He lloked down at the tea, then back up at Sanako again. His expression visually changed as his brain apparently processed who she meant with 'a good friend'. I-I'm honored. And the tea - it's really good. You know, I often wondered what route I would have taken when I wouldn't have become a part of the Canaan Project back then. I mean obviously there is no real answer to that, but I think if I would leave the Canaan Project for whatever reason I'd become a barkeeper.
As Alex finished his tea, he got up and walked over to the bar. As we are already on-topic I guess this would make for a good second training. This will test your reflexes, the fluidity of your motions, the sense of pressure and we'll also figure out how you handle liquids. Sanako barely managed to turn around to see a coctail glass flying directly at her, followed by multiple bottles with colorful liquids, as well as a shaker and a bag of ice.
Throwing objects of interior at people is not exactly a proper behavior! However... it stands only for common human beings.
And Canaan wasn't a gathering of your average people, even finding them was a task requiring some special skills.
Sanako literally had only a brief moment to react to the volley of objects flying towards her; the glass have almost caught her off guard, would it be her before the augmentation - it would probably get her there, rendering her buried under the bottles and a bag of ice as a final accord to ease her state after being eventually hit with three relatively rought objects.
For current Sanako it didn't as it was supposed to work on an average human: swift analysis of the situation registered all the objects, in moments all the information was transferred to brain much faster, in the meantime she already started acting, getting a firm grip over the glass and carefully putting it down on the floor, the bottles have followed afterwards - she carefully placed on the floor in a line, one after one, catching the last one while sitting, to let the bag of ice fly past harmless and unharmed, it struck the wall somewhere behind Sanako and fell down to the floor as well.
She stood up, turned around and picked up the ice, putting it down close to the glass and the bottles, pointing at them for Alex to pay attention.
Of course you can. Just make sure you follow the exact instructions. Alex sat back down next to Sanako and watched her closely. The fluidity of her motions were impecable and so natural. It was really great to see how far technology has come, since Alex received the first enhancements himself. Sanako poured drink after drink, while Alex kept supplying her with new recipies through the Canaan neural network. With every drink she got closer and closer to mixing them with maximal possible accuracy. As the table filled up with drinks and the first bottles ran out, Alex stopped sending recipies. You know I'm getting kind of jeallous. You're doing good - even better than expected. I mean you're still early in your training, but you're making progress fast. I'd say we're good on the training front for now. I'm working on some projects myself and James wants to see progress soon. I'll let you start work on your own project now, if you need help of have any questions you can feel free to contact me - any time, any place. He stood up from his seat and already started to turn towards one of the other room modules, but stopped and turned back towards Sanako. I might need your help on one of my projects as well. If you want to start work on your project first that's completely fine though.
Quite some time have passed since Sanako have first stepped aboard Arcadia, and already around a week since the initial precision training have been accomplished; during that time Fujinomiya devoted her to her own project: 'a perfect body, being created for the sole purpose of overcoming the imperfection of a human, along with my own flaws.'
First task was the most responsible one: to pick the materials of which the initial and advanced construction is going to be performed; each choice made have had the maximum efficiency in mind: carbon was picked to form a skeleton of the whole body - light and durable, nothing would match it in meeting the provided challenge. Shaping it's form from the carbon found aboard of Arcadia with the scalpel Sanako was carving metal roses from the cubes, along with using preemptively uploaded schematics and her new precision exceeding general Sirius humanity best engineers.
As the third day dawned and the skeleton have formed the basic shape of the future synthetic body - it only lacked it's 'skull', and Sanako have currently been working on shaping it from a black carbon cube similiar to those metallic ones she used for roses.
Currently, she was sitting in the easychair in the lab, slowly and steadily shaping the cube into a form of a general human skull, focused on the task and barely paying attention to what was going around her, in the room, except for concerning minor disturbance on the inner Canaan network. Still too focused to pay attention to it - at least, until Alex rushed into the door with a concerned expression on his face.
Anata ni tsuite nanika arimasu ka?
Sanako asked in Kusarian, raising her sight to the concerned young man, awaiting the answer to her question.
While Alex wasn't out of breath, there was quite some concern in his voice. There are strong indications that one of the firewalls of the Arcadia has been breached. We're not certain who is trying to breach the system or from where they're doing it, but that means trouble for sure. His attention focused on a random point of the ceiling, as he was most likely listening to a message forwarded to him, or checking the status of the other firewalls. Anyway, James needs all of us in the conference room. He made a short pause and looked at Sanako who's expression changed to being pretty serious as well. You're probably aware that your training hasn't progressed to the point we would have liked you to be at before we involve you into cyber combat activities, but this is an emergency and we need every help we can get. Do you feel like you're up to this challenge?
Do you indeed think i stepped over the edge of Arcadia to be afraid of some firewall malfunctions or cyber attacks? If it'd be justiified for me - i'd still sit somewhere around Kyushu, not showing my nose out of there and would've only been fighting my health complications. But i am here, with you, and i am ready to kick ass of whatever is trying to violate my new home.
While holding that confident speech, Sanako stood up, focusing her gaze on Alex, telling him to guide her to the conference room without any delays and that she's not going to step back. Not now.
There's only one thing i actually regret about this - they did not allow me to finish my perfect new body to deal with them approprietaly, without holding back. Sadly, it's only a skeleton now... speaking of which - i would need some flexible synthetic material to form muscles and joints.
Alex was about to start heading to the bridge after Sanako finished the first part of her speech and her gaze, taking it as a yes from her. He stopped mid-turn and turned back around when she continued talking. Yeah, that's a bummer, but we really need to leave now before there is irreperable damage caused. I've got an idea or two for your issue, but this is not the time for that.
