A New Day, A New Beast

[Laira Darkhold]

The trip back to Jabiim was steady and easy, even with two women hitching a ride on the ship. As we approached the stormy planet I flipped open the comm system, hearing the automated, “restricted airspace” warning, and transmitting the ships identification to the facility at the razor coast. “Alright ladies, we are here, get ready to disembark the vessel,” I called to my passengers. They seemed anxious to get off the ship, and Doctor Brand seemed more anxious to get to work and get the project finished than Veira, who really just didn’t want to be cooped up in the small ship anymore.

The ship rattled a bit as it passed through storm clouds, but it was fine and landed smoothly on the landing pad. The rain pattered on the transparasteel with a soothing sound as I powered the ship down and followed my passengers off the ramp. Benji was waiting just inside the building as the women trotted in, escaping from the rain while I came up behind them, and toting their luggage on a repulsor cart. “Be nice to have a hand with all this” I said as I entered, pushing one cart while pulling another filled with various bags, totes, suitcases, and boxes.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

As we all entered the building, I decided it was best to handle introductions right away. Pushing the two repulsor carts out of the way, I walked and stood between Benji and Kira, and motioned towards our guests, “Benji, Kira, this is Doctor Alexa Brand, a top tier cyberneticist,” I said pointing at the good doctor, “And this is Doctor Veira Cole, a general surgeon trained on Taris,” pointing at the young blonde woman. “Alexa, Veira, these are Benji Idiro, a weapons designer and engineering specialist best known for his time with Balmorran Arms.” Motioning at the elderly duros in work clothes, “and this is Kira Rauter, our resident droid programming specialist and troublemaker,” ending with the brunette woman. “There now everybody has been introduced properly, make yourselves at home and keep everything civil. I don’t believe we require a surgeon or droid programmer for a while, so why don’t the two of you keep yourselves occupied, but stay on the planet, I don’t want you two running off where only the Force knows where you are.” I told the two younger women. They seemed pretty happy with order that boiled down to go have fun until you are needed.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Benji and Doctor Brand became reacquainted during the final hours of the respite we had. It had been decided early that we would wait until tomorrow morning to begin the actual process of designing the cybernetic enhancement. My mental state would be monitored by medical equipment throughout the process as a baseline to use post operation to see how the cybernetic would react with my mental faculties. Additionally it had been suggested that test subjects would need to be enhanced before the finished product was placed on me, to ensure that faulty equipment wasn’t installed on me before it was perfected. It would take time, and would require what Doctor Brand called a Near-human, Semi-Sentient species to use as a test base. Benji wasn’t sure about the ethics of that, but she and Doctor Veira both agreed that following testing they could uninstall the equipment and release the being back to their natural habitat, barring any unforeseen developments, like accidental death and maiming. It was possible, but unlikely that the product could be lethal, but it was a necessary testing phase before anything could be installed on a sentient being. I wasn’t sure about the testing myself, but it was certainly better than plugging something that worked theoretically into me.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The morning came, and as per the usual, we began with breakfast in the kitchen, rather than rising and taking the meal in the workshop. Benji liked to start projects after a good rest and a good meal rather than diving in, because he knew he would be spending a number of late nights and early mornings on the project. A breakfast before major projects like this often came with someone muttering under their breath about ideas, and minor notes being taken, but today was different. Benji had made it very clear he was uncomfortable with this project and had only come along with it on several very specific conditions. One of them, the hardest to get everyone’s approval was that he had final say over the project and could veto it at any time for any well explained reason. And even that second part was an amendment from his original request. Veira had been the hard one to accept him as the project leader, mainly because she was hoping to publish her work and take credit, and his first order had been complete secrecy. No one knows about it outside the room, and no one ever will if we can help it. I knew where she was coming from with that, she was a young new doctor who wanted to be able to show her prestige to her friends, family, and potential employers, but that wasn’t going to happen with this project.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Shortly after breakfast Kira and Veira left to go to one of the larger cities on Jabiim to do who knows while Doctor Brand, Benji, and I went to the workshop to get to work on the design. “Alright Draco, what all does the system need to do in the first place. That will be the best start, me understanding what we are going to be building.” Doctor Brand said as we entered the work shop.

I thought for a moment to align my thoughts before I responded, “It needs to be able to enhance my strength, speed, and reflexes immensely for short periods of time. It needs to passively increase my physical abilities passively, to a slight degree and be able to increase them further during combat. It needs reinforce my bones to counter act the increased weight and stress that will be applied to them, and it needs to not mess with my mind.” It was a good solid list of things, even if it would be difficult to pull off.

“Which muscles specifically need to be enhanced during combat?” She asked as she began taking notes.

