After all modifications completed, Maine's entire crew conducted three days of intensive adaptive training on the sandy clearing outside the wasteland stronghold.
Everyone needed familiarizing themselves with newly-obtained equipment, new capabilities, plus new cooperative modes between each other.
Rebecca's heavy bolter emitted deafening roars with each shot. Recoil sufficient toppling ordinary strong men, but she stood firm with enhanced bones and muscles. Muzzle flames illuminated her excited face.
An abandoned car wreck was instantly torn into twisted metal fragments under bolt impacts.
Pilar tested his flamer nearby. Trigger pulled—a viscous, scorching promethium fuel stream roared out, striking stacked abandoned tires, instantly igniting towering flames. High temperatures violently distorted surrounding air, even scorching sand into glass-like crystals.
He proudly adjusted spray angles, muttering: "Now THIS is art! Way more kick than those shiny light tubes!"
Sasha and Kiwi conducted electronic warfare coordination tests.
Both jointly deployed invisible electronic barriers. Within ranges, all unauthorized electronic devices—including training drones plus several old terminals—instantly went black-screened, systems crashed.
Sasha focused maintaining barrier stability while Kiwi attempted constructing safe communication networks inside barriers. Her fingers rapidly swiped across virtual interfaces. Data analysis streams flickered in her modified eyes.
Falco tested his new reaction nerves and driving skills.
He piloted a brand-new Thornton Colby off-roader, executing various incredible sharp turns and drifts through complex obstacle courses. Tires kicked up massive dust clouds.
Enhanced dynamic vision and neural reflexes let him pre-predict pathways, controlling vehicles like controlling his own body.
Dorio and Morell conducted more restrained combat drills.
Dorio tested physical defense limits, using new composite armor-covered arms blocking Morell's unactivated sonic blade rapid slashes—making dull metallic collision sounds.
Morell maintained efficient, calm styles as always. Her movement trajectories were elusive. Each strike precisely targeting Dorio's defensive weak points yet controlling force perfectly.
Maine watched crew members familiarizing themselves with new powers—heart both relieved yet somewhat grave.
He could feel team combat capabilities had qualitatively leaped, but simultaneously understood—possessing such power meant future challenges they'd face would be completely different.
During training breaks, Rebecca wiped bolter barrels, telling Pilar: "Hey, beanpole—now I think we could really flip Arasaka Tower upside down!"
Pilar while checking flamer fuel lines responded: "Yeah right, shorty. Boss didn't tell us demolishing towers. But... next time encountering corp mechs, my baby can definitely burn them into molten iron!"
Falco stopped the car, removing shades wiping them clean, reminding: "Don't get cocky. Corps won't ignore our current states."
Dorio walked over, bronze skin glistening with sweat yet breathing steady: "Falco's right. We must be more cautious, better controlling these new powers. Can't cause trouble for the boss."
Sasha and Kiwi finished electronic warfare tests. Sasha lightly exhaled, telling Kiwi: "Coordination's good. Barrier strength and duration both exceeded expectations."
Kiwi nodded. Though saying nothing, her gaze held less past detachment, more recognition toward team collaboration.
Maine gathered everyone, summarizing training: "Everyone felt it—we're reborn now. But this is just beginning. We must familiarize these new equipment, new capabilities like our own arms. Upcoming missions won't be easy. Boss needs us proving these investments' worth."
After three days' adaptive training ended, the team rested and conducted final equipment inspections.
Everyone brimmed with confidence in their new states. Unprecedented cohesion permeated the team.
Just as they prepared planning next operations, Cairo's summons transmitted through workshop servo-skulls directly to stronghold communication terminals.
Directives concise and clear: All members immediately proceed to main workshop for mission briefings.
Everyone immediately mobilized, donning full combat gear.
Rebecca slung bolters on her back. Pilar checked flamer pressure gauges. Sasha and Kiwi ensured data receivers and encrypted communicators functioned normally. Falco and Dorio conducted final weapon status confirmations. Maine coordinated overall situations, checking everyone's preparations.
Morell had long been ready, silently standing aside—like unsheathed blades.
They solemnly entered workshops again. Interior scenes had changed since their last departure.
The dimensional transport device operated at unprecedented activity levels. Central energy focal regions blazed blindingly. Constantly twisting, deforming ghostly-blue light spheres internally seemingly contained destructive power.
Low, rhythmically-vibrating humming filled entire spaces, making teeth ache, hearts involuntarily palpitating along.
Air thick with ozone scents plus some indescribable sensations—as if space itself was being stretched and torn.
Cairo's tall dark-red figure—back facing them—stood before main control consoles.
Several mechanical tentacles directly connected to console interfaces, seemingly directly intervening energy flows.
He didn't turn back. Cold, steady synthesized voice penetrated equipment roaring, directly transmitting into everyone's auditory processors: "Adaptation cycles ended. Experimental stages officially initiated.
Your next mission objectives are passing through stabilized rifts, arriving at coordinates on the other end preliminarily scanned, assessed as relatively safe."
He paused slightly. Data streams on consoles refreshed like waterfalls.
"Your primary missions are survival. Death is meaningless waste—this is your highest-priority mission objective. Survive at least three days. After three days I'll reopen dimensional rifts, bringing you back."
"Secondary missions are liaising with my subordinates I've left on the other side. I'll send a servo-skull accompanying you through dimensional rifts. After reaching the other side, follow its commands."
His voice carried zero emotional fluctuations—like reading standard operation manuals—yet every directive carried undeniable authority.
"Stand at designated positions." One of Cairo's mechanical tentacles raised, pointing toward circular zones precisely marked by optical cables on transport device bases.
Maine took deep breaths, glancing at crew members behind him, then striding forward with firm steps first.
Dorio followed immediately. Morell silently moved to team flanks.
Rebecca and Pilar exchanged glances, also following along—faces carrying expressions mixing tension with eagerness.
Falco adjusted breathing, standing at relatively central team positions.
Sasha and Kiwi entered last, standing at team rears, already beginning quiet exchanges, preparing for electronic interference during transport processes.
Cairo's crimson optical lenses stared at wildly-jumping data streams and energy reading curves on control consoles. Mechanical fingers inputting confirmations on final directive groups.
"Final energy injection sequences initiated. Stabilization field outputs maximized." The servo-skull reported in monotone electronic tones.
Workshop auxiliary lighting instantly extinguished completely, leaving only transport device cores' unbearable, violently-pulsating ghostly-blue glows.
No debts, promises kept—buddy said twenty-four chapters, delivered twenty-four chapters. So where are the monthly votes? Where are the subscriptions?
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Advanced chapters for $7 @patreon:michaelv1.