Chapter 259: Comprehensive Upgrade
Valerie and Jackie were at that time in the safehouse in Charter Hill's high-rises, purchased with their "settlement fee."
Jackie was exuberantly planning new investments with a holographic projection, while Valerie was meticulously maintaining the cockpit of her dark red experimental power armor.
When the order arrived, Jackie slapped his thigh. "Hah! The big one is finally here! Working with the Sage is just thrilling!"
Valerie paused her actions, calmly sent a confirmation message, then looked at Jackie. "Don't get too excited. A summons from the Sage doesn't necessarily mean we leave immediately."
Despite saying that, she could feel her own heartbeat quicken.
Dimensional exploration meant truly stepping out of this world she both hated and couldn't completely let go of, to face unprecedented challenges.
Mower, silent as a shadow, was the first to appear at the laboratory entrance, standing quietly in wait.
She was always the swiftest executor of Joric's commands.
David Martinez received the message at his temporary residence in Night City.
He was burying himself in studying a set of basic data on genetic stability provided by Joric, preparing for his mother's treatment.
The summoning order made his young heart skip a beat—a mix of craving for unknown knowledge and nervousness about the real tests he might soon face.
He subconsciously looked at Lucy's avatar on his communicator, took a deep breath, and quickly packed up to leave.
Even Margaret and Maria, who had just returned from the Tokyo mission and were maintaining their respective Knight suits in the temporary hangar, learned of the summons through the internal channel of the Skitarii.
The two Knights were equally curious about the "dimensional exploration" mentioned by the Sage.
They stopped their work in unison, looking curiously toward the main laboratory.
The flames that destroyed the Arasaka fleet on the shores of Tokyo Bay seemed to still linger on their retinas, but the prospect of exploring unknown dimensions held a unique attraction for these warriors born of a Knight House.
Inside the laboratory, the atmosphere was heavy.
Members of Maine's squad subconsciously huddled together. Valerie stood straight, her mechanical prosthetics tightening slightly.
Jackie couldn't help but look around, trying to see the details of every strange device.
David followed closely beside Lucy, excitement hard to hide on the young man's face. Mower silently blended into the shadows beside Joric's figure.
Margaret and Maria did not enter the laboratory interior. Their figures appeared on the observation corridor on the upper level of the laboratory, looking down quietly through the heavy protective glass.
They also wanted to witness with their own eyes this team upon which the Sage placed high hopes, the team that would head into unknown territories.
Everyone thought this summons meant the formal start of dimensional exploration.
Tension, anticipation, and a trace of unease intertwined in the air.
Joric's massive dark red mechanical body stood before the main console. His crimson optical lenses swept over the assembled crowd, collecting and analyzing their physiological parameters, micro-expressions, and posture data.
"Personnel assembled, Lord Sage," Mower reported in a low voice.
The laboratory fell silent, leaving only the background noise of running equipment. Everyone waited for Joric to issue the departure command.
However, when Joric spoke, his steady voice shattered their expectations.
"I have summoned you here not to initiate dimensional travel immediately."
Everyone was stunned. Not departing? Then why summon everyone so solemnly?
Even Margaret and Maria on the observation corridor exchanged a slightly puzzled glance.
Joric continued, his voice like cold metal friction, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "Dimensional exploration carries potential risks far exceeding your imagination based on the cognition of this world.
"Space-time turbulence, physical law distortions, extra-dimensional organisms, and even conceptual erosion... any single one is sufficient to instantly annihilate an unprepared team."
His optical lenses swept one by one over Maine's squad's cyberware, Valerie's experimental power armor, and finally landed on David's still immature body.
"Your current equipment and enhancement levels may be considered elite in this world." Joric's synthesized voice stated this fact calmly, then changed tone, carrying an unquestionable judgment. "But on the scale of the multiverse, they are not worth mentioning."
Joric's gaze finally locked onto David. His tone didn't change, but he clearly drew a distinction. "As for you, David Martinez, your current enhancements focus on genetic and nervous system optimization. This is the foundation laid for subsequent learning of the Adeptus Mechanicus knowledge system.
"Deeper mechanical fusion modification can only proceed after you pass the assessment evaluation."
Clearly, for the upcoming dimensional exploration mission, neither the existing combat equipment and enhancements of Maine's squad and Valerie nor David's current learning foundation as an apprentice met Joric's "dimensional exploration standards."
Maria watched the "mortals" of various forms below and said softly, "Dimensional exploration is fraught with danger. Without sufficient strength, it is indeed no different from suicide. I just wonder if they can bear the... price of Mechanicus modification."
She thought of those lower-ranking Tech-Priests and Servitors who had completely abandoned flesh to merge with machines.
"Therefore, before formally initiating exploration, you require a comprehensive, systematic upgrade modification." Joric's voice held no ripples, as if speaking of something as mundane as replacing parts. "Resources and technology here are limited and cannot complete modifications meeting the standard. You will return with me to the Forge World Nexum, to my private laboratory, to undergo standard Mechanicus enhancement."
Return to... another universe? That place described as eternal war, profound darkness, and endless thirst for knowledge?
Maine's squad members looked at each other. They had briefly set foot on that Death World; the memories left were filled with metallic caverns, red-robed cyborgs, and a suffocating otherworldly feel.
Valerie and Jackie found this concept even more alien and shocking.
David's breathing quickened, but an even stronger light burst from his eyes—this meant he would directly enter the core domain of the Mechanicus to learn!
Valerie steadied herself, ignoring Jackie's hand subconsciously grabbing her arm.
She looked at Joric and asked calmly, "Lord Sage, this modification... how long will it roughly take? What preparations do we need to make?"
She considered things more practically, including how to arrange for Jackie and adapting to a completely strange environment said to have a strict hierarchy.
David also looked at Joric, his voice trembling slightly but full of longing. "Lord Sage, I... will my modification also take place there? Like you said before?"
He referred to deeper mechanical enhancement, not just the knowledge he was currently learning.
Joric answered Valerie and David's questions. "Modification time depends on individual differences and enhancement plans, ranging from a few days to several weeks. No special preparation is needed; just maintain a stable physical and mental state." His optical lenses turned to David. "Deeper mechanical fusion requires you to pass the assessment."
He paused slightly to let the information be fully digested, then added, "Forge World Nexum is one of the thousands of Forge Worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus. It is a center of technology and faith, with strict order and distinct hierarchy.
"All your words and deeds there must follow the norms of the Mechanicus. Any transgression or behavior interfering with research order will be severely punished."
(End of Chapter)