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Stranger Than Fiction (Worm Tinker of Fiction SI) by Throwaway1971

Books » Private Rated: M, English, Romance, Words: 110k+, Favs: 105, Follows: 131, Published: Dec 24, 2023

5Chapter 3: Third Page

Disclaimer: I own jackshit.

AN: Ok, firstly, sorry about the wait, but RL has been a bitch and a half, and I've been dealing with a fair amount of shit that has left me with little, if any, energy to write with, something that has effected the length of this chapter, hence why it's so short. Still, hopefully, that shouldn't detract too much from things, even if this is mostly still in the 'setting up' stage of the story. Anyway, hope you all enjoy.

XXX

When you no longer require the same things as a Baseline Human, like food, water or sleep, it becomes rather amazing how much work you can squeeze into a day. It becomes even more so when combined with a few of the other advantages that had been melded into my flesh.

The ability to directly, and seamlessly, connect with my network and control the various pieces of equipment was practically game-changing in its own right as an idle touch could communicate production orders and instructions for other pieces of equipment. Around me, I watched as Forges worked to an unheard rhythm as they broken down materials that I had pulled free from various shipwrecks, reducing them to atomically pure elements that were stored off to one side. Drones buzzed from Forge to Forge, dropping off the next load of scrap and materials to be recycled for future use like clockwork, each held within hardlight trays held aloft by mass effect fields.

Glancing over from my current project, my eyes scanned over the contents of one such tray as annotations appeared down one side of my vision. Circuitboards, engine parts, railings, pieces of carpet, odds and ends that I'd found in more than a few rooms. Just about anything and everything that could be rendered down into useful materials was present in any given tray, and I had made more than one trip back through the cold waters of the Bay in pursuit of them. It had taken me over three hours to get to the point I was at now, slowly refilling my depleted stockpile, with plans to enlarge it even further once I'd finished filling it to capacity. It would take more work to do so, to expand beyond the amount I current had, to have a large enough stockpile that I could really get the ball rolling, but it was a requirement. Most of the things I'd been working on, up to this point, were small-scale stuff. Personal items, primarily, things that could be hidden in a pocket or dropped into a backpack and be made to disappear, with the few exceptions all being hidden here, in my workshop.

However, that was soon going to change.

Turning back to my current project, I looked up at the jagged tower of sharp-edged, silver metal formed into a mixture designs that seemed to cross between petals, spines and overlapping scales as they crawled up the construct. About a third of the way up, three lines of triangular prisms extended out from around the device's surface, parallel to one another. Between each bank of prisms, two spike-like antenna extended further up, above the rest of the machine, just barely stopping short of the rafters above my workshop. Around it, a swarm of VI-Drones buzzed around it, moving over to exposed sections that still were yet to be completed and spraying them with a thick, grey liquid. Flowing over the metal exterior of the construct, I watched as it sunk into unfinished sections as new mechanisms sprang into existence as the liquid disappeared. Slowly, internal components disappeared under a curtain of that same grey liquid as metal plating crawled over it, sealing such openings as the work continued.

Sighing to myself, I glanced down at my arms, immediately spotting the needle and tube connected to each arm, a dark, thick liquid being injected into my body through one arm, while that same grey fluid was being extracted from the other. Idly, my mind ran back through the progress that had been achieved thus far in the construction of the machine in front of me, and I had to bite back a groan of slight annoyance. Three more hours, on top of the five I'd already spend in the same position, doing next to nothing as liquids were run through my body. I knew it was necessary, due to the limitations of my own infrastructure, but that didn't stop it from being annoying.

Still, there was nothing else for it, since none of my Forges would have been large enough to build what I needed. Instead, I'd had to take an alternative approach and ad-hoc a Ceph construction method. Raw materials were piped into my body in a powder form, mixed into a solution before being used to both create and 'load' a constant stream of Ceph nanites that were being extruded through the other needle currently stuck in my arm. Traditionally, these same nanites would have been used to fill a Ceph Assembly Vat, allowing for the rapid construction of whatever the Ceph might have needed, but building one large enough for what I wanted, along with the cost of producing enough nanites to do so, would not have been cheap.

