In the days following his initial training tests, Arthur found himself diving deeper into the mysteries of his newfound abilities. He was both astounded and curious about the implications of his biological transformation.
In the solitude of his quarters, Arthur sat cross-legged on his bed, surrounded by the faint hum of the station's systems. A single holographic screen hovered before him. The system menu pulsed gently in his mind, awaiting his command.
He had been testing the System and trying to learn more about it.
Today, his focus was on understanding the transformation he had undergone. His mind reached into the system, peeling back layers of data he hadn't explored before. He felt a ripple of energy within himself, something deeper than the superficial strength and speed he had demonstrated.
'Hey System how were you created' Arthur directed his thoughts towards the System, and to his surprise he got a response from it.
//--------------------//
[Responding to host]
During the process of injecting the nanobots, those nanobots had acted as catalysts, triggering an extraordinary metamorphosis within the host's body. An unknown surge of energy pulsed through your body, and it had fundamentally altered your biology. Creating an entirely new organelle inside the host's cells which resulted in the creation of what you termed as a "System".
//--------------------//
"It worked?" Arthur was surprised that it could respond to his thoughts. Then he went deeper into the information that his System gave him.
Inside every cell of his body, a new organelle had been formed. He stared at the visualization displayed on the holographic screen. These organelles were crystalline in structure, pulsating faintly with a blue glow reminiscent of glowing circuits.
"It's… like a copy of the nanobots?" Arthur whispered, his voice barely audible. "No… it should be an improved version of them." Because the nanobots were not capable of the things that his system is capable of.
The text accompanying the visualization described these organelles as computational marvels, each possessing processing power rivaling a supercomputer. And with tens of trillions of cells in his body, perhaps more due to his denser musculature, the sheer scale of this capacity was mind-boggling and it amazed him.
"I… I'm a walking quantum mainframe," he murmured, leaning back against the bed frame, his mind reeling. The realization hit him like a tidal wave. His body wasn't just a weapon; it was a repository of infinite potential.
Each organelle acted autonomously, capable of executing simple AI-like commands. These organelles also have huge capacity to store data, the extent of which he does not know, and analyze complex patterns.
The implications were staggering. He could download knowledge directly into his cells. He could simulate entire worlds within himself. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.
…
Arthur's first experiment with these capabilities was ambitious. Using his technopathy, he connected to the station's civilian databases, granted access by Admiral Kane himself. Arthur doubted the Admiral had anticipated the extent of his abilities.
Kane had likely assumed Arthur would at most skim a few documents out of curiosity, nothing more. Instead, Arthur commanded his system to download everything.
The process took five hours to finish, the data flooding into his cells at a staggering rate. Research papers, blueprints, schematics, and theories, hundreds of thousands years of accumulated human knowledge, were absorbed and cataloged within him. The sheer volume of information was dizzying, and yet his system handled it effortlessly.
When the download completed, Arthur sat motionless for a moment, his mind adjusting to the monumental influx of data. He accessed a random file, a blueprint for a teleporter. The information unfolded before him with startling clarity.
He saw not just the design but the intricate details of its function, from the particle alignments to the energy flows.
"So this is what it feels like to… know everything," he thought. Yet, he knew he had merely scratched the surface.
As the days passed, Arthur immersed himself in the treasure trove of knowledge. He studied advanced theories on Von Neumann machines, self-replicating nanobots capable of transforming entire planets into resources.
He delved into the intricacies of cold fusion and dark energy reactors, marveling at humanity's ingenuity.
One discovery that particularly captivated him was magmatter, a substance with properties so extraordinary it seemed to defy the laws of physics. Magmatter was 10^32 times stronger than ordinary matter, with a density of 10^18 kilograms per cubic meter.
It was the cornerstone of megastructures that spanned solar systems, enabling feats of engineering that bordered on divine creation.
"This… these are used to build Dyson spheres, even star forges," Arthur mused, his mind racing with possibilities. But understanding its creation, a process involving the manipulation of subatomic particles under extreme conditions, would take time for him to understand.
And he does not want to rush it, these intricate technologies would take countless years even for him to understand.
…
Three days before his departure, Arthur was summoned to the armory for the testing of his new ECHO armor. The chamber was a sprawling facility filled with gleaming exosuits and weaponry. Commander Lira and a team of engineers awaited him.
"There you are," Lira greeted, gesturing to a platform where a suit of armor rested. "Meet your new best friend."
Arthur's gaze fell on the armor.
The ECHO Suit has midnight-black plating, an amalgam of nanobots, dense composite alloys and nanofibers, designed to endure the most punishing environments in the galaxy.
