The lab hummed with activity as Dr. Dew and Leonardo da Vinci focused on their next ambitious endeavor. With the synth production facility operational and their settlement growing, they now aimed to create a tool capable of fabricating scarce resources at will. Their target was a recreation of the Sierra Madre vending machine, a marvel of pre-war technology that could synthesize essential supplies on demand.
Dr. Dew stood before the partially assembled machine, carefully examining its intricate internal components. Across from him, Leonardo da Vinci turned one of the unique octagonal chips between her fingers, studying its detailed engravings.
"A machine capable of fabricating weapons, medicine, tools—anything it's programmed for," she mused, admiring its ingenuity. "But you're not planning to use these chips as currency, are you?"
Dr. Dew shook his head. "No. The last thing we need is for dangerous factions to learn about this machine and exploit it. In the Sierra Madre, these chips acted as currency, but here, they'll serve as encrypted access keys. Only those we trust—like our synths and allies—will have access."
Leonardo nodded in approval. "A wise precaution. If word got out about a machine capable of producing limitless resources, it could become more of a curse than a blessing."
As they continued assembling the machine, Dr. Dew's mind wandered back to the visions he had glimpsed while traversing the void. The teleportation accident had shown him fragmented images of other worlds, offering tantalizing glimpses of advanced technologies and lost knowledge. While he couldn't hear the sounds of those places, the details had been etched into his memory.
"Leonardo," he began, his voice contemplative, "when my teleporter malfunctioned and overloaded with energy, I saw brief glimpses of different realities. One of them showed me a fusion crystal—a gem capable of merging materials at a molecular level. Another vision revealed a starship, designed for interstellar travel, built with modular adaptability and resilience—qualities we'd need if we ever wanted to leave this planet."
Leonardo's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "A fascinating revelation. Did these visions offer any insight into how such technology functions?"
Dr. Dew nodded. "I couldn't hear any explanations, but I saw everything—its structure, its composition, even its assembly process. The fusion crystal—though I don't know its real name—appeared to align molecular structures, allowing disparate materials to merge seamlessly. It was different from standard alchemy or metallurgy. And the starship… it was unlike anything I've seen before, but I understand how to build it."
Leonardo tapped a finger against her chin, deep in thought. "Then our next objective is clear. First, we complete this vending machine to provide the resources necessary for these larger projects. Then, we begin fabricating the fusion crystal and the starship."
They resumed their work with renewed purpose. Dr. Dew focused on finalizing the machine's mechanical components, ensuring its structural integrity and efficiency, while Leonardo refined the programming, optimizing its resource conversion systems.
"The original vending machines were meant for controlled distribution within the Sierra Madre's closed system," Dr. Dew explained as he secured a set of circuit connections. "But ours will serve a more practical purpose—emergency supplies, specialized resources, and materials we can't acquire through normal means. And with these access chips, we can ensure only trusted individuals use it."
Leonardo adjusted a set of gears inside the machine. "And once we have the vending machine fully operational, we'll have the means to create the fusion crystal. A tool like that would be invaluable, especially for constructing advanced technology."
Dr. Dew nodded. "Exactly. The crystal would let us forge new alloys, repair equipment, and enhance the durability of any technology we build—including the starship."
Days passed as they worked tirelessly. The vending machine's polished steel exterior gleamed under the lab's lights. Finally, Dr. Dew inserted one of the modified access chips and initiated a test sequence. The machine hummed, processing the request before smoothly dispensing a precisely manufactured circuit module.
Leonardo picked it up and examined it closely. "Perfect precision. This machine is a masterpiece."
Dr. Dew exhaled, satisfied. "Now, we move on to the fusion crystal."
Leonardo tilted her head. "If it's a crystal that fuses things together, it might be similar to the artifacts alchemists once sought—items of immeasurable power capable of altering matter itself. You said you saw it in your visions. Did anything else stand out about its design?"
Dr. Dew frowned, recalling the image. "It was large, clear, and shaped like a diamond, yet it radiated an almost ethereal glow. I have no idea what its real name is, but if I had to describe it, I'd say it looked like some kind of perfect gemstone."
Leonardo's eyes flickered with curiosity, but she quickly masked her reaction. "A fascinating concept. Then let's get to work. We have much to build."
With the vending machine complete, the foundation for their next projects had been laid. The fusion crystal and the starship were no longer distant dreams—they were tangible possibilities, waiting to be realized.
End of Chapter 17
Extra: (The Koh-I-Noor is a piece of Isu technology from the Assassin's Creed franchise, found in the comic book Assassin's Creed: Uprising. The Koh-I-Noor has the ability to fuse solid objects together, generate powerful shields, create tangible holograms, project blasts of energy, locate other lost Pieces of Eden, reconstruct itself after being shattered, and infuse energy into objects. One of the Isu, Juno, used its power to fuse a man's hands to another Piece of Eden called the Scythe of Eden, which can kill with a single cut. Juno also infused death energy into rebelling humans, causing them to die instantly. The starship, on the other hand, originates from Starbound. When Dr. Dew looked into the dimensional bubbles in the void, he could see everything within them—the past, present, and future. This, combined with his enhanced Gen 3 synth brain, his body acting as a supercomputer, and his perfect memory, allows him to recreate these technologies. However, even with all this knowledge, constructing them remains a difficult challenge. Unlike the technology from the Fallout universe, which he is already experienced with, these new designs require further experimentation and adaptation.)