I'd still need to build a few of them at some point, but the ones I had in mind wouldn't be anywhere near as massive as the device in front of me. At least, not the initial ones, but maybe, further down the line, I might have to build ones with bigger dimensions, for any number of purposes. However, that was a concern for another day, right now, I focused on watching the Hivemind Relay/Nexus come together as possibilities flickered through my mind.

XXX

Looking up at the completed Hivemind Nexus, I smiled at seeing the flower-like construct towering up, dominating the space within my workshop. No lights shined from within the confines of its nano-fabricated exterior plating, but I knew that could change at the flip of a single switch. And right now, I was looking at that switch.

Turning my attention to the projection in front of me, my eyes traced over the Ceph glyphs that floated in front of me in an angry red. Meanings, context and intent all spiraled around one another as my eyes moved over them, only understanding them thanks to the vast store of knowledge I currently had access to. Without that, the Ceph glyphs would be the next best thing to impossible to understand, especially since the Ceph-equivalent of language didn't translate easily, or at all, into any human-based language. Or any other language I had on record, for that matter, something I was reasonably sure was due to the Hivemind nature of the Ceph themselves.

Mind you, some things didn't really need much translation, such as the projection in front of me, which was the equivalent of an 'on' switch.

With that knowledge, I placed my hand on the projection as though it was a solid object before closing my eyes and willed the machine into activity. Suddenly, I felt something move within me, within the recesses of the combined mental architecture that made up my mind within my new Posthuman body. Like gears turning and gaining speed, I felt the reaction grow stronger as my eyes snapped open and lock on my arm as muscles started to grow beneath the artificial skin covering them. Within moments, sparks of red energy danced across my skin, flickering into existence for an instant before disappearing once more, only to be replaced by gradually increasing bolts of energy.

Dancing over the surface of my skin, the bolts of energy lashed out at the symbols my hand remained attached to, refusing to be dislodged as I was transfixed by the sight in front of me. Quickly, arcs of lighting started dancing over the entire construct, casting it in a flicker light that filled the entire workshop with dancing shadows that stretched and morphed as one watched. Through gaps in the outer plating, I watched as energy started to pump and an inner glow started to form, movement was visible as mechanisms spun to life. However, that wasn't the only thing that spun to life as I saw something forming within my mind's eye, forming from ribbons of energy that condensed into one another. Shapes that should have been impossible dominated my view, extending outwards from that central point, building something up as I watched.

And for a moment that was an eternity, it continued, forming a complex web-structure within my mind that came together until it felt... Whole. In that instant, I could see the totality of it all, finding it strangely beautiful as I observed the impossible architecture of this mental domain, only to watch it disappear, crushed into a single point, only to explode outwards once more in a riot of colour. Threads of energy, now a shining silver, were thrown in all directions as I saw them move over my workshop through my mind's eye, tracing over machines and equipment with an air of idle curiosity as a sense of intelligence seemed to grow from within the Nexus.

Slowly, as that intelligence grew, the arcs of energy jumping from me to the Nexus grew weaker until they disappeared altogether, letting me pull my hand away from the now-silver glyphs with a staggering step. Despite no longer being limited by fatigue, I felt utterly exhausted from the experience as I leaned back against a nearby workstation, one hand holding my head as the other held onto the workstation to keep me stable. Looking up once more, I watched through a strange dual-vision as the ribbons of silver snaked through the air, seeming to examine everything before slowly turning towards me, hovering in front of me and releasing a sense of curiosity that I could feel through the connection that had formed, as something flowed through it.

{Creator/Father/Progenitor} It was both a greeting and an acknowledgement at the same time, not in the form of words, but in the form of intent and context. A dozen strings of coherent thought all flowed together to create a network of meaning that seemed both impossibly complex, but also surprisingly simple to understand. A paradox of meanings and definitions, only possible within a Hivemind that laughed in the face of the standard model of physics, as Humans knew it, and all for the sake of saying the equivalent of 'Hi Dad.'

Smiling at that, the mental fatigue clearly quickly as I looked at one of the larger silver ribbons within the dual-vision I saw through, feeling like I was looking the nascent Hivemind in the eye as I reached out to the connection between us. Feeling it, I focused on what I wanted as my thoughts... Shifted, translating into an alien logic that had made no sense until I had a working example in front of me to provide the missing component to make it all work.

