Chapter 18 Bound by Steel and Blood

Coldwell's gaze was still dreamily fixated on her hands.

“Of course, of course. We can start with a base layer of synthetic polymer. It’s resistant, and though it won’t feel quite natural to you, the outward appearance will resemble human skin closely enough.”

 "This mesh layer will need frequent re-calibrations. A few times a week at least, maybe more. It’s just… crucial to maintain its delicate interaction with your, uh… unique physiology."

Aria rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Coldwell, please. I have a degree in biomechanics. I know you’re milking this. You just want me coming by so you can get an up-close look at my ‘mutated body’ on a regular basis."

He clicked his tongue, waving a dismissive hand.

"Tsk! Accusations, accusations… I’m just being thorough. This is very delicate work!"

He carried on, blissfully ignoring her glare.

"Anyway, we’ll need to apply the mesh in stages so it has time to adapt. Your, uh, mutations are pretty… let’s say, ‘unpredictable,’ so we don’t want to risk any poor fusion."

“Fine. Let’s get started.”

Hours later, after the first of many synthetic graft procedures, Aria sat in Coldwell's office. She turned her arms in front of her, watching as the light shifted over the synthetic skin now layered over her mutations. The graft had taken well, she felt no discomfort at all. The artificial covering was perfect.

Coldwell leaned back, hands on his hips as if he were admiring a newly unveiled statue.

"Now, Aria, you do realize how incredible this is, right? I mean, you’re the model of modern biomechanics. It’s the pinnacle of science and evolution. And don’t even get me started on the metal-dermis elasticity - it’s practically artwork."

Aria gave him a deadpan look.

"Are you done admiring your masterpiece? Because I’m here to get back in the field, not to be a science project. But first, I need to blend in when I join the academy before I can even dream about joining the ranks."

He put his hand over his heart, feigning offense.

"A science project? Oh, no need to be so cold. I am merely the humble artist guiding the installation. And talking about blending in, there will be no problem. New students will be joining anyway, we have a few coming our way as well."

Aria asked, catching onto his last comment.

"What do you mean, 'new students coming our way and joining'? Where are they coming from?"

Coldwell watched at Aria's puzzled expression. 

“What? Did Major Dyar not tell you? America and Brazil fell,” he asked, his tone almost nonchalant.

Aria shot up from her seat, eyes wide.

 “What do you mean, ‘fell’?! Like they were destroyed by mutants?”

“I’m sorry to tell you the bad news, but yes, they were wiped out.” 

“All of them? All of these people died? I can’t believe it. How? How could something like that happen?”

“Oh no, no,” Coldwell corrected quickly, raising his hands.

 “Not all of them died. They retreated, abandoning their land. Only their military force was obliterated holding off the mutants while the rest evacuated. They fled to other continents like Africa, Europe, and Asia.”

Aria’s heart sank as she processed the information.

 “It all happened the same day we went out to test Combelt IV?”

“Yes,” Coldwell nodded gravely.

 “We picked up an activity spike we had never seen before. Throughout the whole world, all of the mutant nests lit up like Christmas trees. They formed a wave and rushed out. Any nearby mutants joined the offensive. Every country shared reports of massive numbers of mutants attacking. For a moment, we thought the end had come.”

“What caused it? Why didn’t we see this coming?” 

Coldwell continued, “After the incident, we speculated that some new breed of mutant must have evolved, and the rest went out hunting for food. But we can't be sure. All we know is that something stirred them."

Aria slammed her fist onto Coldwell’s metal workbench, the force denting the sturdy plating as she shouted, “God damn it! People are dying every second, and here I am - stuck in Beehive - when I could be out there, killing those damn mutants! Damn it!”

Coldwell held up a hand, steadying her.

 "Aria, just calm down for a second, okay? There’s something important you need to understand about your new body, something critical."

Aria took a deep breath and slowly sat back down, her face still hard with frustration.

 “Alright, I'm sorry for the table, I’m listening. Getting angry now will not help anyone.”

Coldwell leaned in, lowering his voice. 

“Your body now - it's in delicate balance. You’re a mix of human, machine, and mutant elements. Each part responds to your emotions differently. When you give in to rage, the mutant side dominates, suppressing the machine, making you… well, more like them. But if you’re too calm too controlled all the time, the machine takes over, turning you cold, eventually… mechanical.”

“To stay human, you need to live like one. Laugh, get angry, find moments to let go, and know when to hold back - those daily emotions are what keep you centered. Your humanity keeps the scales balanced. But if you let one emotion consume you too long, one side will overwhelm the others, and you’ll lose a part of yourself in the process. The reason your body’s in a stable, human-like state now is that you've been in a coma for two weeks; the machine side stabilized you. It's not just about staying alive, Aria. It’s about staying you.”

Aria gave a slight smile, shrugging her shoulders.

 "Well, that sounds simple enough. I’m already rollercoaster of emotions, so I think I’ve got that part covered. What else have you got for me, Doc?"

 “Ah yes, there’s definitely more to discuss about your new body, Aria. Let’s start with your durability. You’ve got the best of both worlds - mutant and machine. Your skin? It’s tougher than the average mutant’s, combined with the resilience of a tactical suit. We’re talking about a living metal alloy that functions like human skin but with metallic properties. It’s elastic, impact-resistant, and self-curing. Imagine that - if you take a hit, it can absorb the impact and heal itself! It’s an astonishing creation. if you get shot by a particle rifle, I bet you would laugh it off.”

Aria’s eyes widened, absorbing the information.

 “So, I can take a beating and just bounce back?”

“Exactly!” Coldwell shouted, nodding enthusiastically.

 “But that’s just the beginning. The tactical suit’s technology was assimilated into your body during the transformation. The Vallen particle reactor is now fused with your spine, essentially making your skeleton out of the same strong alloy. It’s like you are the tactical suit itself.”

“Wait, what? So I’ve got a reactor in me? So... I’m basically a tactical suit now?”

“Precisely!” Coldwell continued. 

“The reactor is fully functional, and the AI core is integrated as well. By powering on the system, you can access all the same functions that a normal tactical suit has - body strengthening, AI assistance, and other features."

“So, I’m basically a walking weapon now?”

Coldwell laughed, clearly enjoying this moment more than he probably should. 

“Well, I wouldn’t go putting ‘weapon’ on your ID just yet, but yes, in a way. Now, beyond durability and the AI core, let’s talk about energy.”

He pointed at her back where the Vallen particle reactor was fused into her spine. 

“This reactor? It powers your entire system, from enhanced strength to speed, and it’s directly linked to your nervous system. Think of it as having a perpetual source of energy within you, but—” he held up a finger, “—you’ll need to monitor it. Push it too hard for too long, and, well… let’s just say things get risky.”

“Risky how?”