Published at 4th of April 2026 8:34 am

Chapter 348: Dry Run

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The sparring room had been turned into a sort of obstacle course, though one that required quite a bit of imagination. Psychology didnt possess such a thing, but by spying on Nicolais mental process, it was able to see what he was envisioning. The Module was observing through the cameras mounted on the wall. Human Resources had put them in every room, something Psychology found very helpful.

Currently, Nicolai was kneeling between two parallel lines of chalk drawn on the floor, a frown of distant focus as he drew the line that representedin his mind at leastthe wall which separated the imaginary tunnel (which the chalk lines were supposed to represent) from the Scale Vipers cave.

Spread further through the room were taped shapes, labels, more lines of chalk. Remnants of the previous attempt. Directly behind Nicolai was a chair, and then there was another one a short distance further down the tunnel. Beside this stood Serrin, arms crossed, gazing at Nicolai with what Psychology judged to be a combination of impatience and bafflement.

Finally, Nicolai rose and regarded the line hed drawn critically. It was perfectly straight, Psychology noted, because of course it was. Then he switched places with the chair, putting it back in position before the line hed just drawn.

Observing his mental process again, Psychology saw the chalk lines as tunnel walls, the chair as a mining bot, and the other chair as an automated cart. Nicolai was even imagining the echoing ambience of it. The moist, dripping walls of stone, the support struts spread further down the tunnel. Psychology had the strong impression that for Serrin, it was just lines on the floor. The Module felt much the same way.

Okay, rippled Nicolai. He raised his arms grandly towards the chair. The mining bot is cutting out a doorway. His arms described a man-sized rectangle on the invisible wall. It is carving through the stone that separates us from the Scale Vipers. It is doing so slowly and carefully, with minimal sound, using its water jet to do so.

The bot will leave a thin unbroken layer of stone. He made that rectangular shape again. So the slab of rock, which will become our door, will remain seated until the opportune moment.

He glanced back at Serrin, who, at that moment, was staring off into the distance.

How thick is the rock it is leaving, Serrin? Nicolai asked.

Serrin glanced up, shrugged. A finger, perhaps?

Nicolai gave him what Psychology recognised as a Look.

What? the Hornet asked.

Nicolai raised three fingers. Three centimetres. As soon as it has made enough progress, it will then bore a very small hole. Hand me the hose.

Serrin obediently bent over, reaching into the invisible automated cart. The Hornet moved with exaggerated care as he passed over the invisible hose, holding it in both hands like a sacred relic.

Nicolai retrieved it one-handed. He instead moved as though he truly was in that tunnel, pressing himself against an invisible wall as he slid up beside the invisible mining bot, then, reaching carefully with one hand, extended the invisible hose until its mouth was against the invisible hole.

All of this was observed by Serrin, who looked very much like he wanted to say something, but whatever it was, he managed to hold it in.

Nicolai gestured with his other hand impatiently to Serrin. What now? he said.

Another test. Serrin was ready. He extended his hand. The wire, the camera, and the sealing glue, he said, holding the invisible items out.

Nicolai frowned at him. I didnt see you retrieve them from the cart.

Oh, I did, Serrin assured him. While you werent looking.

Nicolai let out a doubtful hum at this, but took the items and fiddled with the hole. Only to pause and shoot a look back. Youre standing inside the cart, he added.

What? Serrin stared down at the chair.

You are at this moment inside of the cart, said Nicolai, jabbing pointedly at him with the imaginary tube of sealant glue. Its edge is bisecting your leg and hip. Move back a bit.

Serrin stared down, then gave an exaggerated flinch. Ah oh oh no. He made an abortive pulling motion. Move back? But how? Theres no choice Ill have to cut my leg off.

Nicolai was busy fiddling with something only he could see, so didnt witness Serrins portrayal of cutting off his leg, but Psychology and the other Modules did, critiquing his display of surgical skill.

The hose is now venting gas into the Scale Vipers cave. Nicolai turned to face Serrin and raised a finger, spinning it in a clockwise motion. Twenty minutes later, they shall all be sleeping, and we will be ready to engage the next part of the plan.

You have to go on without me, Serrin gasped, leaning against an invisible wall. The cart ate my leg. Im bleeding out. Im done for. He looked up with sudden hope. Unless maybe if I put the two halves of it back together, and affix it to my hip, and use a Rejuvenating Orb, itll heal?

Nicolai was not amused. You realise Im not doing this for my own benefit, he said. This, Serrin, is the difference between working solo and working in a team. A solo operator he tapped his forehead knows what hes doing. He knows his own mind at all times. But a team doesnt. So he gestured to the chalk lines they have to practise. Thats how you ensure efficient operation. And youre inexperienced with human technology. Ive been with teams before, he added, where it all fell apart

Keep your voice down or the Scale Vipers will hear you. Serrin somehow managed to slide down the invisible wall. This missions already fallen apart, Ive lost my leg, he added miserably.

Internally, the Modules applauded the Hornets acting. Thats how you commit to the bit, said Threat Analysis, impressed, and the others gave virtual nods of agreement.