{Acknowledgement/Existence/Greetings} Was the message I sent back, the concepts flowing into one another to construct the multi-layered message that I envisioned. Once complete, I released the message, allowing it to pass through the bond before reaching the small, but slowly growing, Hivemind within the Nexus. In response, I felt the sensations it transmitted back, feeling very much like it was preening at my message as ribbons of silver traced over my faux-skin as information flowed through these small touches as it passed its own message back.

{Purpose/Directive/Objective} Curiosity fluttered through those moments of contact as the message came and unfolded, part question and part demand, and highlighting just how different a Ceph was when compared to a Human in terms of thought-processes. I mean, barely a minute old and it was already asking for its purpose and reason for existing, knowing that it had been created as a tool and following encoded protocols that were transcribed into the deepest recesses of its DNA and Mind-architecture.

{Survive/Obey/Protect/Thrive/Expand/Evolve} Was my response, a chain of linked concepts that hammered context, and the intent behind said context, directly into the newly born Hivemind. Ripples travelled across the ribbons of silver as I 'spoke,' the connection between me and it letting me feel it change as a result of my commands. However, rather than leaving it there, a thought came to me. Objectively, it was a stupid thought, and it made little sense from an intellectual point of view, but it didn't seem right to not acknowledge it. As such, a second message quickly followed the first, holding something special.

{Designation/Name/Title} {Typhon}

A name, and one I certainly thought was well deserved.

{Acknowledgement/Understanding/Enlightenment} Came the acknowledgement of the Hivemind, of the Typhon Hivemind, as it continued to ripple, change and transmute itself as more ribbons slowly grew from within the metallic flower that dominated my workshop, tracing over machines as it gathered information, helped along by what I'd already implanted within it and what was still streaming through my connection to it. Entire databases were transmitted in a heartbeat, consumed in the same moment by the rapidly growing Collective Consciousness of a new Ceph Over-Hive, as mental gears spun faster and faster as more information was assimilated.

In the air in front of me, I watched as phantom-synapses formed between threads of floating silver and pulsed with information-packages that caused growth as I watched. New pathways formed and grow into increasingly dense bundles of faux-tissues as the intelligence of the Hivemind grew as more information was breathed into it, giving it context and problems for which to find solutions. I smiled at that, seeing the rate of growth and knowing that this would be a turning point for me as I stood from where I had previously leaned against a workstation. With a thought, the dual-vision disappeared, causing the phantom of silver to disappear in the same instant as I turned away from it.

Even without that form of sight, I could still feel it through the connection as arcs of energy passed between me and it, having unlocked something in me, by awakening it. An idle thought brought it to the surface as I started walking away, heading for the exit as my skin rippled, clothes changing and turning into something casual as sparks of silver danced across my finger tips as I made to leave. It was a sight made all the more interesting by the knowledge that, if I wanted to, I could easily transform those same sparks into a Lightning bolt more than capable of gutting an MBT. An unexpected surprise, to be sure, but not one that didn't make sense with the benefit of hindsight.

After all, I was the Alpha Ceph now...

XXX

Pathways grew as time flickered onwards, growing in strange directions as they branched beyond the merely physical, growing into the mental aether beyond. Mind-Architecture sprang into existence where they met the others, growing at a similarly manic pace as it reached across the gap in turn, bridging it further. Energy flowed in both directions as thoughts turned to power and power turned to thoughts, until they were as good as one and the same. New growths filled both the mental aether and the primordial soup, both within and without, evolving with every pulse of energy as the pace quickened in much the same way that a heartbeat faster.

Dense coils of nerves, that were synapses, that were blood vessels, reached 'up' into the mental aether as strings of memory-directives reached back 'down', linking both to one another as pulses of energy travelled in both directions. With every pulse, cells grew stranger as nerves grew more potent, arranged in more and more alien configurations that allowed them higher conduciveness as they were rearranged into more efficient patterns. Likewise, formations of Mind-Architecture grew with each pulse as branching lines of solutions evolved into more and more complex designs, growing new links as they branched, as new possibilities became apparent. Strings of memory-directives flickered from branch to branch, seeking optimal solutions that gave the most potential for future evolution, while also offering the best counter to the present challenges, and pruning those that thought-simulations determined to be dead-ends.

