Chapter 19: Ork Perm Helmet
Kelbor was drawn by Francis toward a collection of scattered debris. Observing the scattered metallic refuse, he lifted a fragment and compressed it with his mechadendrites, watching as the piece immediately fractured into two segments.
"Is this the Ork technology you referenced?" Kelbor regarded Francis with blank optical sensors.
"Have patience, Kelbor. Observe carefully." Francis retrieved a vial of Ork vital fluids from a storage container and consumed its contents without hesitation.
To Kelbor's amazement, Francis's arms underwent immediate transformation, assuming their familiar Orkish configuration. Francis then gathered the scattered debris, assembling the components with casual precision until they formed a helmet-like apparatus, the Ork Perming Helmet.
Even Francis appeared somewhat perplexed by his creation's specific purpose.
"Excellent! Would you care to test its function, my friend?"
Faced with Francis's earnest gaze, Kelbor found the luminescence in Francis's eyes almost overwhelming in its intensity. Had he truly overthought the situation?
"Is this complete? Such rapid assembly from mere scrap... permit me to examine it more closely." Kelbor accepted the helmet with mechanical fascination, then placed it upon his head.
Click.
The device extended neural interface claws that embedded themselves directly into Kelbor's cranium.
"What purpose does this apparatus serve? Why is it penetrating my neural housing with such force?"
"Ah, this device, it is designated the Ork Lie Detector," Francis replied with casual indifference.
'A lie detector?'
As Kelbor moved to remove the helmet, Francis interjected swiftly, "The apparatus can only be disengaged after responding to ten questions truthfully. Forced removal will trigger catastrophic self-destruction protocols!"
"Self-destruction?" Kelbor's dermal sensors registered an alarm, though he calculated his mechanical form could likely withstand such damage.
Francis continued thoughtfully, "Indeed, it contains a miniature nuclear device, nothing within a hundred-meter radius would survive detonation."
Kelbor stood speechless while Francis was already standing a hundred meters distant on the bridge, calling out, "Do you harbor any resentment toward our beloved Emperor, Kelbor?"
"Respond quickly, or it will explode in precisely ten seconds."
Hearing this ultimatum, Kelbor felt the machine-equivalent of mortal dread.
What manner of nightmarish situation was this? Drawing upon his respiratory systems, he declared, "I maintain the utmost reverence for the Emperor in all things."
Ding ding ding!
"Oh, did I mention you need to speak only the truth, or else the detonation timer is reduced by half?" Francis retreated to a safer distance.
"What accursed technology is this madness?" Kelbor trembled with mechanical rage.
Ding ding ding!
"Three seconds remaining, Kelbor! Detonation is imminent!" Francis withdrew further, now hiding behind a structural bulkhead.
Kelbor's artificial cardiac systems accelerated as he gambled that Francis was deceiving him.
"Three... two... one..."
As Francis counted down, the helmet emitted unmistakable energy fluctuations while Kelbor's resolve finally cracked as his computational systems failed to unlock the device's restraints.
"Are you speaking the absolute truth to me, Francis?"
Francis appeared genuinely puzzled. "Why would I ever lie to you, my dear friend? Oh no, it's exploding!"
The helmet's temperature increased dramatically while his neural networks received termination signals. Finally, hysteria overtook him as he shrieked, "I despise the Emperor! He forbids our research into Abominable Intelligence technology without reason!"
"He conceals numerous Standard Template Constructs from the Dark Age! We have long harbored displeasure with his restrictive policies!"
"If victory were possible, we would have directed our weapons against him centuries ago!"
Buzz buzz buzz~
The helmet vibrated violently before deactivating its energy systems. Thump.
Kelbor collapsed immediately while his mechanical systems frantically attempted to break the helmet's neural interface, yet the device seemed directly integrated with his cognitive processes.
"Did you not even install emergency disengagement protocols, you madman?" Kelbor roared, but the helmet began heating once more.
"I suggest you remain calm, yes? And I forgot to mention, I must complete the entire interrogation sequence, or it will certainly explode."
Hearing this, lubricant flowed from Kelbor's optical sensors as he had never encountered such malevolent technology.
"Do you possess any grievances against the Imperium itself?"
"Affirmative! I despise the existence of so many worthless civilians within the Imperium, they should all be converted to Servitor status immediately!"
"Have you ever contemplated betraying the Imperium for your own ends?"
"Yes, the Adeptus Mechanicus maintains only cooperative relations with Imperial authority when it suits our purposes."
"What manner of female companionship appeals to your tastes?"
"I harbor no interest in organic females whatsoever. My affections lie solely with pristine STC templates."
"Are you..."
