After another week I finally got back my results on the Mechanite research.
Research Menu
Mechanites
The Mechanites possess impressions of a Power core matrix that render them particularly adept at working with equipment and technology. You can integrate those functions into your drone reducing the time to complete all tasks with it by twenty-five percent.
That wasn't useless at all. I wondered, if I built either manufacturing or military drones, whether I would see them gain some further utility as well. It made selecting those options next time even more tempting.
The upgraded quarters and Hydroponics sections were completed. It seemed to make the humans happy. I detected almost a twenty percent improvement in their work levels as their morale lifted.
Anna and the newcomers seemed to be getting along.
Between them and my drone, we'd repaired all the damage and were even cleaning out the lower levels.
Research Menu
"Mechos"
Mechos is bonded to a Power core and you have tested him long enough to unlock and utilize his ability. You now have limited ability to upgrade tools and items of the facility out of a separate pool of upgrade points that refresh daily. These upgrades are additives to upgrades gained along the manufacturing line. Further testing will accumulate core points at the rate of 0.1 per week.
That was all that I hoped it might be. I wanted to give it a try and analyzed the door to my Core Room.
Door
All values are on a scale of 10
Durability 3
Reliability 7
Power 2
Each upgrade up to 10 costs 10 upgrade points. You can a total of 25 upgrade points daily.
I sank two points into Durability. I'd keep doing that until the door was as strong as I could make it. Protecting my core had to come before anything else and a few threats had gotten far too close to it.
After my door, it would be all the other doors of the facility. When I sealed them, I wanted those on the other side to be trapped, not inconvenienced.
Next, I investigated what I could do with my new core point. These were for the major facility upgrades and I wanted to know my options.
You have an unspent core point.
Core points can enhance your competencies and open new options for Research and Manufacturing.
Your options are:
Research 3
Research 3 will expand your testing facility to be able to hold six test subjects at once. In addition, your genetics lab will be upgraded with a genetic fabricator allowing you to create biological agents to either labor or fight on your behalf. Each of these have a cost to produce, although alongside either the Military or Manufacturing upgrades a pool for a certain standing number of drones will be created.
Military 1 will allow you to build defense drones. Defense drones are mobile weapon platforms capable of base defense and attacks at a distance. While basic in function they can ultimately be updated to become formidable weapon platforms.
Manufacturing 1
Manufacturing 1 will allow the production of automated minions. They are capable of autonomous facility repair and will halve all build and production times for new facilities.
Research was always going to tempt me, but this time I had to give the other options real consideration. Even the latest research option seemed to be urging me in that direction. On the other hand, it also made them unnecessary.
With test subjects, I was gaining a steady supply of core points, and it seemed if I took the new research upgrade I'd be able to spend those to create some combat drones or builders.
It was a viable path that would only see me get stronger as time went on, and as I could get more test subjects to imprison. I liked playing the long game. I selected that upgrade and began to build.
Now I had a mystery to solve. It was time to figure out what was going on with those archives.
21
"We need to talk," I said, as I activated a monitor in Mechos' workshop
"Going to let me out of here? You must have deciphered how my ability works by now?" Mechos said, swiveling a chair to face a camera.
"You think you know how my Power core operates?"
"You can't observe me without being yourself observed. I understand how things work. I watch and I unravel their processes. I've been watching you," Mechos said.
Disturbing, at least, if I believed him. I didn't want anyone knowing too much about what I could do. Especially someone I didn't trust at all. I thought he was safely trapped here, but the more he learned of me, the more he might be able to find a way around that.
"You watch me, but can't focus on a naked woman. You really are a twelve-year-old boy Mechos. I have questions."
Mechos spread his arms wide. "Ask away. I've nowhere to go, being part-prisoner and part-guest."
I bought up a visual of one of the metal tubes from the archives.
Mechos studied the display for a long moment and he gave a grin. "Did you figure out what they are yet?"
"Information," I said.
"You did. You restored power to the level, I'm guessing, but you wouldn't have figured out an interface just yet," Mechos said, waggled his fingers. "You need someone to do it for you?"
It seemed he was continuing to get more information out of this exchange than I was. Unacceptable. I really needed to research some sort of interrogation chair, it would make conversations so much more successful.
"You do realize I've already gotten most of the benefit out of keeping you alive," I said.
"Meaning, you are still getting some. I'll tell you this. You and I both once worked for some very bad people who found out that the end of the world was coming. You figured out a way to save yourself."
Pieces of information that had been bothering me slid into place like a puzzle assembling itself. This man knew me, and he had powers eerily similar to those I ultimately manifested.
"Let me guess. You were a service technician meant to install a new Power core into me after the catastrophe. Instead you stole it," I said.
Mechos tipped his head. "Only partially true. You had calculated the best gains would come from installing it into a reactor which would become your new beating heart. When I tried to steal it, there was a powerful and destructive burst of energy. It killed all in the facility accept for me and fused me with the core instead."
That fitted with what I'd discovered.
"Then why did you wish access to the archives?"
"Haven't you found it odd that they were located somewhere off your power grid? It was uncertain how compliant you would be once upgraded. There are codes meant to ensure your compliance," Mechos said.
Well, he was being helpful.
"How would the Righteous know of them?" I asked.
Mechos shrugged. "They are not survivors from this facility, which means they are perhaps descended of those who gave that order. It might explain much, in fact."
It might at that.
"You've been helpful. I shall see you have more cookies," I said.
"I don't even like cookies," Mechos said.
"Two plates, then." I was certain they were just an acquired taste. All humans loved cookies.
"I could help you, you know. Go through the information, even help you to devise an interface so you can access that storage directly," Mechos said.
I didn't doubt that he could. If what this man said was true, he probably knew more about me and my operations than anyone else alive—more than I did myself.
That confirmed for me that he was exactly where he needed to be, locked up in a containment cell.