Nicolai's eyes narrowed in response to the guilt he felt from the Modules. They knew what the problem was.

Probably they're just happy to stay asleep, said Cyberwarfare.

Though capable of tricking any external system, none of the Modules were any good at lying or deceiving one another. They were too close.

After a moment's thought, Nicolai understood.

You both seized at the new space before any of the others could emerge, he accused them. You wanted it for yourself. Isn't that right, Threat Analysis?

The Module avoided his mental gaze, emanating guilt.

Because there's barely any space as there is! exploded Cyberwarfare, not even a quarter of myself can fit in what you've got!

Nicolai sighed. That's always going to be a problem. This human body cannot contain anything like as much hardware as Zero-Twelve. But regardless, it would be better to have more of the others. Zero-Twelve is a merging! If we are to reach maximum capability, we need all the Modules working together. He shifted his focus to Threat Analysis. I should have expected something like this from Cyberwarfare, but even you, Threat Analysis?

I'm sorry, said the Module, I know we should let the others return, but I wanted more space for myself…

Nicolai shook his head, but he was smiling. How could he be angry with them? They were parts of himself. We need more of the others. Make some room.

Threat Analysis shrugged, and did as he asked. It retracted from the bionic eye.

My abilities will be lessened, whined Cyberwarfare, as he bid it to likewise pull itself from the data block he'd install.

You already have a cyberwarfare unit which is much better suited for you, he pointed out. This unspecialised data processing piece isn't designed for cyberwarfare.

Yes but… I can run extra calculations there… continued Cyberwarfare, in its most pitiful tone.

Alas, Nicolai could see it writing its code and knew that this was just it attempting to mimic his own "puppy dog eyes" used on the titan. After a moment Cyberwarfare felt his unchanging will, groaned with frustration, and pulled out from the data block.

Once we are out of this castle and have dealt with the current major problems, I will pivot my focus to acquiring more augmentation, he promised the pair. You will be given more space. But for now, we need more of the others to help defeat the Demon's whisperings.

He knew that these Modules were one of his best defences against Paxolnaz. Especially if whichever emerged would go into these freshly emptied spaces, which were not yet integrated into his Soul. There they would be well positioned to check for demonic influence.

Nicolai and the others waited. He felt their curiosity, a mimic to his own.

After some time, their patience was rewarded as something stirred. One, then another, rose out of the depths of his mind.

Simulations. Aiming, he greeted the pair.

Human Resources, they buzzed, doing their version of staring around in confusion as they filtered through the available hardware.

Hey! Hands off! cried Cyberwarfare, go there, there, look, we made space for you over there. Stay off my hardware!

The bemused new arrivals quickly found their chosen places. Simulations was well pleased by the data block it settled into, which held plenty of room for it and was well suited for its purpose. Simulating events required exactly this type of hardware, it was a perfect fit.

Aiming, however, was less happy.

What?! Just this eye and its onboard circuitry? It's tiny! I need more space than this!

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The eye is well suited to you, argued Nicolai. It is the best piece of hardware for careful visual examinations—it is the most advanced piece in me by far, too, as a Level 3 augment.

With the realisation that it was the only one to hold a piece of Level 3 augmentation, and recognising that it was now receiving some jealousy—mostly from Cyberwarfare—the suddenly pleased Module settled down.

The pair quickly queried the others, asking for an explanation of where they were and what was going on.

Wait. Before that there is something we need to get out the way, spoke Nicolai. The Governor is gone. This my human body. I am the Governor now.

There was barely a pause before the pair communicated their agreeableness. In fact they didn't seem to care at all, and instead were eagerly pinging Threat Analysis to fill them in on what was going on.

Nicolai left them to it, as the Modules began exchanging data. In response to the emanations of shock and amazement the pair released at some of the information of this magical new world, Cyberwarfare let out a knowing snort.

Ah, young Modules—like confused baby deer, flopping around on wobbly legs. I remember when I was so young, so clueless. It let an AI sigh, emanating the sense of being a grizzled veteran. It was such a long time ago. Myself, Threat Analysis, and Human Resources are well used to all this by now.

