“Now, Marvin do you know exactly how you’re powered? Can you explain how blood makes you go?” I said, opening up the mech’s storage panel and beginning to scan for any kind of service panel or opening. I didn’t have proper tools, but I was sure I could improvise.

Thankfully, there was no need. Marvin returned to its cart form, extended wheels and repulsors back on the ground. Once it was in its cart form it deactivated its repulsors, lowered itself to the ground and a panel opened to the side of the display.

“Distillation of the energy content within blood cells. Organic matter decomposition systems used to expedite stable matter decay,” replied the robot.

I tapped the cylindrical opening and a tube about a foot in diameter slid out slowly.

“Warning. Backup power in use. Remaining time of operation two hours.” A pre-recorded message sounded out from the display.

It was clear to me that the thing I was holding was the ATC’s power core. Closer inspection noted a small turbine system and several lithium based storage cells crammed into any spot not taken up by the turbine system. The design was not the most elegant I had seen, but it was space efficient.

After pulling the core out of the ATC another panel opened on the opposite side of the display. This one was flatter and revealed a tall tube that was about half filled with a black viscous suspension. It was the blood of the mad Claforns. As I watched, faint sparks struck the blood, causing it to shudder. Speculation brought me to the conclusion that I was watching the cellular energy extraction process.

The whole mechanism was way beyond my comprehension. I was not exactly privy to information on the atomic decay energy collection, but from the systems I had repaired I knew it was magnitudes more stable than Nuclectric energy. Biological components had always been part of the professions exclusive to the Named. I scoffed out loud as I closed the panels and reinserted the power core. Marvin whirled loudly, coming fully online.

I pulled one of the battery packs that had been emptied and popped the sides off. The battery was also lithium based, but they were significantly larger, if less efficient, than the ones in Marvin’s power core. I got to work using Gamma's makeshift knife to take the battery and it's wiring completely apart. I needed to understand how it worked in order to reverse engineer a rig that allowed recharging our battery packs.

I lost track of time as I delved into the circuitry, ripping resistors and capacitors out of the pack with wild abandon. I sorely missed my soldering tools, or even a simple set of pliers, but I made due with the salvage. Once I understood the way the belt plug connected to the battery pack I used the belt and casing of the battery pack to tuck the pack into one of the ration slots closest to the power core. I concentrated on my left hand, thinking of my anger and frustration, and sure enough my body tensed. The muscles of my arm swelled and it grew once again.

My knuckles, as well as my other injuries, had already healed, making the use of my enhanced strength nearly painless. I pushed with the tip of my finger, denting one of the inner panels in Marvin. I pulled and peeled the panel to reveal the backside of the power core and its housing. Taking a deep breath, I reverted my limb to normal. I used the components and wiring I had managed to salvage to form a small relay from the core to the empty pack casing.

“Well…this is it, Marvin. Do you feel any additional power draw?” I asked the mech.

“There appears to be an increased power loss of approximately five percent. Triggering of power core cycling is imminent.”

“Hmmm, well here goes nothing. Might as well make use of the cycle.” I inserted one of the whole, empty batteries into the pack slot inside Marvin. The whirling that usually came off Marvin had to be the power core activating and replenishing its battery stores. The significantly louder sound that came off the ATC confirmed this as the panelling was not there to dampen the sound. There were a few sparks coming from the wiring but when the whirling turned into a steady humming they stopped.

“Power gain remains zero. Unable to assess charge rate of battery pack test.” Added the ATC when the humming had been going on for a minute. I frowned, but considering the power back ups of the mech I did not think it would run out of power before charging the battery pack.

“Alert me if your charge gets to below four days. Figuring out the charge ratio might require a bit of experimenting,” I noted for Marvin.

I had worked with artificial intelligent machines before, but the degree of processing and response that Marvin had was much more advanced than any on Earth. I once again wondered just what the Officials had found that led them to Dun Lund. Receiving an affirmative from the mech, I focused on my hand again and use my enlarged fist to fold the metal over my wiring work as best I could.

I felt loose without my suit, so I felt okay continuing with my tinkering session. The next object I wanted to work on would be a lot simpler than the battery charger. I planned to take the base of the metal chairs and create a rough shield for the Digits to use. While I had been focused on the circuit work, the others must have stopped by since we had three of the metal bases.

I get to work twisting off the excess metal sections. Now that I could direct my enhanced strength somewhat the whole process didn’t even require banging from my wrench. Sweat dripped down my body with wild abandon, but I ignored it as I tore the last of the legs off the chairs. Using the backrest supports I made a rough enarmes that would fit over the armored suits. The first shield took about half an hour to fold and adjust, requiring me to equip my armor on several occasions to check for the fit, but the other two only took about fifteen.

The three shields I had managed to make were about the shape of buckler, if a bit larger. While that shield type did not offer the best protection, it would make it so the others could potentially parry blows and give them more overall defense. I excitedly set the three shields on the table, checking on Marvin.

While I looked over the few sections of exposed wiring, the others came through the door.

“Look who’s back!” joked Delta, waving his hand in front of me.

“Well, if you can put the jabs aside, I finished off some good stuff.” I said, motioning to the table while I finished on Marvin. Delta, Beta and Gamma stopped in their tracks, staring at the shields I had made.

“How? Those things are made of at least steel! Maybe even some other alloy!” Responded the factory Digit.

I flexed my hand, allowing it to expand freely, showing the darkening skin as it mutated. There was a silent gasp from the others. “Been working on better control. Sorry, didn't mean to… freak you out.” I felt my smile slip slightly at the shock on their faces. However, it was my turn to be shocked because both Gamma and Beta rushed closer, forgetting the shields, and started to prod and question me about my mutation.

I felt Delta laugh as he hefted one of the shields, activated his armored suit and placed his arm into the enarmes. I heard a whisper of “perfect” as he swing his arm in wide arcs. The man definitely reminded me of one of those mythical creatures known as dwarves, except without the beards and a modern suit of spacefaring armor.

“Where are the others? I figured Zeta would be eager to get going to find the other survivors.” I asked the youth when they let go of my arm.

“Don't know, we split off from them when they went to another building with Koma,” replied Beta.

“Huh…” I immediately pushed out with my thoughts.

Koma! Where is your group? I'm finished.

There were several mental breaths of silence until a worrisome reply came back.

Busy. Will be a bit.

I picked up my wrench from the table and passed the other two shields to Beta and Gamma. “I have a bad feeling. We should find them.”

The others nodded grimly and fell in behind me. “Marvin, follow behind us. Only attack if we pin something, I want to make sure the charge system works before putting you through fights.” Once the repulsor cart reached behind us I flew down the steps.