I thought for a moment, but I don’t think I could name but a few muscles in the human body to begin with.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

She must have noticed my confusion because she simplified her question, “I mean, limbs, upper body, core, legs, arms, neck, back. That kind of thing if you understand what I mean.” That was much better, but even still I wasn’t sure which ones I wouldn’t need to be enhanced.

“I would guess all of them. Combat is a very intense experience and often requires a full body exercise routine to properly prepare for. Normally every muscle would need to be exercised so I would say every limb, back, abdomen, upper body, and neck.” I said to the Doctor who was writing notes as I spoke, “I need to be able to keep up with some of these crazy species and Force Users so bones would need to be reinforced as well.” She continued taking notes working steadily on the page she had written.

“Are you aware some psychiatrists believe that noticeable replacements and enhancements can cause the subject to disconnect from humanity and cause minor psychosis when isolated for periods of time?” she asked. Benji had mentioned that but I hadn’t thought of it much since then. That could potentially be very dangerous and I wanted to know how it could counteracted.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“I remember hearing that from Benji awhile back, but I didn’t realize studies had been done based on it. I want to know if there is any information about counteracting that side effect, anything that can be done to mitigate it or keep it from happening entirely,” I informed Doctor Brand. So far so good, I thought to myself.

She pondered for a moment and then put down her pad and pen, pulling out a datapad and typing on it for a few moments. “The last good research from, hold on one moment. From Industrial Automaton believed that if minimal replacements and minimal exterior exposure might assist in counter-acting the psychological side effects, assuming that the person in question didn’t already suffer from psychological issues. And based on my evaluation of your mental faculties, you should be fine.” She said, which was certainly good news. It meant I wouldn’t have to worry about freaking out and going insane. “But even then you might suffer some psychological effects down the line. But with your inclusion in regular combat actions, I wouldn’t think this is what is going to cause you to crumble.” Well, that was a bit morbid, probably correct, but still dark and blunt for a doctor to tell a patient.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Still no bedside manner I see,” Benji piped up from the other side of the work bench. At least he was on my side. He chuckled as he turned away and starting scribbling on his own note pad. “I think you will be fine Draco, so long as you don’t isolate yourself. Get a partner or an assistant in your travels, it will be good for you and keep you grounded. That should be all you need.” Good advice I would keep in the back of my mind. I preferred to work alone but if I felt myself, or someone told me I was becoming distant I might have to find a partner to keep around.

Doctor Brand didn’t turn to look at Benji, but she did chuckle at his comment, “I work with robotics not people, I know them by their cybernetics most of the time.” She retorted jokingly, “Back to the topic at hand, what kind of increase in physical capabilities are you looking for?” she asked calmly, remaining on topic as best she could.

It was different, because Benji and I rarely kept a conversation going this long about one project. Normally one of us would interject some random piece of information about some other thing going on.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Well, as much as you can give me without breaking anything or cutting stuff out.” I said. It was a simple answer and was about the only good one I could have supplied given my limited education and understanding of the field of cybernetics.

“Well that is vague and open to interpretation. Obviously you intend to spare no expense, but even still there is only so much you can do based on your current data. Given with information I have, you want some serious skeletal reinforcement, increased muscle nervous activity, joint reinforcement and assistance, and strike point protection. That means we will have to install cybernetic servos and most of your joints, synthnet mesh throughout your entire muscle system, and extensive cybernetic reinforcement through your skeletal structure. It will be a painful and difficult process with a lengthy recovery period, and it will be practically irreversible. It would be months of procedures and operations to remove, and will probably still be weeks of installation. It’s doable, but you need to be informed and prepared for the life changing event.” She said solemnly. Obviously she had done similar projects to the one I was proposing, but even after all that I was interested, especially knowing she had an implementation plan. The fact she knew how to proceed only sparked my interest in the project.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

I guess she needed me to be more specific about the system’s increases. “I need to be able to overpower a wookiee one on one, and out box, out pace, and out preform him every day of the week. I know that is asking a lot, but I have seen cybernetics that were about as potent in their own way. I just need a full system capable of all the things I have listed. Is that possible?” I asked the doctor.

She put down her pad and looked at me, “Honestly it may be possible, but it certainly isn’t going to be easy. You are talking about a complete overhaul without replacing any major portion of the body. Its going to require extensive skeletal reinforcing, and then there is the question on how to power the system. A system that powerful will require more energy than the body is able to provide, but that is how most cybernetics keep from being too vulnerable to EMP weaponry. It will have to be designed to include separate systems and processors as well as an intricate synthnet weave throughout the muscular system of your body. Basically you want me to rebuild you from the ground up without hacking anything off or pulling anything out.” She said, still blunt, still morbid. She had a point, but she did say it was possible, and that’s what I was most interested in.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

“Alright, let’s do it then,” I told her, and based on her reaction she wasn’t completely convinced I wanted to do it this way. “Let’s design the system you just described and test it your way. Perfect it the best we can and then install it in me as best we can. I believe Veira can handle that kind of surgery with your assistance and if Benji trusts you with this stuff, so do I. What do you say?” I asked her. She was still processing the idea of me willing to risk maiming or killing myself over a boost in my combat ability, but she didn’t understand what it was like out there, fighting those things over and over again, having to try and overcome their abilities and powers.