Francis discreetly manipulated the remote control device, deactivating the Ork Perming Helmet while many of Kelbor's artificial neurons had suffered overload damage. Upon completion of the tenth query, an audible click emanated from his cranium.
The helmet detached naturally, and Kelbor, still trembling from his ordeal, immediately crushed the device beneath his augmented foot while his form continuously emitted mechanical discord, suggesting systemic failures from neural overload.
"Ork technology proves truly malevolent in its design!"
"My deepest apologies, old friend. I did not inform you about the device's numerous dangerous complications." Francis scratched his head with apparent embarrassment.
"You orchestrated this entire ordeal deliberately!" Kelbor approached Francis with darkened features. "What exactly do you seek to accomplish here, Lord Francis?"
"Nothing beyond hearing the Fabricator-General's most honest thoughts." Francis maintained his smile while speaking. "In truth, we share much common ground, my genetic research suffers under similar restrictive policies."
"I need reliable allies, Kelbor. Should necessity demand it... I shall break away and establish the Second Human Empire! We will unleash forbidden technologies and initiate humanity's next evolutionary phase!"
Francis's declaration astounded Kelbor completely.
"Second Empire! Humanity's re-evolution through technology!"
"Hiss, hiss, hiss, you truly represent the True Omnissiah's guiding light! Lord Francis!"
"Let us join this glorious evolution together!"
Kelbor's optical sensors blazed with newfound fanaticism as Francis truly understood his vision!
"Not yet, my friend. We must stabilize the current Imperium before such a transformation can begin safely. For now, we must pursue this great endeavor in absolute secrecy. In the meantime, I shall maintain my disguise beside the Emperor until I can assume his rightful position!"
Kelbor listened with heated lubricants gathering in his optical arrays, his brother had truly suffered for the cause! Observing Kelbor's conversion, Francis grasped his shoulder with deep emotion. "Come, I shall personally instruct you in Ork operational methods."
"Truly, Lord Francis! You are indeed a visionary of the Omnissiah!" Kelbor watched in shock as Francis manipulated the control interface before them.
He was genuinely imparting sacred knowledge while Francis truly comprehended the Mechanicus's sacred tenets! His doubting algorithms finally terminated.
"Why do these controls fail to respond to my touch? Is it because I do not possess your unique biological ability?" Kelbor fumbled with the Ork vessel's command interface.
The panel displayed a chaotic array of red, green, and purple indicators, completely devoid of recognizable symbols. Even repeated activation of identical controls produced varying effects, which left Kelbor's neural processes utterly confounded.
"Patience, my dear friend. I shall demonstrate the process again, observe very carefully."
Francis approached Kelbor's position, and the constantly fluctuating controls immediately stabilized while Francis manipulated the interface with practiced ease. The Ork vessel rose smoothly, causing those observing from outside to watch with extreme tension.
"How is this even possible? I followed your movements precisely, yet it refuses to obey my commands?" Kelbor was dumbfounded while the Ork machine-spirit completely disregarded his presence, yet behaved like an obedient canine before Francis.
They experimented repeatedly as the Ork vessel rose and descended in response to Francis's command, creating an up-and-down rhythm.
All the external observers below felt their hearts rise and fall accordingly, and though the Astartes proved exceptional, their dual cardiac systems created a peculiar bouncing sensation when the vessels reached their throats.
Finally, Kelbor identified the crucial element, when Francis's arm maintained its Orkish configuration, he could operate the control systems normally. Conversely, like Kelbor himself, Francis could not control the interface in his human form.
"If only Ork genetics allow control over these mechanics, then how will we ever master Ork technology completely?" Despair crept into Kelbor's vocal processors.
"Hehe... Fabricator-General, one additional method exists that you might consider, though the risk proves somewhat elevated." Francis raised an eyebrow while a mischievous expression played across his features.
"What method? So long as we can master Ork technology, any price remains acceptable to me!" Kelbor seized him desperately, as though grasping a final lifeline.
"Since Ork technology recognizes only Orkish biology, what if I installed an Ork prosthetic limb through careful genetic surgery? Even if it does not allow you to employ Ork abilities for creation, it should prove sufficient for operational purposes."
In this moment, Francis's smile appeared terrifyingly malevolent in Kelbor's optical perception while employing xenos genetic material to create biochemical augmentations seemed truly... horrifying!
However, considering that such measures would grant him mastery over Ork technology, Kelbor ground his dental mechanisms and growled, "This must remain absolutely classified! What degree of confidence do you possess? We maintain several Standard Template Constructs related to genetic technology, would you care to examine them?"
"Hehehe... I have precisely eighty percent confidence in success, though the resulting Ork appendage will require regular injections of a custom growth inhibitor I have developed. And furthermore..."
[End of Chapter]
Let me ask you if you could play music in the 40k world, which one would you play, hmm?