Chương 36: Chapter Thirty-Two - Upwards Mobility

Vena frowned at the results of her hard work. Kill Confirmed: 76x Genestealer New Point Total: 461 The number was slowing down. More concerningly, some of those kills hadn't given her a flat five points, but seven instead, which she felt was rather bizarre. Glancing around herself, she made sure that she was far enough from anyone that being overheard wouldn't be an issue. She had climbed up a few floors and had managed to talk her way past some ship enforcers into one of the main transit lines.

Her next destination was the medicae deck, several levels higher. She wasn't sure if that was entirely wise, but it was the part of the ship she knew best. Arriving at a waiting station, she stood with her arms crossed and stared down the track. One of the ship's small transport cabins was going to come around soon, and those would lead her back to the right part of the ship. In the meantime...

"Two... no, three queries," she muttered.

"I'm listening."

"First, I'm planning my first three gene modifications. I'd like something that impacts my metabolic system, especially regarding neuropeptides and sleep-regulatory chemicals. Ideally in such a way that I can stay standing for longer without the need for sleep or the negative effects of lack thereof."

"Easily done. A minor modification suite targeting your DEC2 and about seventy-six other gene markers could achieve that. The growth time of that modification would be seventy-two hours for initial effects, and six weeks for full effects. Modification cost would be approximately thirty points." She nodded. That was pretty fast, all things considered.

"Second, I need some amount of additional protection. I'm thinking we start with skin and bones."

"Thicker, faster-healing, more resistant skin is very much possible. Would you like something with a specific kind of protective index, or something more general?"

"General," she said after some consideration.

"Unless you have a better idea?"

"General is fine. Though you might want to consider Synslider Skin. It's a gene modification that would make your skin more like that of a species known as Sliders. Their skin regrows at an exceedingly fast speed, is very durable, cut-resistant, and disperses heat very well while retaining internal temperatures. It would be nearly identical to your current skin in terms of colour, though it may be a little rougher.

You would also shed skin approximately once a year, and during its initial growth, but this shedding comes as small flakes, like full-body dandruff." She considered it for a long time before nodding.

"Growth time? Cost?"

"Sixty days. Fifty points."

"Fine," she said.

"And the bones?"

"Void Skeleton modification. Eighty points. It's based on the information I could glean on Astartes' Ossmodula gland. It will turn your bones black as you absorb certain chemicals in your diet. You may want to adjust your diet over time to accommodate the gland."

"Essentially, I'll grow stronger bones over time?" she asked.

"Significantly stronger, yes. You'll have to eat a tiny amount of titanium, aluminium, and various silicates. Dietary supplements are quite cheap, however. And I would push you towards them in any case."

"Growth time?" she asked.

"Two years, with initial effects visible within a week." That all sounded good to her. Her knowledge on the modifications an Astartes possessed was limited, but she knew that they had all of these things and much more. If Vyper's quality continued to hold up, then in half a decade Vena was going to be... something. She might also still only be a Junior Medicae. That was the most frustrating part. She had to climb the rungs to excuse some of the more obvious modifications.

Self-modification wasn't unheard of amongst medicae and biologis personnel, but the materials of greater quality were reserved for the department chiefs and the experienced older members, or those with strong connections. The train cabin rumbled by, and she waited for a few people to disembark before climbing aboard.

"All three purchases, please. As long as they're subtle."

"I'll have them in your bag in a moment." New Purchase: Sleep-Regulatory Gene Modification New Point Total: 431 New Purchase: Synslider Skin - DNA Modification New Point Total: 381 New Purchase: Void Skeleton Ossification Gland - DNA Modification New Point Total: 301 All three came in the form of large pills. Uncomfortably large ones, actually, each one packaged individually with small instructions on the package. She read through all of those, then took them in the correct order.

She almost purchased some water to take them with, but she would rather endure a sore throat than waste some of her few points.

"Second query," she subvocalized.

"I need ideas on increasing my rank and political power within the ship."

"Understood. After considering the issue, I believe your best bet would be to form a friendly relationship with the people currently poised to climb the ranks. Or those who would be able to climb the ranks, but who are likely destined to fail without assistance." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Oh?" she asked leadingly.

