Kolto see I'm working here?

[Scyluc Vaidral]

Scyluc gently pulled the casing off of his latest acquisition, gingerly picking up the delicate electronics. The dimly lit Laboratory was strewn with dataslates and experiments, various other intricate half-finished tests that had achieved their purpose before they had even begun. It was hardly a professionals workspace, it was closer to a madman's given it was host to frenetic chaos borne of fevered inspiration.

For the last week, Scyluc had been perfecting and putting the final touches on his advanced cybernetics mantle. The design was finished early, but more than that it was giving issues with rejection in all of his simulations. Based on previous information on the matter, nerves tended to scar and push away deep tissue interfaces. This meant, at the end of the day, the replacement was only as good as the remaining body. This mantle, however, would solve that entirely.

Designed from the ground up to mount into a body, it reinforced the spine and shoulders, providing a strong anchor point for augmetics. More than that even, if he could find a way to get the rejection to vanish entirely, it would be the gateway for all other augmentations, removing the dangers of rejection for more critical cybernetics. It would allow for a more perfect being, removing biological failures seamlessly. Replacement organs would be directly linked to the mind via the mantle, with its single connection point, eliminating chance that other cybernetics might be rejected.

Scyluc looked up from his work, pausing to examine the nearly completed project. This was the first step. This would get his name on the market, it would secure his place in the scientific community, and most importantly it would give him a chance to potentially overcome his own defects.

Scyluc looked longingly to the new arm he had been building ever since his adventures with the Skipper Nara, before hopping ship to Manaan where he had currently resided. Soon, he wouldn't need a tool kit, he would have a strong and powerful new arm that would host all the tools he would need, from Grav-Screwdriver to Plasmabeam Welder. The only issue was that he didn't have the need currently to flat-out take off his own fully-functional arms. Until he worked out the kinks, Scyluc was content to simply let his new arm reside on its stand in the corner.

Rising, Scyluc made for the door and poked his head out into the hallway. His friend and fellow cybernetics enthusiast was supposed to be arriving soon, last he heard he was being sent down a Chiss that asked for him by name. Scyluc didn't know any other Chiss, so he assumed this was [member="Cryax Bane"].

The Givin might have been a mechanical and engineering genius, but something like the living mind was literally the most powerful computer in the galaxy; for obvious reasons, he decided that the galaxies best Slicer should be able to help him with the digital language and conversion from biological signals to mechanical ones. That was sadly not a place he had much experience in yet.

Scyluc stepped out of his lab-dorm and waited, annoyed at the time it was taking for the seemingly simply meeting to begin. He had hoped his admittedly cryptic message had been well received, and hadn't caused an relatively acquaintance and someone he hoped shared his vision to up and flee from the crazy Givin trying to make better cybernetics.

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax was later than he thought he was going to be for his meeting with his Givin friend, [member="Scyluc Vaidral"], but it was probably because his karking legs weren't cooperating. As he reached the Givin's lab, double-checking coordinates on his Datapad for good measure. He leaned over with his hands on his knees and gave them a moment of rest.

The Chiss entered the foyer of the lab and saw the Givin poking his head out. His mask of a face, impossible to read. He was excited about spending some time digging into a development project with the man. There were many things made Cryax tick and one of them was the chance to work on new technology. Givin technology, even. Those guys were scary smart.

Cryax smiled when he saw the Givin. It was nice to see a familiar face after all he'd been through mentally and physically. Even one that looked rather ghoulish. Cryax limped up to the Givin and put out his hand.

"Hey Scyluc, Sorry I'm late. How the heck are you these days?"

 

[Scyluc Vaidral]

Scyluc spotted the decidedly weary and worn out [member="Cryax Bane"] who seemed to have just stumbled out of getting his lunch-money mugged out of him; the look in his eyes wouldn't tell you that though. Scyluc approached and took the Chiss' hand giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Nevermind that," Scyluc said, skipping the normal mathematical hello, "You look like you've been through some serious misadventures. I'm glad you're safe but you look horrible."

Scyluc ushered the Chiss into the rented Laboratory, closing and locking the door behind himself, "Please, make yourself at home. I've been so busy I've not had a chance to clean up much, but there's some Caf. in the Kitchen, and if you'd like the restroom's right over there."

The Laboratory fascilities that Scyluc had rented was more of a flat than a strict lab, given that it had a small kitchen and a bathroom, but its clear focus was evident. Even so, Scyluc was a good host and had prepared what small creature comforts he could, such as some fresh food and of course, the most critical resource in a scientific setting, Recaf. Moving to his current project while Cryax got settled, he examined one of the open ports that was the female to receive an external input, such as a non-biological sensor array or additional limb. He gently removed the cover, and stepped back to get a good look at the internals.