“Alright, let’s start with desgining the skeletal reinforcement since it will be the most crucial part of the system. Without it being operational, no matter how strong we make your muscles the bones will still be vulnerable and weak.” She said, turning to Benji, “I think for this part you should take the lead, armor design is your specialty and this is effectively endo-armoring.” She said to the old duros, who had for now remained out of the conversation.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Benji looked up from his tinkering, “Actually if that is the plan we should bring back the girls. Kira is the local expert on droids in all their facets, and Veira’s anatomical and biological expertise will allow her to approve or deny any idea we attempt to create based on its ability to be implemented without loss or maiming of the body.” He said calmly, passing the responsibility to others. It wasn’t like him, but I guess he wasn’t happy about working on this project and was shrinking from working on it too actively. I could understand that sentiment given his history.

“Not a bad plan. I’ll give them a call and get them on their way back.” I said, standing and leaving the shop, hitting the comms and letting them know we could use a hand. They complained, but did eventually announce they would return as soon as they finished shopping.

They took a while to come back, but once they did, Doctor Brand caught them up to speed fairly quickly. Based on the idea that the skeletal reinforcement would be the most integral part of the system, they would be able to assist her in designing the system as a whole.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Veira was being the most helpful. She sat going through a diagram of the human body, discussing what materials and procedures could be done, while I sat trying to answer questions that were directed at me. “We could use standard skeletal reinforcements made from proper multi-wall carbon nano-tubes lining the ligaments and tendons. We will need to reinforce the entire body, otherwise he might suffer from fairly serious chronic muscle fatigue and overextension. It will increase his heal time but it should do exactly what is intended.” She said, propping her elbows on the desk and resting her chin in her hands.

Doctor Brand glanced back at me and then returned to the conversation, “That will assist yes, but will it offer the proper reinforcement?” She asked the group.

Benji spoke up this time, putting in his two cents, “Absolutely. We can’t plate the bones in metal, so this should be what works, since the joints are going to be cybernetically reinforced and assisted anyway, that provides an anchor for the skeletal reinforcements and carbon nano-tubes will be flexible enough that they shouldn’t bother him.” The elderly duros interjected. Well they were discussing dismembering me and putting me back together, so I would prefer them to be as objective as possible, and as thorough as they could be.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Veira rocked side to side, readjusting herself before speaking again, “Well what kind of cybernetic reinforcement and assistance are we talking about. Are we replacing each joint, or just putting in internal servos around them to assist the muscles and bones?” She asked, the question directed at Kira and Doctor Brand.

Kira spoke up this time, “We are just installing internal servos around the joints, anchoring them with interconnecting synthnet mesh to join the system properly with his body. Otherwise they might slip around and injure him, a lot.” She said looking at me, “And I don’t think that anyone really wants that.” She said, adding in the little jab at me, but I didn’t really care.

Doctor Brand spoke up next, “The synthnet mesh will be distributed throughout the body, more concentrated at major muscle groups, and connect through the central unit, the exterior spinal reinforcement. I don’t see a way for it to work without it shredding the skin on top of it, and as that would be very painful, it will just have to pierce the skin.” She said. I wasn’t excited about having a metal spinal cord sticking out of my back, but the smart people had settled on it and called it the best idea based on the criteria we had come up with.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Veira simply pulled a datapad over to her without standing and starting working on the initial project with the rest of the group. They needed to come up with a base line unit before they could fabricate it, install it in a semi-sentient near-human species, and properly test it. Benji and Kira were working on the spinal reinforcement, as it fit their specialties best, while Doctor Brand and Doctor Veira worked on the rest, being best aligned with their specialties. After about an hour of quietly working among themselves, Veira stood up and stretched, “I think we are almost ready to fabricate this, and that means we need a test subject.” She was the first to bring up the most difficult subject. Ethically it was a grey area when dealing with semi-sentient species, but it was basically animal testing that we had decided on. “I think Dantari would best serve our purposes. They lack the basic Rights of Sentience and are genetically very close to humans. We go grab a few males from Dantooine and bring them back here. When we are done, we uninstall the units and release them back on Dantooine.” She said, and in theory not a bad plan, but it was still a difficult decision to make for each person. There were risks that had to be assessed, but we would be assessing them through a living being that lacked the Rights of Sentience by a technicality.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Benji was the first to respond. “That is the best course of action from a clearly logical standpoint, and opening testing to a volunteer is completely out of the question, I have only one real concern. Where is the line drawn? And I want and answer from you Draco.” He said, glaring at me with his red eyes, his pale blue skin covered with droplets of sweat.