The two of them waited until the module they were currenty in reached the module below the bridge. In front of them was a room with a circular platform in the middle. As they stepped on the platform it rose up to the circular hole in the ceiling leading to the bridge. They were greeted by James, Bacchus and the rest of the Canaan crew that Sanako met when she first arrived on the Arcadia, alongside a few other people she recognized from their respective files. The whole room felt like an electric current was running through the air. While some people turned around as they entered, most of the other people kept their focus on one of the screens or were staring out of the large windows that allowed a clear sight into the green nebula that enveloped the whole ship. Finally James, who was standing in the center of the far glass wall turned and adressed all present Canaan Project members.
Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to assemble here. And a special thanks to everyone who took the time to alert everyone who didn't read my message in time. James smiled and looked around the room, focusing his eyes on a few select members, among which were Nikki, who looked very embarressed, as well as Sanako. The smile James gave them was neither bitter, nor condescending, but purely informative. Since I sent my initial message a pattern has started to emerge, concerning the origin of the cyberattack. As far as we can tell right now the attack is either administered by a human with an intellect that surpasses anything that has been recorded to this point or a hostile AI. The second option is the most likely. Our plan right now is to mobilize as many people as possible and initiate a counterattack via our virtual interface. I will spare everyone who was not involved with the development of the virtual interface the trouble of looking the project up and inform you that it is a state where all non-vital brain processes are swiched off and all of your forcus is directed towards the 3D simulation of the Canaan network. That state increases our focus on network-related activities, while the 3D enviroment allows us to work on multiple instances of a program or activity, which also increases productivity. James paused, to allow everyone to take in the information. He obviously knew that some of them would look up additional information about the virtual interface or would start simulating scenarios what the possible dangers of such a way of moving within the network could be. After a few seconds, James took the word once again. As a part of the Canaan Project you are not forced to do anything, but every help is appreciated. Now before you volounteer to help please note that unscheduled contact with any other network - like the attacking one - could result in a coma-like state including potential brain damage and potential permanent memory loss. Now: who would be willing to assist?
Over the short period of time after i have stepped over the edge of Arcadia, leaving behind everything valuable to me in pursuit of my dream of neverending self-improvement - i have found my new family and my new home. James, Alex, Bacchus, Nate and Nicky were the ones who i have initially met and who i am now getting along with well. So why the hell should i allow all this to be gone in vain without putting any effort into protecting what is valuable for me, my new family, every last one of you, and my new home - Canaan project.
Fujinomiya stepped out of the group of people she came along with, raising her hand into the air, attempting to attract attention of James El Harady holding a speech before all the people present. She walked past the leader of the project, and turned to everyone.
Brothers and Sisters of Canaan, you may - or may not follow me to fight this threat. But i have decided pretty much everything for myself, and i will not just stand and watch everything i was putting efforts to reach to just crumble in a matter of days. Not while my heart is still beating. If you allow me - I would like to volunteer.
As many of the present members of the Canaan Project followed Fujinomiya in her dramatic display of unity, a modest smile grew on James' face. While the number of members willing to assist was expected, the manner of them showing their support was touching, if not a little overacted. I'm happy that you all feel that way. Now for everyone who didn't volounteer to combat the intruder via the virtual interface can proceed to the stationary terminals. I will need you to help me coordinate the operation. Everyone else can proceed to module #258. Make sure to access the information about the usage of the virtual interface pods before accessing them.
ALmost simultaniously the people present split into two groups, one moving to the back of the room with the stationary terminals and the other, larger one moving towards the elevator-platform that led back down to the dynamic part. As they were standing side by side below the bridge in one of the only stationary parts of the Arcadia, they waited and watched, as module #258 moved into view almost forebodingly.
One after the other, the volounteers stepped into the pods that would both monitor their vital functions, as their bodies entered a hybernation-like state, while allowing them to use the virtual interface. A few concerned looks were exchanged between the volounteers, possibly as they reached the "possible dangers and side-effects" section of the virtual interface manuscript, but most of them looked as serious and determined as Sanako, when the glass hatch of the pods closed in front of them. The sensation that came next was like an electric shock, paired with bright flashing colors similar to the effect when immense pressure is exerted on human eyes. And just as quick as the sensation came, it was over.
Unsurprisingly, Canaan augmented sub-reality looked exactly like the original Arcadia - maybe, with the exclusion of multiple unnotable differences added already after it's creation by it's host - or altered by those who visited it during the existance of the project; deeper analysis allowed to conclude that this 'reality' was a usually locked part of Canaan network - as it required special interface to access it, it was easier to make it a separate layer integrated into the internal network rather than implementing a completely new network built from a scratch with the usage of existing experience. It, however, included certain risks, but those have been covered by a decent firewall between the two sub-networks.
Sanako found herself in a distant corridor, with no living soul around - apparently, someone though it'd be a good idea to separate the entry locations for every pod; or was it the unidentified invader already messing something for the possible defenders, to make their cooperation and joint actions more complicated on such a simple level? Everything could be possible.
I guess we should only hope there are no mobile bays in this sub-reality, otherwise it will make finding the source more complicated... However, i should start with reuniting the volunteers beforehand, not going to run through the area alone.
Fujinomiya could not really rely on her personal memory about the plans of Arcadia - her routes around the Canaan flaship was limited to necessary minimum, most of the time she was spending in the laboratory working on her project, so she had to rely on the maps existing in the Canaan network. However, the entry locations was not marked on this map, but having it avaliable is still better than nothing. On the other hand - Sanako noticed a concerning matter of how messy the surrounding looked. Looks like the attacker have already found his ways to screw with Canaan inner network, and had to be stopped as soon as possible...
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