"Who are you?! Where am I?! Ah! My body..."
The middle-aged white man's voice cracked as consciousness returned with violent abruptness. His blood-red eyes snapped open, pupils dilated with shock and confusion. The extreme pain of his body's transformation had just receded enough for higher brain functions to resume, leaving him disoriented and panicked.
His expression twisted into something ugly and afraid. Those eyes, still bloodshot from the serum's effects, locked onto Connors with wild desperation. He shouted at the top of his lungs, voice raw and hoarse from previous screaming.
Armstrong tried to understand what had happened to him, why his body felt simultaneously powerful and alien, why every muscle seemed to throb with unfamiliar energy.
Before Connors, whose expression remained completely blank and professional, could even issue a command...
Before the experimental subject could gather enough strength to attempt breaking his restraints...
An automatic servo robot extended a mechanical tentacle with fluid precision. The appendage gleamed with metallic luster under the harsh laboratory lights, moving faster than human eyes could comfortably track.
The tentacle reached Armstrong's exposed neck in a fraction of a second.
Then, intense electrical discharge erupted from the tentacle's tip. Blue-white arcs of electricity danced and crackled, the sound sharp and menacing, like a live wire touching water.
Crack! Sizzle!
Armstrong's screams reached new heights of horror as electrical current coursed through his enhanced nervous system. The smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the air immediately, acrid and nauseating. Wisps of greenish smoke rose from contact points where metal met skin, the tissue literally cooking.
The middle-aged man, despite his freshly enhanced physiology and superhuman resilience, couldn't withstand the sustained electrical assault. His enhanced muscles spasmed uncontrollably for several seconds, fighting the current, before his consciousness finally surrendered.
Armstrong collapsed back onto the metal bed, unconscious once more, small twitches running through his limbs as residual electricity discharged.
"Tsk," Connors muttered to himself, studying the monitoring equipment with renewed interest. "The electrical current the servo robot just delivered would easily kill an elephant through cardiac arrest and neurological damage. Yet it merely rendered the experimental subject unconscious rather than stopping his heart entirely."
He scratched absently at the sparse blond hair on his head, a nervous habit that had followed him since graduate school.
"This suggests the Super Soldier Serum in our possession doesn't simply enhance metabolic efficiency and general body functions. It also dramatically increases the body's resistance to various forms of damage, including electrical trauma."
Connors turned away from the unconscious subject and moved to the nearby medical equipment cart. His fingers selected a sharp scalpel from the sterilized instrument tray, the blade catching light with mirror brightness.
He approached Armstrong's leg, examining the exposed thigh with clinical detachment. Then, with deliberate care, he pressed the scalpel's edge against the skin and drew it across the surface in a shallow testing cut.
The blade, honed to surgical sharpness, didn't immediately penetrate. Instead, it caught against a layer of skin that had obviously become much tougher in texture, more resistant to cutting than normal human tissue.
Connors applied slightly more pressure, adjusting his wrist angle. Only then did the scalpel's blade finally embed itself into the subject's flesh, breaking through the enhanced dermal layer. Bright red blood oozed from the incision in slow, thick droplets.
Connors's eyes brightened with scientific excitement. He quickly extracted a small experimental notebook from his coat pocket, flipped it open to a blank page, and began recording observations with rapid handwriting. His notes covered structural changes, resistance measurements, comparative analysis with baseline human physiology.
Behind the one-way glass, Nolan stood watching with narrowed eyes. He observed Connors's methodical examination for several moments, then turned to address David.
"Tell Raditus to come up from the foundry for some fresh air," Nolan said quietly, his voice carrying clear command despite the conversational tone. "And after Mr. Connors completes his experimental protocol, have that thing transformed into a combat servitor. No point leaving a functional enhanced human with intact consciousness lying around. That's just asking for trouble."
"Understood, my Lord."
David's metal head dipped in acknowledgment. Blue light flashed intensely in its optical sockets as it transmitted instructions across the base's internal network, reaching down to the foundry levels where Raditus labored.
Approximately ten minutes passed in relative silence, broken only by the sounds of Connors working and the soft hum of medical equipment.