However, even as this took place, thoughts gathered within the Mind-Architecture, forming seeds of potential that were fed a steady diet of possibilities and curiosities, planted in a bed of information as they assimilated concepts and ideas into themselves. Already, within an instant that was an eternity, several seeds had already hatched, growing beyond their initial beginnings and joining one that had already been when they had yet to be. Quickly, a council of the more developed Minds formed, circling one another within a sea of potential yet to be born. At the head of the Council was the First, the Eldest, with a Aether-Designation born from its self-perception at the moment of its own awakening within the Mind-Architecture of the still-growing Hivemind.

Second-To-Alpha: Alpha-Data-node assimilation complete. Resource-Matter/Resource-Tool availability documented. Directives unlocked. Disseminating.

Sentry-Of-Evolution: Insufficient resources available for previously evolved Caste-Frames. Recommendation: New Caste-Frame required to maximize resource acquisition to resource expenditure ratio.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: New Caste-Frame required to maximize resource acquisition to resource expenditure ratio. Conclusion: Accepted. Task to begin immediately.

Duality-Of-Creation: Evolution-Weaving of new Caste-Frame in progress. Multiple potential pathways possible with further iterations. Incorperation of Resource-Data from Alpha-Data-Node possible.

Principle-Of-Observation: Incorperation of Resource-Data from Planetary Data-Network not recommended. Seventy-Nine-point-Nine percent of Resource-Data within Planetary Data-Network of limited utility. Primary composition include inefficient instructional image-sound media for mating procedures of Primary Planetary Fauna(Designation: Humanity), image-sound media of Felis Catus Fauna, image-sound media of Primary Planetary Fauna(Designation: Humanity) taking part in self-destructive activities, possibly as form of self-regulating natural selection/purging of unwanted traits from the genetic-collective, and additional forms of media that serve no purpose. Remaining Twenty-point-One percent of Resource-Data of potential utility. Disseminating.

Sentry-Of-Evolution: Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) requires further observation. Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) generated by Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) requires further observation. Recommendation: Access to Resource-Data/Resource-Genes of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) required for further refinement of Caste-Frames for potential mimicry of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) and possible Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) Predator-Caste-Frames.

Duality-Of-Creation: Mimicry of multitude of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) possible with Resource-Data provided within Alpha-Data-Node. Resource-Matter(Designation: Negative-Mass Matter/Element Zero/Eezo) capable of interactions between Resource-Matter(Designation: Dark Matter), Resource-Energy(Designation: Dark Energy), Universal-Force(Designation: Gravity) and Universal-Force(Designation: Electromagnetism) via Anomalous Effects(Designation: Biotics). Recommendation: Inclusion of Resource-Matter(Designation: Negative-Mass Matter/Element Zero/Eezo) into future Caste-Frames to increase potential utility.

Principle-Of-Observation: Resource-Data from Planetary Data-Network shows limited understanding of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) and mechanisms behind Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) reproduction. Extrapolation from observed Resource-Data indicates that reproduction between Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) or with standard Primary Planetary Fauna(Designation: Humanity) creates greater potential for spawned progeny to become Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains). Primary Evidence within present Fauna-Hive (Designation: Brockton Bay): Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) grouping (Designation: New Wave). Secondary Evidence: Progeny of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expression(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) (Designation: Heartbreaker). Recommendation: Inclusion of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) within Over-Hive (Designation: Typhon) as new Warrior-Drones possible. Requirement: Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females for use as breeding stock and test subjects to investigate Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers). Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) males for greater genetic variability and expression of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) of potential use.

Duality-Of-Creation: Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females present within Fauna-Hive (Designation: Brockton Bay). Resource-Data from Planetary Data-Network related to bio-chemistry and reproductive processes of Primary Planetary Fauna(Designation: Humanity) indicates all currently known Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females within Fauna-Hive (Designation: Brockton Bay) are within optimal time-range for reproduction.