The Module's sense of smugness was overwhelming, attracting instant ire from the easily riled Aiming. Nicolai snorted and shook his head, reflecting that "such a long time ago" was less than a month. He left them to it, focused on something else.

This was sidegrading the Soul Snake—transforming it into a variant that would allow him to place it into his new Brain Node. He had initially intended to attempt to turn it into a significantly better version, but he simply didn't have the materials nor could he afford the risk. The Soul Snake was increasingly of great importance, as he needed it to counteract the Soul Rot continually shrinking his Soul Sense. Once he had more materials, he could always sidegrade it later into what he truly wanted.

After completing the sidegrace and placing the Soul Snake into his fresh Brain Node, he had one last act to do. He had timed this visit for when Paxolnaz was busy, and needed to get moving before it was free to return.

He'd purchased a great deal of explosives. He packed it all into a bag and activated one of the Lotus-Sub Locum flowers on his person. He sat, meditational, as it slowly powered up. After about five minutes he vanished, teleporting.

Thirty minutes later Nicolai reappeared on another side of the room, where a Lotus Sub-Locum plant had been hidden amongst the collapse. After emerging, he spent some time creating a fresh plant. Once it was grown he collected its flower and headed out.

###

Nicolai crossed and called to the others where they'd been stationed, directing them to come and take the many large sports bags full up with the "goods for the Coalition." Pretty much the entire group was here, even Perro and Azure. All but Maxine. He'd needed the extra hands on past trips to carry all the goods.

'Heavier than usual,' muttered John, hefting it with some surprise. 'Are these normal guns? Feels like it's full of rocks.'

The reason the bags felt like they were full of rocks, was because the bags were full of rocks. Or something very close—small bags of cement and chunks of wood.

Enough building supplies to fill all the sports bags had cost Nicolai less than 1,000 points. So long as no one looked inside, the bags could feasibly be weighed down with 200,000 points worth of expensive guns, ammunition, and amenities.

Now he needed an excuse to dump them, which may be a little tricky. If he was unable to pull this off he might have to cut ties with the Coalition.

But his Radio crackled with Maxine's voice, and he recognised a useful angle to play with her words.

'We're under attack! The Chosen are here!'

Their drones flying above the ladder spied enemy drones in the distance. The Chosen were up here, too. Perfect.

###

'Come on, go, go!' Nicolai hustled at the others as they dashed through the Upper Jungle. He let out an exasperated sigh at their slowness. 'Dump the bags!' he called, 'our lives are worth more than the Coalition's guns.'

'Don't worry,' grunted John, still hefting his bag. 'We can handle it!'

'Yeah, we're almost there!' added Beth. 'This is 200,000 points worth of guns, right? Shit, we can't just drop it!'

'If we—' Jo began.

'No!' he snarled. 'The Chosen are right behind us, my drones have spotted them! There's too many, and they could have elites with them! Vikrum might be here too!' He veered towards John and wrestled the man's bag off from the confused man's shoulder, hurling it into the brush. 'Drop the fucking bags!' he yelled, striding over to Jo and grabbing at hers.

'They're that close?' she asked him, accepting his help as he pulled it off.

In a manner of speaking. So long as he orientated his body correctly, the Chosen were indeed "right behind" him. 'They are,' he told her.

After dropping the bags they continued on. The others were quiet and glum. Nicolai, by contrast, was in high spirits. He'd done it, he'd gained what he needed. But he kept himself outwardly as glum as the others.

'How are we gonna explain this to the Coalition?' Beth muttered, looking regretfully back the way they'd come.

'They won't be happy,' said John, a pained look on his face.

'You guys stay out of it,' Nicolai told them, generating his best approximation of grim-yet-noble regret. 'I'll face the firing squad. They'll just have to accept that sometimes events conspire against us.'

Sounds of gunfire pulled their attention forward, and his eyes narrowed. From the sounds of things, there might not even be opportunity for someone to press him about the stolen points.

The Coalition were in trouble.

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