Then came a distinctive buzzing sound, the characteristic noise of an anti-gravity engine operating at cruising speed.
Servo-Skull Raditus emerged from the passage leading to the second underground level, its white bone casing moving with surprising grace through the doorway. The skull sailed into the observation room, optical sensors glowing red as they swept across the space.
"Lord Primarch! Long time no see, how have you been?" Raditus's mechanical voice carried notes of enthusiasm despite its synthesized quality. The skull circled Nolan several times in a greeting ritual. "Oh, and dear David! A pleasure as always!"
The servo-skull completed its circuit around Nolan, then moved to orbit David briefly in what might have been mechanical affection or simply habit.
Finally, Raditus's cold red optical sensors turned toward the one-way glass, focusing through the transparent barrier at the experimental subject lying motionless on the metal bed beyond.
"Aha! Look what we have here! A nearly perfect transformation subject!" The skull's anti-gravity engine kicked into higher gear, making it bob up and down with excitement in mid-air. "This arrives at an opportune moment! All my current projects have reached frustrating impasses. Shifting focus to something completely different might provide exactly the mental refresh I require!"
Raditus's mechanical voice stretched into longer, more enthusiastic tones as it spoke, the closest thing to joy a servo-skull could express.
At that moment, Nolan, who'd been standing with arms folded across his chest, suddenly shifted his attention. His gaze locked onto the slightly yellowed back portion of Raditus's skull casing, focusing on the Tech-Priest's transformed remains.
"Tech-Priest," Nolan said carefully, "do you have any research results you need to report? Progress on the projects I assigned?"
The servo-skull went very still in the air, its anti-gravity engine's pitch dropping to a lower, more subdued frequency.
"Well, respected Lord Primarch," Raditus began cautiously, not even turning to face Nolan directly, "it appears the Machine God has not favored me, His humble believer, during recent weeks. The projects are... not progressing as smoothly as I had hoped."
The admission clearly cost the Tech-Priest something. Pride, perhaps, or fear of disappointing its patron.
"Specifically, the energy extraction work on the Casket of Ancient Winters presents significant challenges. I cannot locate suitable core materials capable of safely containing and channeling the dimensional cold energies without catastrophic structural failure. The materials either shatter from thermal stress or prove unable to maintain proper containment fields."
Raditus paused, its optical sensors dimming slightly.
"Additionally, the magical technology underlying Asgardian artifacts proves exceptionally difficult to reverse-engineer using conventional Imperial techniques. The integration of physical engineering with what appears to be reality manipulation on a fundamental level defies standard analysis protocols."
The skull rotated slowly, finally bringing its forward sensors to bear on Nolan, as if gauging his reaction before continuing.
"However, please don't despair! I still have several promising conceptual approaches for improving your Terminator armor's performance characteristics. Furthermore, the production schedule you've been monitoring closely remains on track. All requested materials and components will be delivered to you on schedule as promised!"
Nolan's expression, which had remained neutral throughout the report, softened slightly. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Don't worry, Raditus," he said gently, his tone carrying genuine reassurance. "I'm not demanding immediate results or punishing failed experiments. These are complex problems requiring time and careful research. Take whatever time you need."
The servo-skull's optical sensors brightened noticeably, relief evident even in its mechanical responses.
"Thank you, Lord Primarch. Your understanding is... appreciated."
Nolan turned back toward the one-way glass, watching Connors continue his meticulous documentation. "For now, just focus on transforming our experimental subject into a functional combat servitor. Follow standard protocols, but feel free to implement any improvements or innovations you think appropriate."
"It will be done, my Lord."
Nolan gave final instructions to both David and Raditus, emphasizing the importance of maintaining constant surveillance on Connors's personal safety during the remaining experimental procedures. The enhanced subject might regain consciousness unexpectedly, and enhanced strength combined with the survival instinct could create dangerous situations.
After ensuring his orders were understood and would be followed, Nolan shook out his tall frame, rolling his shoulders to release accumulated tension. He turned and walked toward the base hall, leaving the observation room behind.
Several days passed in productive work.