"Since we last talked, I've made some more progress on my Mantle. I think," he looked up at the Chiss, nodding in a visual tick from his excitement, "I may be on the cusp of completing it. Only some minor fine-tuning and a live trial, and it will be complete."

Scyluc pulled up his data-slate, checking through a few notes he had made. He'd have to broach the subject of computer-organic translation, as well as potentially getting the Chiss' assistance on the first implant. The biggest thing, however, was the news he knew would excite the Chiss to no end.

"So," he mentioned casually, setting his dataslate aside, "I fixed the rejection problem."

Scyluc paused for a moment to let it sink in, before nodding, "The biggest issue the whole time? For all neural implants? Yeah, I found a solution, and it's a good one."

Scyluc produced a large cylinder as if to answer the inevitable question filled with a murky opaque-blue substance; Kolto. It was an archaic substance, lost to time by the advent of Bacta being more easily produced. Kolto, however, had one thing going for it that Bacta did not, something that made it the go-to: Its regenerations properties wouldn't cause rejection of the implant, resulting in a more likely clean heal and successful implantation. It also was dirt-cheap.

The Givin had a feeling that this was going to be a very exciting day if the news he had shared would have the impact he expected it to.

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax was so fascinated by the Givin's lab, he almost missed the first thing that Scyluc said. Then he realized that the Givin was remarking on his battered appearance.

"I was spending some quality time in a Black Suns prison." he joked weakly. "They caught me hacking into their networks." It was humbling for a slicer of his caliber to admit that he had been caught. "But enough about that stuff. Let's see what you've got here." There was a microexpression of pain in his face. It was obvious that he'd had some horrible things done to him.

His eyes widened when he saw the cylinder. "Where does this stuff even come from?" he peered in closer at the blue stuff. "You might have to explain all this stuff to me in layman's terms, by the way. Cybernetics aren't my area of expertise, especially not ones this technologically advanced. I definitely want to hear about all this Kolto stuff, but first, tell me all about your mantle."

There was more than an edge of excitement in his voice. He was almost giddy being in a lab like this.

[member="Scyluc Vaidral"]

 

[Scyluc Vaidral]

[member="Cryax Bane"]

Scyluc was not what you'd call a man who overlooked details. He wasn't quite so well versed in the fine tells of the more exposed species of the galaxy however, the small pained expression metaphorically flying over the Givin's head. He felt something off with his friend, but couldn't put a finger on it quite so well...

He moved on, deciding maybe that he could try approaching this comment about a jail sometime later, after Cryax felt more at home, "Yes, yes, the Mantle, right."

"It all starts like so," he stood back, grabbing his cybernetic arm that was prepared for attachment, "the size and strength of most cybernetic augmentations is limited by the likb or bodypart it's attached to. Replacing a whole arm is easy, but if it's stronger than the norm for the race, it could well rip itself off or, worse, break the rest of the body it's directly attached to. There's also the issue of weight bringing discomfort...

"This mantle fixes all of that. If you look here, the mantle connects to a spinal support, much like the rail over there. You see, the mantle provides a solid anchoring point for all augmentations, even limbs otherwise interrupted with flesh-and-blood bodyparts, by strengthening and centralizing the load of the additional weight and force back onto the spine. Not just, but the spine itself is reinforced to withstand several tons with this augmentation. On top of this, it's a clear port of access to the nervous system, negating the chance of rejection by simply connecting to a single point in the body.

"Now, how is that possible? Wouldn't any neural connector simply get rejected? Isn't even Bacta too powerful that it causes implants to be healed over and pushed away from their connection? Yes. All of that, yes. Rejection can't be stopped, unfortunately, only delayed... Unless, the heal is so clean, the body doesn't even recognize it. Kolto here, is a biological saline substance harvested from the waters of Manaan here. Because of its unique properties, being weaker than Bacta and organic of its own right, it potentially has the ability to actually give us a shot to completely bypass the natural scarring of the body by promoting a natural healing, that grows around the interface without causing it to be scarred over and rejected."

Scyluc held up a finger, and attached the arm to the mantle. Picking up a tablet, he began to type in a few commands, before hitting enter. The replacement arm, attached to one of the additional ports, proceeded to extend to its full length, before giving a thumbs up.

"It's almost done. There's one issue, though," Scyluc looked at his friend, "I am having issues on cracking the biological code."

The Givin passed by Cryax and motioned to a terminal, "I've mapped out my own synaptic pathing and responses. It's different for each race I can assume, but I've made some preliminary work. The code's difficult even for me, but for you I think it could be just the challenge. You might be able to solve one of the biggest medical hurdles to advanced augmetics in history, if somehow we can piece together a cypher that can translate computer language to Synaptic language."