I had an answer and I knew it wouldn’t be the best, but it was the best I could offer. “We treat the test subject like it was me, work as hard as we can to preserve him as best as we can. We take only one test subject, work out all the kinks on one subject, then uninstall. If we can’t get it right with one subject we don’t need to waste another life on a second test. That will be enough to can the project.” I responded. I could tell by her reaction that Doctor Brand was very surprised and a little disappointed, Veira didn’t seem to care one way or another, and Kira was genuinely relieved.

Benji held my gaze for a moment before replying, “I think that can work. I understand the need to test before endangering your own life, and I can respect the restraint in risking no more than one life for testing this project. I agree, Dantari would be the best to use. Why don’t you go get us one, roughly your height and weight and bring him back.” The elderly duros said, relieved at the idea and the proposal I had offered.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Veira spoke up at this development, “I think you’ll need a hand. We don’t want to bring back one with a defect or disease that could hamper our attempts or the testing process. I’ll go with you and help you bag one. I feel like I need to get some fresh air anyway,” she said stretching as she stood.

I wasn’t about to say no to her, “Absolutely. The Dragon can handle one extra person. We will leave tomorrow so pack enough for a few days. It’s a decent trip out there and we might be there for a bit.” I told her, “plenty of space and I could use a hand drugging the thing anyway.”

She chuckled to herself, “Alright, I’ll pack some stuff and we can leave tomorrow.” When morning came we set out, leaving Kira, Benji, and Doctor Brand to stay home and build the initial system while we were gone. Hopefully they could refine the system and have it built and waiting for us to get back. I wasn’t exactly going to rush out to the Dantooine and rush back given the series of recent developments.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The trip out to Dantooine took several days, seeing as I only have a class one hyperdrive, which is pretty fast, but not exactly the quickest thing there is. It gave us some time to plan contingencies before we got into what was technically enemy territory. I didn’t think there would be a large amount of security on the back water planet, and we were able to land without serious issue. I pulled out the BARC Speeder from the cargo bay and pulled out a stun blaster rather than carry my big Vanquisher. At least then if we ran into any trouble we could always play ignorant or friendly. I wasn’t well known and Veira was just a doctor with no real allegiances. It shouldn’t take too long to pinpoint a tribe or group of Dantari out here, but it would take some time. I figured we would be out on the prairie for two or three days at most, hunting down a dantari. They weren’t numerous since the Primeval purged them, but there were still small groups roaming around. After the attacks and purges though, I doubt they would take kindly to strangers, and less likely strangers attempting to kidnap one of them.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

After one night under the stars Veira and I came up upon a group of Dantari. We observed them for some time, taking the time to pick the proper target, ready all of my gear and go over the speeder bike controls for her, just in case she needed to leave in a hurry. I didn’t really want to leave her out here at all, but it would be safest for her if she was sitting on the speeder, with it powered on and ready to go. “Comm me if you get nervous or anything spooks you. I’ve got the helmet on, so it won’t spook them or give me away. If you need it there is a holdout blaster in the saddle bag, point and fire, it doesn’t have much kick so you should be fine. Again comm me if you need anything, I emphasis anything.” I told her running through a check list in my head to make sure she would be okay while I sneaked up on the tribe and dropped my quarry. After that I would scatter the tribe and then have her bring the speeder down to me to carry him back to the ship, which would go by much faster.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

It didn’t take long to sneak down to within range of the small tribe, and I was a pretty good marksman. Even still I dropped four stun bolts into the designated target and then pulled my pistol firing off a Dragon’s Breath round at the tribe to scare them off. Those that had been willing to fight, weren’t willing anymore and turned tail to run off, running as fast as their legs could carry them. I heard the comm buzz on and Veira’s voice came over, a little worried and hushed, “Are you alright?” she asked. I thought about playing with her, but decided against it based on how worried I had been about leaving her behind in the first place.

I took a moment to respond, just to make sure everything was okay, “Yeah I’m fine, bring the speeder down to me so we can load this big boy up after you examine him, kay.”

She responded almost immediately, “Okay Draco, be there in a sec.” she called over the comm channel. She arrived down at where the tribe had been by the time I found the unconscious Dantari and stun cuffed him properly. She pulled up as close as she could without being right on top of us and dismounted the speeder bike.