The order from Central Command moved through the Science Division like a lightning strike.
Within hours, entire laboratories had been cleared and repurposed. Security clearances were elevated. Research teams were reassigned. What had begun as a classified investigation had now become a full imperial directive.
Two orbiton units arrived at the Institute under heavy escort.
The first stood like a black monolith inside the primary testing hangar—the NOIR unit. Its matte armor still carried the scars of its recent battle, though much of the outer plating had already been removed. Sections of its internal structure were exposed now, revealing the dense lattice of reinforced frames, conduits, and neural relay systems.
Beside it stood Leonora's personal machine.
The Phantom.
Where NOIR looked brutal and compact, Phantom looked elegant and predatory. Its armor was lighter, built for speed rather than endurance. The plating carried a faint metallic silver hue, with narrow violet lines running along the limbs and torso like flowing energy channels. Even dormant, the unit seemed ready to move.
The order delivered to the Science Division was simple in wording.
But almost impossible in execution.
Develop an artificial cortex capable of matching the output of the Hound unit without killing the pilot.
Makali had not slept since the directive arrived.
Youri and Leonora oversaw the work directly from the observation deck above the testing floor. Engineers moved constantly beneath them, operating cranes, scanners, and suspended fabrication rigs. The central assembly platform held the partially disassembled NOIR unit where the new component would be installed.
Makali stood below with his research team, sleeves rolled up, issuing instructions in rapid succession.
"Energy conduits recalibrated?"
"Channel alignment stable at ninety-four percent, director."
"Good. Increase the damping threshold to ninety-eight before activation."
One of the engineers hesitated.
"Director… if the cortex output spikes beyond predicted values—"
Makali cut him off calmly.
"Then the entire chamber shuts down before the pilot is harmed."
Above them, Leonora watched silently.
"You trust them with this?" she asked.
Youri's eyes remained fixed on the machine below.
"I trust Makali to stop before killing me."
Leonora glanced at him sharply.
"You're piloting the first test."
It was not a question.
"Yes."
Her jaw tightened.
"That cortex is experimental."
"So is the enemy we're facing."
Leonora said nothing for a moment.
Then she exhaled quietly.
"Try not to die."
A faint smile touched the corner of Youri's mouth.
"I'll do my best."
Seven days after the order had been issued, the first artificial cortex prototype was ready.
Makali named it ACX-01.
The component itself was surprisingly small—roughly the size of a human fist. Its outer casing was built from the same rare alloy used in artifact implants. Beneath its shell, microscopic Valis particle conduits formed a dense web of energy channels surrounding a central ignition core.
Unlike Serin's original design, ACX-01 contained multiple stabilizing rings meant to regulate energy flow before it reached the orbiton's primary core.
Makali had designed it specifically to avoid the fatal energy channel expansion that plagued God Unit synchronization.
At least in theory.
The testing chamber sealed with a heavy mechanical clang.
Youri stood inside the NOIR cockpit as the technicians finished installing the cortex module beneath the unit's primary core assembly.
"Cortex link established," one engineer reported.
"Energy flow at standby."
Makali's voice echoed through the chamber speakers.
"Duke Kronos, can you hear us clearly?"
"Loud and clear," Youri replied.
Above the hangar floor, Leonora stood beside the main control console, arms crossed tightly.
Makali glanced up toward her briefly.
Then he turned back to the engineers.
"Begin neural synchronization."
Inside the cockpit, faint blue light flickered across the control panels as NOIR's systems began awakening.
"Neural link at twenty percent," a technician announced.
"Thirty."
"Forty."
Youri felt the familiar sensation of the machine connecting to him—like distant limbs slowly becoming part of his own body.
The cockpit dimmed.
His vision shifted into the orbiton's sensory network.
The giant machine began to move.
NOIR's fingers flexed slowly.
The entire testing platform vibrated slightly under its weight.
"Synchronization stable at sixty-five percent," the console operator reported.
Makali nodded.
"Proceed."
Inside the cockpit, Youri inhaled slowly.
"Core temperature stable," another engineer said.
"Artificial cortex ready for ignition."
Leonora leaned slightly closer to the display screens.
Makali rested one hand against the console.
"Duke Kaelthorn… we are about to activate the cortex."
Youri's voice remained calm.
"Understood."
A long second passed.
Makali gave the command.
"Activate ACX-01."
Inside NOIR's chest cavity, the artificial cortex ignited.
At first, the change was subtle.
Thin streams of energy began circulating through the orbiton's internal conduits like glowing threads. The Valis particle network awakened gradually, feeding controlled bursts of power toward the primary core.
"Energy output rising," an engineer said.
"Ten percent above baseline."
"Fifteen."
Inside the cockpit, Youri felt it immediately.
The machine felt… lighter.
More responsive.
Like an engine suddenly given room to breathe.
"Output stable," another technician said. "No structural stress detected."
Makali leaned closer to the readings.
"Push synchronization higher."
Youri complied.
NOIR's eyes ignited with a deeper crimson glow.
"Twenty percent increase."
"Thirty."
Leonora's eyes narrowed.
The numbers were climbing faster than expected.
Inside the cockpit, Youri tightened his grip on the control interface.
"Machine responsiveness improving," he said calmly. "Movement latency reduced."
Makali nodded.
"Continue."
"Forty percent increase," an engineer announced.
Then—
A warning tone flashed across the console.
"Director… energy fluctuation detected in the cortex."
Makali leaned forward instantly.
"What kind of fluctuation?"
"Valis particle density rising beyond predicted levels."
Inside NOIR, the artificial cortex burned brighter.
Youri felt a sudden surge of power flood through the machine.
His voice remained steady.
"System pressure increasing."
Leonora stepped forward.
"Shut it down."
Makali hesitated.
The readings spiked again.
"Director," another engineer said urgently, "core pressure rising."
Inside the cockpit, Youri felt the machine tremble.
The cortex was no longer feeding controlled bursts of energy.
It was surging.
Makali's eyes widened slightly.
"Impossible…"
Then he understood.
"It's resonating with the pilot interface."
Leonora's voice cut through the room.
"Shut it down now!"
Makali slammed his hand against the console.
"Emergency shutdown!"
Inside NOIR, the artificial cortex dimmed abruptly.
The flood of energy vanished.
The machine froze in place.
For a moment the entire chamber remained silent.
Then the systems slowly powered down.
Youri exhaled quietly inside the cockpit.
Above the floor, Leonora closed her eyes briefly in relief.
Makali stared at the data stream still scrolling across the monitors.
Then he whispered something under his breath.
"It worked…"
Leonora turned sharply toward him.
"That almost killed him."
Makali shook his head slowly.
"No."
He pointed to the final readings.
"The cortex stabilized before shutdown."
Leonora looked at the numbers.
Energy output peak.
Seventy-two percent of the Hound unit's recorded output.
And the core had not ruptured.
Makali looked up toward the cockpit.
For the first time since the project began, his voice carried excitement.
"We're closer than I thought."
Inside the silent NOIR unit, Youri slowly opened his eyes.
And for the first time since encountering the Hound—
he could feel the gap between them beginning to close.