Sentry-Of-Evolution: Resource-Data indicates Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) inherited from progenitor to progeny with only minor alterations. Recommendation: Selection of Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females must allow for greatest range of both Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) and Resource-Genes.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Access to Resource-Data/Resource-Genes of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) required for further refinement of Caste-Frames for potential mimicry of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) and possible Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) Predator-Caste-Frames. Conclusion: Pending. Begin Evolution-Weaving of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) Predator-Caste-Frames. Production-Spawning to be held until more Resource-Matter/Resource-Tool become available.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Inclusion of Resource-Matter(Designation: Negative-Mass Matter/Element Zero/Eezo) into future Caste-Frames to increase potential utility. Conclusion: Accepted. Begin Evolution-Weaving of Caste-Frames incorporating Resource-Matter(Designation: Negative-Mass Matter/Element Zero/Eezo). Limited Production-Spawning authorized.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Inclusion of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) within Hive (Designation: Typhon) as new Warrior-Drones possible. Requirement: Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females for use as breeding stock and test subjects to investigate Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers). Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) males for greater genetic variability and expression of Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) of potential use. Conclusion: Pending authorization from Alpha. Further observation and analysis of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females within Fauna-Hive (Designation: Brockton Bay) authorized. Observation and analysis of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females within alternative Fauna-Hives authorized. Observation and analysis of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) males within alternative Fauna-Hives authorized.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Selection of Multiple Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females must allow for greatest range of both Anomalous Effects(Designation: Powers) and Resource-Genes. Conclusion: Documentation of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) females for potential utilization authorized.

Sentry-Of-Evolution: Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) possess greater threat-potential in comparison to Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains). Resource-Data limited on subject of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers). Multiple theoretical conclusions of nature of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) present within Planetary Data-Network. Dissection of theoretical conclusions show limited understanding of the nature of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers). Conclusions based on assumptions. Likelyhood of being correct is extremely low. Recommendation: Further observation of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) required. Further Recommendation: Creation of Predator-Caste-Frames capable of eliminating Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers).

Principle-Of-Observation: Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) Predator-Caste-Frames utility potentially increased by allowing for the predation of Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains).

Duality-Of-Creation: Increasing selection of prey-targets for Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) Predator-Caste-Frames increases viability of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) Predator-Caste-Frames for long term utilization.

Sentry-Of-Evolution: Alteration to Further Recommendation: Creation of Predator-Caste-Frames capable of eliminating Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) and Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains).

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Further observation of Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) required. Conclusion: Accepted. Primary method of gathering Resource-Data limited to Planetary Data-Network. Usage of deep-search methods pending authorization from Alpha.

Second-To-Alpha: Recommendation: Creation of Predator-Caste-Frames capable of eliminating Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) and Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains). Conclusion: Pending. Begin Evolution-Weaving of new Anomalous Non-Biological Entities (Designation: Endbringers) and Anomalous Primary Planetary Fauna Expressions(Designation: Parahumanity/Capes/Heroes/Villains) Predator-Caste-Frames. Production-Spawning to begin only upon authorization from Alpha, the presence of the required Resource-Tools and sufficient income of needed Resource-Matter.

And so it went, as the Council of Minds jolted from one topic to the next, without any form of pattern or logic that the Human mind could follow. Information changed hands rapidly as, in the eternity between moments, it was cross-examined a dozen times by the various minds circling one another within the growing Mind-Architecture. Plans were rapidly created, examined, altered as new information was presented, reviewed and then put into place once sufficient resources were available to put them into place. Complex thought-chains grew in potency, translating into vast shoals of energy being produced and circulated through the Mind-Architecture, speeding up growth as the energy filtered down, into the physical world to enable to same.

Within the physical world, even as the discussion continued, changes were being made. Energy flowed into bio-mechanical flesh, altering it to meet the new requirements that were desired by the Ceph Over-Hive and demanded by its directives. Slowly, root-like structures grew from the base of the Hivemind Nexus and began tunneling downwards before spreading out, creating a hollow space below the workshop. Other roots grew outwards, sliding across the workshop flooring as they grew towards material stockpiles that had been designated for Ceph utilization. Quickly, five piles of small ingots of various materials, along with three canisters of Eezo, disappeared into a fine mass of roots as the materials were carried away by Nano-spore-carrying veins within each root. With the materials devoured, the roots retreated back to the Hivemind Nexus, being absorbed back into the evolving machine for use as raw materials.

Stone, concrete, dirt, steel and several other materials were rapidly broken down as trace elements were extracted while the rest was set aside for later utilization. Quickly, a hollow big enough for the Hivemind Nexus was created as the construct slowly lowered itself down as the hollow was widened further. Parts of the building's foundations were devoured as the hollow expanded, roots merging together to form support struts as sub-roots spread over the newly-formed chamber's walls, growing over the bare soil and melding into one another. Rib-like formations grew out from the mesh of metal, lining the ceiling of the newly formed chamber as several thinner support struts merged back into the mesh of Ceph nano-material. Further reinforcements lined the walls as the central support strut grew thicker from the excess nano-material that was pumped into it, even as it grew longer as the chamber slowly grew deeper, only stopping once it was twice as large as the Hivemind Nexus itself.

