Chapter 159: Setting the Bait
Deep within the Badlands manufactorum, indicator lights on the main console flickered rhythmically, announcing that the reception and verification of the massive amount of data acquired from the Mikoshi core in Arasaka Tower were complete.
Joric's massive frame stood silently before the console, his dark red Dragon Scale power armor glinting with a metallic sheen in the dim light.
His crimson optical lenses steadily scanned the final confirmation message of the data stream, incorporating all the corporate secrets, research data, and imprisoned digital souls from Mikoshi into his knowledge base.
He was quite satisfied with the harvest of this operation.
Although his thought patterns as a Magos of the Mechanicus prevented him from displaying ordinary excitement, a distinct sense of fulfillment existed deep in his consciousness upon completing a significant objective.
Acquiring and integrating knowledge had always been his fundamental pursuit as an Explorator.
Simultaneously, his preliminary study of Rache Bartmoss's remains had reached a conclusion.
The legendary netrunner's brain structure was indeed extraordinary—the neuron density of the prefrontal cortex, the complexity of neural fiber connections in the corpus callosum, the surface area of the cortical gyri—all these key indicators far exceeded the level of ordinary humans in this world.
Bartmoss's genetic coding granted him near-perfect biological processing capabilities, placing him at the theoretical limit of human potential assessment in this world.
Joric's fingers tapped lightly on the console, bringing up a detailed genetic analysis report.
According to the standardized procedures of the Mechanicus, such a precious sample should undergo complete genetic sequencing and backup, then be placed in a stasis field for permanent preservation as a reference template for future development of biological computational units, optimization of servo-skulls, or cogitator arrays.
If this genetic template could be successfully replicated, biological components with superior data processing capabilities could be mass-produced, transforming this unique legacy into a sustainable, precious resource.
However, Joric's considerations went deeper.
He stared at Bartmoss's body in the preservation tank, realizing its value lay not only in its genetic uniqueness but also in its potential as "bait."
Ensuring the sample's integrity, he decided to maintain the body's active state first, to see if it could attract certain "old friends" still wandering deep in cyberspace.
This decision satisfied both his thirst for knowledge as a researcher and his pragmatic attitude towards maximizing resource utilization.
Between the dogma of the Mechanicus and his personal desire for exploration, Joric could always find the most efficient balance point.
However, Joric's evaluation of Bartmoss's value went far beyond physiological uniqueness.
The legendary netrunner's state of consciousness at the final moment of his life, his profound connection to the collapse of the Old Net, and the immortal legends he left in cyberspace all hinted at another possibility—this shell might attract a more vital "legacy" still lingering in the data abyss.
Based on this judgment, Joric did not rush to send Bartmoss's remains into stasis storage.
After completing the preliminary study, he had already initiated a precise biological maintenance protocol, systematically repairing the body preserved for half a century with technology surpassing the medical standards of this era.
This was by no means a simple thawing and resuscitation.
Joric fused ancient knowledge and medical technology from the Mechanicus Biologis to perform molecular-level repairs on the damage caused to Bartmoss's remains by long-term freezing and the erosion of time.
Cell membranes were reconstructed, muscle fibers were injected with specialized bioactive catalysts, and failing organs gradually recovered basic functions with the aid of nanomachines.
Most critical was the brain that once housed the consciousness of the "God of Netrunners."
Joric carefully avoided neural synapses that might contain residual data, focusing on restoring basic bio-electrical activity and the vitality of support systems.
He even reconstructed parts of the cardiovascular network, implanting a micro-power cell-driven cardiac pacing unit.
Now, the repaired Bartmoss was housed in a living culture tank filled with pale blue nutrient fluid.
His skin regained elasticity, his chest rose and fell rhythmically driven by the artificial heart, and various vital signs pulsed steadily on the monitoring screen.
Biologically speaking, this body was in a carefully maintained state of "living," although it was empty inside, with no signs of conscious activity.
Joric viewed this meticulously repaired "live bait" as a high-value chip.
It not only proved Joric possessed the ability to restore vitality to this legendary vessel but also sent a clear signal to entities that might still be watching this individual.
After deploying the first "live bait," Joric immediately began preparing the second lure.
He retrieved the Johnny Silverhand digital soul data packet obtained from Mikoshi. This copy of consciousness, filled with anger and rebellious factors, was in his eyes the perfect tool to attract specific targets.
Joric adopted a rather cautious approach.
To avoid unnecessary interference and risk, he did not activate Johnny Silverhand's full consciousness but carefully selected a representative segment of audio data.
This recording was filled with fierce cursing against Arasaka, the corporate system, and all authority, mixed with iconic rock music background noise and Silverhand-style angry roars.
At the same time, he attached a concise explanation stating that this digital soul had been successfully extracted and removed from Arasaka's control.
Preparation complete. Joric began executing his deployment plan.
Since the fish he wanted to catch swam in the cyberspace left behind by the DataKrash beyond the Blackwall, conventional signal transmission was naturally impossible.
The Blackwall segregated the ruins of the Old Net from the rebuilt local networks. Aside from blocking attacks by rogue AIs from beyond, the Blackwall also isolated signals sent from the inside out.
Therefore, only sufficiently powerful netrunners or corporations had the capability to punch a hole in the Blackwall to send messages out or salvage data from beyond.
But for Joric, this was no trouble at all.
Through the Blackwall Gateway, entering and exiting the Blackwall was child's play for him, not to mention he could directly utilize the Blackwall itself—just like the last broadcast—to mass-send messages again.
Only this time, he was broadcasting outward, beyond the Wall.
He packaged the information of the two baits—real-time biological data and video records of Bartmoss's body in the tank, along with Johnny Silverhand's iconic audio and status explanation—into a single data packet. Then, he began transmitting this packet in a loop through the Blackwall, like a broadcast.
Invisible data pulses crossed the boundary between physical and digital instantly via the Blackwall Gateway, disappearing into the network frontier beyond human reach.
These two carefully prepared lures, like shockwaves thrown into the deep sea, were destined to cause ripples among specific "listeners."
(End of Chapter)