually "lighting up."
Initially only extremely faint, illusion-like luminescence, but quickly the glow became clearly visible, presenting deep ghostly blue as if containing starry skies.
Workshop lighting seemed disturbed by some invisible force field, beginning to produce visible water-wave-like distortions around the relic.
A low hum originating from space itself being slightly stretched and compressed began permeating—carrying unsettling oppressive sensations. Even ground vibration frequencies changed.
Cairo's mechanical tentacles began extremely subtle adjustments—amplitudes measured in millimeters.
One tentacle's tip calibrator emitted nearly inaudible high-frequency ticking, fine-tuning energy input resonance frequencies. Another continuously monitored spatial curvature changes around the relic, ensuring distortions stayed within safe thresholds.
His full processing capacity concentrated here. Optical lens focus constantly micro-adjusting, capturing the relic surface's subtlest spectral changes and energy dissipation patterns.
At this moment, he resembled more a musician performing in microscopic universes—every movement requiring ultimate precision to guide violent energy playing expected notes.
Time passed in high concentration.
Eleven seconds... twelve seconds...
Suddenly, an extremely tiny yet abnormally brilliant light point abruptly appeared!
It flickered and trembled violently like struggling to break some restraint—extremely unstable, as if next second would completely annihilate or explosively lose control.
Success! This was the micro-subspace channel he'd attempted opening—only permitting information flow passage!
"Channel formed! Beginning data stream reception!" Cairo's synthesized voice stayed steady but speech rate slightly accelerated.
Almost simultaneously with channel formation, a highly compressed data flood carrying completely different physical signatures and encryption protocols—like bursting dam floodwaters—surged through that unstable connection point!
Multi-band reception antenna arrays preset in the workshop all lit indicator lights. Massive data was greedily captured, buffered, cached.
The entire reception process lasted full thirty seconds.
Cairo's gaze locked dead on the central screen's reception progress bar plus beside it the energy fluctuation graph monitoring channel stability.
That light point constantly struggled at collapse's edge—sometimes contracting needle-sharp, sometimes expanding distorting as if about to tear open.
His mechanical tentacles occasionally made lightning micro-adjustments, like riding a violent beast trying to break free from reins.
When the progress bar finally arduously climbed to one hundred percent, Cairo pulled the energy transmission cutoff switch.
Energy supply instantly severed. Light within thick conduits rapidly dimmed.
That light point at the relic's center emitted a faint "pop" like a bubble bursting, then completely disappeared without trace.
The ghostly blue patterns on the relic's surface also rapidly dimmed like receding tide, returning to that deep dark-gold seeming to absorb all light.
That oppressive sensation of space distortion within the workshop also dissipated. Light returned to normal. Only the energy core's unchanging low operational sounds remained.
"Test sequence concluded. Data packet reception complete, checksum passed. Channel closed as planned. No energy backflow or structural damage feedback detected." Cairo slowly, almost imperceptibly released his virtually clenched "hand" on the control console, turning toward the servo-skull for final confirmation.
Though the entire process was brief, risks and extreme precision requirements contained within were no less than a small-scale battle.
The servo-skull floated near the platform. Richer blue scanning beams shot from eye sockets, meticulously sweeping across relic surfaces and platform interfaces, conducting routine post-battle inspections and recordings. Mandible made several faint clicking sounds, seemingly expressing logic-based "relief."
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