Psychology, meanwhile, was performing an in-depth analysis of the whole interaction.

One of the Modules deepest desires was to be able to engage in therapy on Nicolai. Imagine, the Module thought, what an achievement it would be to give such an obsessive, murderous, insane individual therapy.

Psychology was convinced that Nicolai was going to completely lose his mind one day, but fortunately for him, it was here to save him via application of its top-tier internal therapy module. It would also be optimum if it could make him slightly less eager to employ the kill-everything-to-death solution he so often utilised, so there might be more need for its skills.

But increasingly it had a new subsidiary goal: to do the same to Serrin, who was almost as messed up but in a completely different and quite interesting way. It was important, however, to ensure Nicolai didnt manage to turn Serrin into a mini-Nicolai. It wouldnt do for them to be two of them, and Psychology, a connoisseur of personalities, saw something so reductive as uninteresting.

Alas, since Nicolai always shot down its attempts to therapise, it was able to do little more than nudge things now and then. In this regard, Psychology had been attempting to work out whether the addition of Serrin was a good thing, psychologically speaking.

Currently, it was of the opinion that it certainly was. The Hornets in general were ideal, in fact, since for many of them killing was not a good solution. Plenty of opportunities for its particular skills to be employed. And there was the chance for all kinds of interesting future developments between these two. Friends? Rivals? Something else?

And this very moment was perhaps one of its favourites so far. From its point of view, as one of the cameras in the sparring room, it had the perfect vantage to perform its psychological analysis.

This moment had the potential to go many ways. Maybe it would all fall apart. Maybe they would bond and become closer than eer. Would Serrin learn something from Nicolais obsessive lessons? Would Nicolai learn something from Serrins roleplaying skills?

Maybe its just better if I do it on my own, Nicolai was saying with a sigh. Im not sure you get any of this. He gestured at the lines of chalk.

Serrins features shifted. Psychology pattern matched that to its ever-growing database and determined this expression was frown of annoyance.

Serrin reached into the invisible cart. He pulled both hands out, holding two invisible objects.

Here, he said. The rock cutters.

He gestured past Nicolai.

With the Scale Vipers asleep, the mining bot will finish cutting the final three centimetres of rock around the slab. By this point, it will have taken a solid grip on the rock with one of its other main limbs, which it drilled through to get a good hold. The mining bot will then push the rock up and out, making space so we can move out into the cave.

He held out one of his hands. Nicolai, eyebrows raised, took the invisible rock cutter.

The pair stepped together, Serrin now mimicking Nicolai as they slid along the invisible wall past the mining bot and out into the Scale Vipers cave.

There they paused and looked out over the expanse of the imaginary cave, full with imaginary Scale Vipers. A peek at Nicolais worldview and Psychology saw them. Human Resources did have an extraordinary imagination. Perhaps that was one of the reasons for his numerous issues?

The pair began to carefully step toward another circle drawn in chalk about ten metres away. Nicolai moved with slow, exaggerated steps, and Serrin mimicked him, only for them to freeze halfway there when Serrin let out a dramatic gasp.

Nicolai threw a glance over his shoulder, frowning.

Serrin pointed down. Youre standing right on his tail, he hissed.

Nicolais eyes narrowed. Psychology could tell he wanted to say something back, but Threat Analysiswho was so wrapped up in his world view that the imagined Scale Vipers were causing it to generate threat reportsjabbed him, saying now was no time to argue.

Rolling his eyes, Nicolai raised his foot and continued on.

The pair reached the circle of chalk. The Shardache. They took up position either side of it, pressed the invisible buttons on their rock saws, and started trimming invisible bits of Shardache.

The pair retraced their steps minutes later, clutching invisible bags of Shardache, and the invisible mining bot closed the invisible door of rock.

Okay murmured Nicolai, eyeing Serrin thoughtfully. Good. Very good. Except that I didnt step on a Scale Vipers tail. That would never happen. Otherwise, good.

The position of Serrins mandibles and wings, the tilt of his shoulders Psychology analysed it all. Happiness, pride, and a touch of smugness.

You know, said Serrin, glancing at a chair, to do this properly, shouldnt we just have had a mining bot in here, and an actual automated cart, and the equipment well be using? And I think you mentioned its possible to create these illusory images via projection technology, or something similar. Couldnt you have created walls with that? He looked up at Nicolai. I mean, dont we have all of that?

For just an instant, Nicolai froze. Psychology decided this was the freezing of a child caught with its hand in the cookie jar. But a millisecond later hed recovered and was shaking his head. The bots are busy, I dont want to take them away from their important work. And as to the equipment he trailed off. We will practise with that of course, but its important to be able to visualise and think these things through. He tapped his head. By doing so, you instil it into your mind.

Serrin was right, and Psychology didnt even need to check to know Nicolai knew that. The truth was he just hadnt thought of doing it with an actual bot and actual tools until hed already spent about twenty minutes drawing on the floor and muttering to himself. A quick look at his mental process revealed that he was indeed frantically bullshitting, though youd never have guessed from his manner. Psychology had to admit, he was about as flawless as a human could be when it came to this sort of thing.