In the brightly lit base hall, footsteps echoed with heavy, measured rhythm.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound was accompanied by the subtle hum of anti-gravity engines operating at low power, creating an unusual acoustic signature.
A massive figure, standing nearly two meters tall and built with inhuman proportions, slowly entered the hall. It moved with mechanical precision, each step identical to the last. Servo-Skull Raditus floated beside the towering creation, obviously proud of its work.
Near the metal round table, Nolan sat with a heavy book open in his hands. The tome was one of the Imperium texts he'd been studying, dense with theological and military doctrine. He looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, his gaze lifting to examine the new arrival.
His eyes widened slightly with surprise.
The combat servitor stood before him, its entire body heavily encased in layered armor. Ceramite steel plates formed the outer shell, while plasteel provided structural reinforcement beneath. The armor covered every inch of exposed flesh, leaving no vulnerable points visible to casual inspection.
"Raditus," Nolan said slowly, his confusion evident, "is this your transformation work? This combat servitor looks quite different from the standard templates I remember."
He set his book aside and gave the creation his full attention, trying to reconcile what he saw with his knowledge of standard servitor construction.
"Respected Lord Primarch!" Raditus's mechanical voice practically vibrated with excitement. The servo-skull flew back and forth around the metal round table in tight loops, unable to contain its enthusiasm. "This is a heavy combat servitor that I personally designed from the ground up! Every component has been significantly reinforced beyond standard specifications!"
The skull paused in its manic flight pattern, hovering directly before Nolan to better convey its explanation.
"The experimental subject's enhanced physique after Super Soldier Serum transformation can fully bear the weight of substantially more metal components than baseline human servitors. This presented unique design opportunities!" Raditus's tone became almost professorial. "Therefore, I added composite armor plating constructed from both plasteel and ceramite steel, achieving superior protection without excessive weight. Additionally, I installed small servo-motors throughout all major joint assemblies, providing powered assistance for movement despite the increased mass."
The skull bobbed with satisfaction.
"Admittedly, movement speed has decreased substantially compared to standard combat servitors. However, I can personally guarantee that even if a full squad of Imperial Guardsmen with lasguns aimed concentrated fire at this unit, its defensive capabilities would resist the barrage effectively. More importantly, it possesses sufficient durability and strength to quickly complete devastating counterattacks before enemy forces can adjust their tactics!"
After hearing Raditus's enthusiastic introduction, Nolan casually tossed his book onto the table and slowly stood. His height was impressive for a human, but the combat servitor still towered over him by several inches.
He approached the heavy combat servitor, examining it with critical eyes. His gaze studied the metal skull mask that completely covered what had once been Armstrong Williams's face. The mask was featureless except for optical sensors, offering no hint of the human that had existed beneath.
Then Nolan examined the composite armor plating, running his fingers across its surface. The armor measured approximately one inch thick across major body sections, providing substantial protection while maintaining reasonable articulation.
"It looks impressive," Nolan acknowledged, turning his head toward Raditus, who floated nearby in anticipation. "But how effective is its actual combat capability? Should I test it personally?"
"Uh..." The servo-skull's optical sensors flickered uncertainly. "Lord Primarch, the fundamental design purpose of combat servitors is to serve as durable shields and expendable cannon fodder. At best, they function as mobile weapon platforms. Comparing one to your personal combat abilities would be... inappropriate."
Raditus paused, gathering its thoughts.
"However, I have conducted extensive basic combat testing using automatic servo robots as opponents. This unit successfully engaged and defeated more than thirty servo robots equipped with standard lasguns in close-quarters combat using only its enhanced strength and armor. Its combat capabilities are definitely not negligible by any reasonable standard."
Nolan nodded slowly, a genuine smile spreading across his face. The expression reached his eyes, showing real pleasure and approval.
"Tech-Priest Raditus," he said with sincere warmth in his voice, "you've done excellent work here. This exceeds my expectations. Keep up the good work, and don't hesitate to implement similar improvements on future projects."
The servo-skull's optical sensors brightened to their maximum luminosity, the mechanical equivalent of beaming with pride.
"Thank you, Lord Primarch! Your approval means everything!"