Each segment of the armor was angular yet streamlined, layered with interlocking plates that flexed seamlessly with its wearer's movements. The suit's dark finish absorbed the light, giving it a spectral presence.
A helmet, imposing and sharp-edged, encased the wearer's head. The display shifted dynamically, feeding tactical data, enemy movements, and environmental diagnostics directly into the wearer's neural interface. It was a machine and a symbiotic partner, working in harmony with its operator.
The shoulders carried reinforced pauldrons with integrated kinetic dampeners, capable of absorbing high-velocity impacts and redirecting force harmlessly.
The chest plate, the suit's heart, housed a compact cold fusion reactor core, a marvel of humanity's advanced energy manipulation technology. Its humming energy fields not only powered the suit but could also project a temporary barrier to repel incoming attacks.
The gauntlets, textured for grip, could generate short-range shockwaves, useful for close-quarters combat or dispersing enemy formations. The armguard also has a place for holo-pad and something that humanity can boast about- a spatial storage orb.
It is created by compressing space into folds and using a dark energy reactor to stabilize the space inside it. It has a radius of one hundred meters, with space inside the orb with zero gravity and no air inside.
The Spatial Orb is just one centimeter in diameter from outside and the space inside can be accessed with the holo-pad, altogether it is a marvel of technology, and a single one costs more than the entire ECHO armor.
The suit's legs were fitted with magnetic stabilizers for zero-gravity environments and shock absorbers for high-impact landings. Tiny vents along the calves released bursts of plasma, enabling short, rapid dashes or controlled aerial maneuvers.
A sheathed energy sword slung across the back added an unmistakable air of lethality, hinting at its operator's battlefield prowess.
The ECHO Suit was more than just armor. It spoke of an individual who had embraced the chaos of war, wielding humanity's technological apex as both shield and sword. A harbinger of victory, the armor wasn't just worn, it became an extension of its wearer's will, a weapon in its own right.
"Try it on," Lira urged.
Arthur stepped onto the platform, and the armor unfolded around him like a second skin. As it sealed into place, he felt a surge of energy coursing through the armor with his technopathy. The HUD activated, displaying a wealth of information: diagnostics, energy levels, tactical overlays.
"How does it feel?" Lira asked.
Arthur flexed his fingers, the armor responding with fluid precision. "Like it's part of me," he said. "What can it do?"
Lira smirked. "What can't it do? Flight, integrated weapons systems, and adaptive shielding. And that's just the basics."
Arthur's mind raced as he tested the suit's capabilities. He sprinted across the chamber, the suit amplifying his speed to near-blurring levels. He struck a reinforced target, the impact shattering the steel plate. He activated the plasma sword, a blade of energy igniting from the handle.
"This is… incredible," he said, awe evident in his voice.
Lira nodded. "You'll need it where you're going."
…
Back in his quarters, Arthur began studying the enemies he would soon face, the Chimerians. The files described them as a warlike species, their bodies covered in crystalline exoskeletons that shimmered with a dark blue hue.
They were humanoid, with elongated limbs and reptilian heads, their sharp, angular features giving them a predatory appearance.
"Strength comparable to ECHOs," Arthur read aloud. "Highly adaptable, and… nearly impervious to conventional weapons."
He accessed combat footage, watching as squads of soldiers struggled against a single Chimerian. Their movements were fast and calculated, their exoskeletons deflecting bullets and energy blasts with ease.
"These things… they look like fantasy monsters," Arthur thought. Yet, he felt no fear. His training, his abilities, his armor, he was more than prepared to take on these things.
…
The day of departure arrived. The docking bay buzzed with activity as Arthur approached, his new armor seamlessly blending under the station's lights. Lira, Elara, and Admiral Kane stood waiting.
"Ready to join the fight?" Kane asked, his tone gruff but encouraging.
Arthur nodded. "More than ready."
Lira stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Stay sharp out there. And don't do anything stupid."
Elara smiled. "We'll be monitoring your progress. Make us proud."
Arthur looked around, noticing Kael's absence. Just as he was about to ask, the hum of an approaching shuttle drew his attention. The craft landed, and Kael emerged, his usual cocky grin in place.
"Miss me?" Kael said. "I'm your escort. Someone's got to make sure you don't get lost on the way."
Arthur chuckled. "Wouldn't want to deprive you of the adventure."
With final farewells exchanged, Arthur boarded the shuttle. As it docked with the massive Epsilon-class battleship, he felt a sense of purpose unlike any he had known before.
The battleship detached from Solace Prime and entered the Stargate which would lead towards the edge of the galaxy, as star gates are necessary to travel such a vast distance. The fabric of space-time warping around it. Arthur stared out the viewport, the stars streaking past in a cascade of light.
***
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