Nicolai clapped Serrin on the shoulder, gave an approving smile. Very good! he said again, and strode swiftly off, the Hornet staring uncertainly after him.

###

The next day the Scale Viper was released. Left on the ground it twitched as the venom slowly drained, then its whole body gave one massive jerk that threw it off the ground and onto its feet.

Immediately it thrashed into an ungainly sprint. Still weakened by the venom it stumbled and fell almost immediately, righted itself and, veering slightly to one side, continued its mad dash. It saw the cave, managed to adjust its course, and soon disappeared inside.

Ah, said Nicolai in a ripple-murmur, zooming slightly to peer further within.

What? asked Serrin, glancing at him.

The other Scale Vipers dont look happy to see it. Ah. Theyve set on it. Ah. Theyve torn it apart.

What?! Why?

Who knows? Perhaps a difference in its scent or Soul caused them to see it as an enemy. Or, maybe, they were just startled and their vicious instincts set them on it. He shrugged. A shame. He couldnt get its scales with it dead over there.

Poor thing, muttered Serrin, staring sadly into the cave. We should have released it somewhere else.

Next time, said Nicolai kindly, patting him on the shoulder. Come on.

They headed to the Mining Site. There was now a mound of earth and rubble beside the steel shelter, but other than that all was as it should be. The bots, keeping a low profile, hadnt had any serious encounters.

Within was a tunnel reaching into blackness. Nicolai and Serrin descended, an automated wagon loaded with what they needed trundling after them.

Mask and goggles, reminded Nicolai, partway down. Serrin pulled a rebreather mask from his pocket and strapped it on, then a many-lensed set of thermal goggles, both altered to fit the Hornet via the Assembler. The gas theyd fill the Vipers cave with was best not breathed, and it would be dark. Hed made Serrin practise with both earlier, something the Hornet had enjoyed far more than the various drills.

How do I look? hed asked, turning his head one way then the other. Am I tacticool?

Nicolai hadnt deigned to answer, other than to cast a suspicious look at the Infiltrator, which at that moment had been manned by Cyberwarfare. The Modules had been communicating with Serrin now and then.

After some time the tunnel turned from earth to rock, and then theyd reached the far side. Here the mining bot waited, ready for the final touches.

The tunnel here was adjacent to the Scale Viper cave. If you were to look at the deepest room of the cave from above, full of Shardache and hundreds of Scale Vipers, the spot they now stood would be on one side just past the wall.

An order over Local, and the mining bot set to work. First it used a laser to engrave some Ritual symbols on the wall, then it aimed its water cutter in the centre of the circle those symbols made, and soon had bored a small hole through. The water cut off immediately.

Nicolai, Serrin, and the bots stood in breathless silence. The bots because they didnt breathe, him and Serrin because this was a make-or-break moment.

But none of the many Soul Senses on the other came through. The Ritual symbols were enough protection, so long as they werent actively trying to investigate the area. An idea Cyberwarfare had come up with, following their practise session. Some other elements had been changed, too.

He gestured to Serrin, who reached into the automated cart and pulled out a hose then passed it over, along with a long wire. Nicolai pushed the wire through the hole first, very slowlyit had a small atmosheric sensor plus a tiny camera on the endthen positioned the mouth of the hose over the hole, and sealed it around the edges with a quick-drying glue. Over Local he activated the device the hose poured from, a boxy metal unit taking up most of the space in the cart.

It began a controlled release out of the canisters of heavily compressed gas loaded into it. Nicolai had taken care to ensure the machine was soundless, and was pleased when he didnt hear even the faintest hiss as the gas slithered through the hose and unwound into the cave.

Nicolai and Serrin could only settle down and wait. Talking through any method except Local transmissions was not an option. But Nicolai was used to sitting and doing nothing for long periods, half losing himself in the play of the ever-shifting shadows on the wall.

Serrin was a focused weight beside him. Hed noticed the Hornet exhibited a kind of silent, charged readiness in times like this. A good trait in anyone, but especially someone setting to the kind of work as they had in mind.

The sensor was a distant appendage, a wedge of feeling that gave him awareness of the caves atmosphere. The camera beside it was his third eye.

He watched as the Scale Vipers slowed. Though mostly slumbering by default, some were moving aroundgnawing on bones, grooming, shifting position. The spiritual emanations felt of bored readiness.

Minute by minute, their movements slowed. Heads were laid down. The spiritual emanations shifted into a total sleepiness verging on unconsciousness.

In the dark of the tunnel, the three of them shifted around. The mining bot came to the fore again, and resumed cutting through the rock. It drew the man-sized rectangle on the wall, slicing through until there was only an inch or two of rock. It also made a small hole in the very middle, one which was widened, and then it pressed its spare arm inside, getting a good hold.

The final cuts were made, then the bots arm gave a faint hum as it engaged. The wall hinged out and up.

A rectangular outline gaped in the dark of the tunnel. Thermal vision painted it as a sea of black, pierced by the odd spike of Shardache, and lined by the bright white shapes of Scale Vipers, their serpentine forms squeezed into practically every inch.

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