"In short," Scyluc looked over at Cryax, "I'm asking if you wouldn't mind working a miracle for me? If you can, the potential it would unlock would b, in a strictly scientific parlance, totally awesome."

The Givin crossed his arms, grinning in his mind, "Up for a challenge? I've already done the medical mumbo-jumbo bit, I just need an expert on code to crack it."

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax blinked his glowing red eyes as he listened to the Givin. The man obviously had an incredibly complex mind, and his cybernetic mantle was a-karking-mazing. He had to admit alot of the Givin's tech was way over his head. Then Scyluc showed him the terminal.

While the numbers and lines on the monitor certainly piqued his curiosity, the Chiss was wracked with self-doubt. Cryax had no idea if he could break that kind of code. It wasn't at all like the binary languages he knew well. He had heard that in Givin culture the inability to solve certain equations could be seen as rude, and he certainly didn't want Scyluc to think him impolite. He should at least try. Plus, he loved to crack unsolvable puzzles and when fully engrossed in a code-breaking challenge, could work on something like this with a dogged determination that could span several days.

"Scyluc, I'm quite frankly flattered that you even asked me to help with this." He grinned at the man. "I'm not making any promises that I can actually do this. It's probably a long shot, but I'm willing to give it a whirl."

[member="Scyluc Vaidral"]

 

[Scyluc Vaidral]

[member="Cryax Bane"] was cautious about his abilities, something Scyluc had not expected. From his previous meeting, he had come to believe that Cryax was confident and sure of his skills, perhaps this was too much of a request? Scyluc didn't trust anyone else with this project, they would either lack the skill and diligence, or would seek to turn this to their own profit, rather than something for the benefit of all sapience.

"I believe you're the only one who can, Cryax," Scyluc said moving over and placing a hand reassuringly on the Chiss' shoulder, "There's no time constraint, and I've got enough savings to last a few weeks without having to dig into any serious reserves."

Scyluc paused, adding, "Starship engineering pays well, but it's not rewarding in the least." Scyluc pulled out one of his tools and set to the mantle, replacing the parts where they went from his demo to Cryax. A few seconds later, he set his tools down and began to clean up his work station, moving dishes into the kitchenette and getting the barely touched food scraped away, he got his tools organized and things a little more workable.

"We don't have to do it today," Scyluc added hoping to keep things casual, "I'm sure a little bit of catch-up might do some good. You can see what I've been doing since we last met back on that one-smuggler's ship, Mara wasn't it?"

The Givin idly sorted a few of his tools as he talked, absentmindedly organizing as he talked. The hardware part of his task was done, all that was left now came down to Cryax being the brilliant code-jockey he was. The hard part of the mantle's assembly hadn't been resource acquisition as Scyluc had expect, but instead it was the fine electronics and their interface. Gold was fairly good for electronics, but he had needed to synthesize crystalline conductors for the interface, which had cost him a pretty penny for such small scale.

If he could land a contract with this mantle, it would be no doubt much easier to replicate the synthetic crystals. That was far away for Scyluc though, because the Mantle alone was going to be worthless if he couldn't prove it would do what he said it would do, or if it couldn't deliver the stronger-than-normal strengths he knew it would. No, if he was going to get anywhere, he was going to need something else; a more powerful, cheaper, and more reliable cybernetic limb.

Scyluc quieted his mind, and got himself square in the present. He had a guest, one that even shared his interests, yet here he was being an introvert.

"Sorry if I'm being quiet," Scyluc apologized, "just got a little lost in thought. So, did you want to get settled in before dinner or you think you'd like to work with me on this equation a little bit?"

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax exhaled deeply and then shook his head eagerly. "Dinner can wait, Scyluc. I definitely want to start working on this." Once he'd gotten a better look at the code, the obsessive part of his brain had kicked in, and now the Chiss was having trouble even tearing himself away from it for a few seconds. He pulled his Datapad out of his pocket and tapped on it, calling up some well-reputed Holo sites with about Xenobiology. "I'm gonna need to hit up a few published papers by some scientists, but I think this is going to be doable." He gave the Givin a wide smile.

Making himself at home, Cryax grabbed a chair and flopped down in it, plugging his Datapad directly into the terminal. He dropped his bag of gear on the floor, hardly noticing wires and slicing gear tumbling out onto Scyluc's floor. His focus on the screen was that intense. With a crack of his knuckles, and a deep sigh, he started coding with the fervor of a crazed madman.

[member="Scyluc Vaidral"]