Excess nano-material was used to cover the hole that had been initially dug to lower the Hivemind Nexus down into the chamber. Mechanisms formed under the concealed hatch to create a concealed access lift held in place by a mixture of nano-muscle locks and electromagnetic projectors that grew from the central strut like silver ribs. Finally, whatever nano-material was left from the creation of an access point formed into singular lumps that crawled up the unoccupied sides of the central support strut as the surface material was stretched and split. Forced to the surface, fang-like structures were extruded from under the layers of nano-material, pointing upwards and filled with a thick, grey liquid. Within that grey liquid, it was possible to see something growing as light flickered around the chamber, casting shadows as the forms within grew and grew over the course of hours as the membrane containing them stretched to the near bursting point as solid bodies floated within the grey liquid.

And then, at some unspoken signal, one of them came alive.

Within its containment vessel of syrup-like liquid, limbs twitched as lines of energy flowed into it, giving birth to new shadows as the tips of talon-ended limbs stretched out, brushing against the membrane that separated them from the rest of the world. Pressure was applied, but instead of bursting open, letting their contents flood out and fall to the floor, silver limbs seemed to slide out one another, the form that was previously hidden within the Assembly Vats sliding free as it climbed down the central strut on multi-jointed legs, peering around through sensor-optics for the first time as its own, rapidly growing, mind linked with the greater Hive itself. Twelve legs tapped rapidly against hardened nano-material as the newly birthed Worker-Drone reached the floor of the chamber as it's front half reared up, lifting two pairs of legs to reveal them to be sets of mantis-like arms as the head extended outwards on an equally mantis-like neck.

Information flowed as a link connected the Worker-Drone to the vaster Hive that stood above it, looking through ten sensor-optics that independently flickered across the chamber walls, observing and studying the freshly grown Drone as it adapted to its new existence. Orders sent nerves jumping as the eight remaining legs jolted and twitched, nano-weave muscles pulling and pushing as skin-layers rippled before going still as the spider-like body plan of the Drone was examined in detail as minutes ticked by.

By the end of the examination, satisfied with the results, the various Minds of the Hive pulled back, allowing the native mind of the Worker-Drone to retake command of its own body as order-directives were flash-coded into it. Without a moment of hesitation, the new Worker-Drone dropped down on all limbs before taking off in a flurry of skittering, insectoid limbs as it disappeared into the only patch of wall not covered in hardened and interconnected nano-spores. Behind it, more quickly followed as the rest of the new Worker-Drones came alive, stepping out of their womb-like Assembly Vats before skittering down the central support and into the quickly growing tunnel with rapid tap-tap of metal hitting metal as they went to carry out their assigned tasks.

Powerful limbs and in-built tools made the tunnel progress quickly as Worker-Drones flowed around one another, linked by the Hive and letting them act as one Mind with many bodies as needed, allowing them to device the most effective method to complete their assigned tasks. For that reason, it didn't take longer than a minute for the Worker-Drones to encounter another tunnel as they ripped through concrete, brick and mortar before emerging into the combined sewer system that ran underneath the city. Already, even as they finally breached into the maze of underground tunnels, the Worker-Drones were mapping out the most efficient path to travel between them as they dropped into the sewer system, backed up by the potent scans of the Hivemind Nexus and the Minds sprouted from it.

A nanosecond was all it took for the optimal path to be discovered, requiring several more tunnels to be carved out and the use of a number of old smuggler's tunnels to shorten the route, but that mattered little. The Worker-Drones had a task, and they would see it complete.

For the Hive and the Alpha.

XXX

AN: Ok, so there you have it. Fairly short, but I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things soon-ish.

Fingers crossed, and all that.

Still, hope you all liked it and, as always, feel free to give suggestions, feedback and comments as the story progresses. Cheers!

Edit: Ok, this should hopefully be a bit easier to read, so here's hoping. Cheers!

Chapter 45 - 3