"I cannot divulge all of the information I have gathered quite so easily, Vena. However... a small hint wouldn't be amiss... One of the department heads is currently scanning through the files of Junior Medicae, looking for someone appropriate for a task. May I suggest appearing somewhat disheveled and tired on arriving back on the medicae deck?" She wasn't sure exactly what Vyper was playing at, but she could imagine a few scenarios already, so she nodded.

"I think I can do that, yes," she said.

"Alright. Third query... the points I've gained. I understand that distance and some amount of... metaphorical distance reduce the number of points earned. I think I can even glean the reason for that. But I've gained odd numbers of points as well."

"I understand the confusion. There are systems in place to reward assisting another Vanguard. They would receive full points for confirming the kill, but you would receive a bonus for rendering assistance, even if it's significantly detached. In a scenario where the assistance is more even, or one where two Vanguards are working together directly, the total number of points earned is halved and a bonus is given to each participant. Usually with something akin to a 60: 60 ratio."

Vena felt her blood go cold, and she didn't think it had anything to do with the gene modifications she'd just swallowed. Additional Vanguard?

"How many?" she asked.

"Two. Though I'm afraid that I cannot divulge much more information than that."

"Why not?" she asked as she forced herself to calm down. A few simple cyclical breathing exercises kept her heart rate in check.

"Information isn't traded so easily between Vanguards, for reasons of privacy. I won't tell you of their dispositions, goals, and capabilities unless they wish to share, and likewise I won't share your own in return, unless you wish for me to?"

"No, I'd rather not," she said right away. It wasn't paranoia... no, actually, it was paranoia. She had killed nearly a hundred living beings today, with great ease. She imagined that two others with the same set of capabilities she now had could very well do the same. In fact, she knew that they were doing the same, though not the means. Perhaps they had set up traps, or armed some locals, or... any number of methods could be used to gain points in a way that, as Vyper described, would mean a bonus for her.

Based on the way Vyper had selected her, she imagined that both of them were level-headed, intelligent people who were capable in their own rights; not brutes simply charging in and bashing the enemy on the head with a big stick. She shook her head.

"A problem for later. If... either of them is in dire need of medicae attention, then provide my information, but only if you suspect that they'd make... acceptable allies."

"Noted." She glanced up as the train slowed to a jarring stop. This was her exit. She was the only one to step out of the carriage, but soon she joined a few others at a stairwell, climbing upwards with some haste to the well-guarded entryway into the medicae deck. The guards--employed by the medicae staff directly, and so detached from the ship's own Voidsmen contingent--eyed her, but once her ID was verified by the service skull by the entrance, she was let in past the multiple turrets and into the main atrium.

She hesitated there for a moment. If she was a department head looking for a sacrificial Junior Medicae, where would she loiter? Surprisingly, her solution came to her. A rather rotund man, whose girth strained the waistcoat of his white medicae uniform, was standing at the far end of the room, one eye fixed on a dataslate held before him while a second dataslate hovered nearby, held aloft by a servo skull. He glanced up at her, and their eyes met from across the room.

A moment later he was beaming as he moved across the space. She vaguely recognized him. Chief Cardiologist Shammer. He was a career man, which was to say he had a reputation for doing whatever he could to serve those on the upper decks and when they were in orbit around a planet of some note, he was always quick to ingratiate himself with the local nobilis.

"Junior Medicae Venin," he said.

"Good to see you well," he said.

"Sir," she replied.

"Can I help you?"

"No, no, it is I who can help you. Though... you seem tired?"

"No, sir!" she said, straightening herself to her full height, then she let her shoulders slump a little. The perfect image of any medicae that was twelve hours into a six-hour shift.

"I was, ah, volunteered to work in the lower decks, sir. I've just now returned."

"Of course. Terrible, the things going on down there. Say, Junior Medicae, would you happen to be free right now?"

"I... think I'm due a few hours of rest before I return, sir, but if there's something pressing..."

"Oh, very pressing," he said with a quick nod that had his jowls moving in a way that grossed her out.

"Say, how would you like to work with the ship's nobility? A... smaller faction of it, of course, but they are in dire need of medicae assistance, and I was just looking for a promising young Junior to send up there!"

"That... sounds hard, sir."

"Hard situations make for great medicae, wouldn't you say?"