Chapter 21: Routine and Progress

January 17, 2274

The embarrassment during his morning exercises had become a familiar routine, especially with Ellen's frequent presence. Despite his efforts to maintain a composed demeanor, it was a struggle to stay unfazed. Each day, he pushes through the awkwardness, focusing on his exercises and trying not to let it distract himself.

In contrast, his secret updates to his friends' Pip-Boys seemed to be working flawlessly. None of them had noticed anything unusual, which allowed him to relax and feel confident about his covert modifications.

One morning, while enjoying a simple bowl of sugar bomb, he had a rare opportunity to converse with his father. He asked about his life in the Vault, a topic he seldom discussed in detail. Seizing this moment, Victor shared insights about his interactions with friends and the progress he was making in his various tasks, carefully omitting any mention of his secret research and the details of his lab work.

Father: "So, Victor , how's everything going? I don't get to hear much about your day-to-day activities."

Victor : "Things are going well, Dad. I've been working on some interesting projects with my friends. We've been keeping busy with various tasks and improvements around the Vault."

Father: "That's good to hear. It sounds like you're making the most of your time. Have you had any new challenges lately?"

Victor : "Not really. Just the usual stuff. I've been focusing on my training and working on some new upgrades for our equipment. Oh, and my friends and I have been collaborating on a few personal projects."

Father: "Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. I'm proud of you for taking on so much. It must be rewarding to see your efforts paying off."

As the conversation continued, his father seemed increasingly tired. After finishing his cereal, he rested his head on the table and fell asleep. Seeing the opportunity, Victor helped him to his bed, taking great care to avoid waking him.

Victor : "I'll get you settled, Dad. You should get some rest."

Once he was comfortable, he discreetly took the chance to upgrade his Pip-Boy. The modifications were aimed at enhancing his physical fitness and scientific skills, ensuring that he would benefit from improved capabilities while remaining unaware of his covert enhancements.

With his father resting comfortably, he quietly made his way back to the secret lab. The progress on the chip development was still slow. AZ had managed to produce some chips, but they had failed the diagnostic tests. Following his orders, AZ focused on creating larger macro chips first and then gradually worked on smaller sizes as Victor continued to monitor and guide the process.

Victor : "AZ, how's the chip production coming along?"

AZ: "Master Victor , the larger chips are being processed, but the diagnostics are still showing errors. We need to refine the design further to ensure compatibility."

Victor : "Understood. Let's continue working on the macro chips and adjust the design as needed. We'll tackle the smaller sizes once we have the larger ones functioning correctly."

Victor turned his attention to the auto-doc, which was still under repair. He examined the dismantled parts and identified faulty components. Replacing these with parts from the Mark 2 and Mark 3 models, he made adjustments to improve functionality and reliability. The process was meticulous, requiring careful calibration to ensure that the auto-doc would function properly once reassembled.

Victor : "These faulty components need to be replaced with the new parts. Make sure to recalibrate everything properly before we reassemble the auto-doc."

AZ: "Affirmative, Master Victor . I will begin the recalibration process immediately."

As he worked, he was reminded of the importance of patience and precision. Every step forward, no matter how small, brought him closer to completing his objectives. The lab remained a sanctuary for secret projects, where he could focus on his tasks with the knowledge that his efforts would eventually yield results.