Chapter Five

Dorian carefully walked around the moss covered debris strewn about on the deteriorated street. A worn out sack was hung over his shoulder, within it was a few electronic parts that he managed to salvage from the nearby buildings that he could still enter.

[Fourteen meters to your nine o'clock.] A metallic sophisticated looking band was wrapped around his neck with an extremely thin but strong wire extending to his ear. This was a nano-particle band used to test an individual's potential. Psyker had introduced it to him earlier. It had an almost liquid-like composition; it was actually injected into Dorian earlier, contained in the vial that had carried Psyker's consciousness.

From the test Psyker had conducted, it showed that he had a strong affinity for machinery. Although the weapons that were used back when the monsters had first invaded were obsolete and had very little effect on them, with the advance of technology and the introduction of the Super system, the technology created by Super Mechanics were different on a base level, able to tear through the tough skin or scales of monsters.

Dorian wasn't all that surprised that he had turned out with an affinity for machinery. He had always loved machines and his dad was a material scientist that specialized in all sorts of high tech machines and exotic materials. With his dad's work being mostly carried out at home, or him occasionally visiting his place of work, Dorian had developed a love for machines and thus could easily assemble basic weapons that would help him survive till he ha access to better materials.

The nano-particle collar on his neck snaked its way up, going around his ear and finally forming a simple one-eyed goggle. Data flowed through his vision as he looked around, trying to spot the useful piece of machinery Psyker had mentioned. A blackened metal box flashed green, highlighting the hidden material. Dorian hurried over, pushing over a few blocks of softened concrete out of his way.

A moss covered pile of crumpled metal came into view. Dorian scrunched his nose as he saw it.

"How the heck am I supposed to build something out of this piece of trash?" Dorian mumbled as he wiped off patches of moss.

[Just pack it up. I'll help you with the initial material building process until you become more adept at it. Pack it up, pack it up!] Psyker's child-like voice sang out in his mind. Dorian just rolled his eyes as he set down the sack of parts he was carrying and put in the part he just discovered.

[Let's return for now. It's getting late and it's not safe out at night.] Dorian nodded his head before turning around with a lost look in his eyes.

"Um... which way is 'back'?"

[...]

.........

A black liquid-like substance rolled over the pile of ruined metal. Beneath that stream of black, everything seemingly melted, giving way to a process of complete breakdown. Psyker's childlike voice droned on, giving Dorian a full run down on the process.

[Breakdown process complete.] The stream of black nano-particles gathered together, turning into a black clump of complex tiny machines. The surface of the nano-particles flowed like water, constantly moving.

[Restructuring materials... Weapon manufacturing process initiated...] Faint arcs of blue electricity ran around the surface of the black ball, giving the room a faint light blue tint.

Dorian had taken shelter in a run down building that was in a slightly better condition than most of the decayed buildings that were around what was left of this part of the former town, so he didn't need to worry about being an easy target for now.

The black ball of nano-particles scrunched up a few times before slowly settling down on the ground. The stream of black crawled its way back to Dorian, looking many times more smaller than it did a few moments ago. In its wake were several objects.

Dorian studied them for a moment before picking up the easiest one to recognize. He ran his hand over the smooth butt of the pistol he was holding, taking aim at an imaginary target. The gun felt far smoother than it should. There was no hardness to it, but it also felt firm that the same time; and cool to the touch.

"Nice." He muttered with a smile. He put down the gun, picking up one of the other objects on the floor. "What's this?" He threw up the black ball in his hand, taking a good look at it from different directions.

[Squeeze it.] Came Psyker's command. Dorian did as the AI life form told him. The ball gave way like a busted balloon. Dorian shook, startled by the unexpected reaction from it. He watched on with wide eyes as the ball broke down into nano-particles, crawling up his arm and under his sleeve. He raised up his shirt to see a firm padding of metal over his torso.

The remaining balls of nano-particles that he had yet to touch reacted from the breaking down of the first. They crawled over his body, slipping beneath his clothes and wrapping up his body. Underneath his clothing, Dorian was fully kitted out in protective armor; coupled with the pistol from earlier, he could at least protect himself from the weakest beasts that roamed the streets.

"Wow! What's all this?" His eyes trailed down his arms as he asked the AI life form.

[Your welcome gift to the Mechanic path. Welcome to the New Age, Dorian.] Psyker's voice carried a mischievous edge to it as he spoke. Dorian's eyes widened for a moment before arcs of blue electricity rose from the armor he was wearing and his vision darkened.