Accompanied by a very subtle sound, barely audible even in the quiet of the material storage room, the black metal cube shaped like a Rubik's Cube began its transformation. Valves opened and closed with precise mechanical timing, internal mechanisms engaging with purposes beyond modern comprehension.
The cube slowly opened up the small hollow squares embedded across its surface, each compartment revealing itself in sequence. The motion was hypnotic, methodical, each square sliding into position with mathematical precision.
At this moment, Nolan stood completely still, concentration etched into every line of his face. He didn't even allow himself to blink, afraid that missing even a second of the process might result in catastrophic failure.
He wore protective goggles strapped securely over his face, the lenses slightly fogging from his breath despite the room's climate control. He held that breath now, chest tight with anticipation, hands steady through sheer force of will.
He began to carefully insert various types of basic materials one by one, following the formula sequence that had been precisely engraved on the surface of the metal cube in Imperial Gothic script. Each ingredient went into its designated compartment. Chemical compounds. Biological cultures. Mineral extracts. Elements both common and rare.
His movements were deliberate, methodical, double-checking each placement against the instructions before proceeding to the next. There was no room for error here, no opportunity for correction if he made a mistake.
After all the small squares had been filled with their designated materials, the containers sitting flush with the cube's surface, something remarkable happened.
The black metal cube retracted all the squares in an instant. The motion was so fast it seemed to happen all at once, materials simply vanishing into the cube's interior as the surface sealed itself completely.
Then, across the surface of the metal cube that now showed absolutely no gaps or seams, as though it had never opened at all, something new began to manifest.
Layers of hazy light waves gradually started emanating from the cube's core, rippling outward in expanding rings. The illumination was soft, almost ethereal, reminding Nolan of heat shimmer rising from sun-baked pavement. The light pulsed with a rhythm that seemed almost organic, as though the cube had a heartbeat.
Nolan, who had been exercising extreme caution throughout this entire process, instinctively reacted to this new phenomenon. His tall body jerked backward, muscles tensing for fight or flight. He took several quick steps in retreat, putting distance between himself and the potentially dangerous device.
His hand moved unconsciously toward where he would normally carry a weapon, finding empty air. He'd deliberately come unarmed to avoid contaminating the sterile environment.
Then, after a few seconds of observation during which nothing exploded or released toxic gas, Nolan gradually relaxed. He recognized the light waves for what they were: simply a characteristic of the STC's activation process, a sign that the Panacea production sequence had begun.
He subconsciously let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the air escaping in a long, relieved sigh.
"My performance just now was like a monkey who had never seen civilization," Nolan muttered to himself, a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips. "Well, facing a Standard Construction Template that can automatically manufacture a Panacea without connecting to any external energy source and requiring no additional operations beyond loading materials, I, who have such limited knowledge of Dark Age technology, may really be just a monkey in comparison."
The comparison was apt if unflattering. Humanity had once achieved technological heights that modern civilization could barely comprehend, let alone replicate.
"By the way, are other Standard Construction Templates this convenient?" The question occurred to him suddenly. "I should ask Raditus later. As a Tech-Priest, even one as unconventional as that servo skull, it should have at least encountered other types of STCs during its service to the Mechanicus, right?"
Nolan narrowed his eyes slightly, his vision partially obscured behind the protective goggles. He continued his habit of thinking out loud, finding the verbal processing helped organize his thoughts.
About half an hour passed. Time moved slowly when you were watching and waiting, each minute stretching longer than the last. Nolan found himself checking the ancient chronometer mounted on the storage room wall repeatedly, certain more time had elapsed than the device indicated.
Finally, the hazy light waves covering the surface of the metal cube began to slowly dissipate. They faded like morning mist under sunlight, growing thinner and less distinct until they vanished entirely.
The entire black metal cube fell completely silent and still. Whatever process had been occurring within its ancient mechanisms had apparently concluded. The device sat inert on the workbench, giving no sign of the minor miracle it had just performed.
The next second, a single square in the very center of the cube's upper face rose up silently, lifting on hidden actuators. The motion was smooth, controlled, opening what had previously been a sealed entrance to reveal the cube's interior.
Nolan couldn't help but take a deep breath after unconsciously rubbing his palms together, a nervous gesture left over from his fully human days. His hearts hammered in his chest as anticipation warred with anxiety.
He suppressed the eager excitement threatening to make his hands shake and quickly stepped forward, closing the distance to the workbench in three long strides.
In the depths of the risen square compartment, nestled in perfectly sized indentations clearly designed for this exact purpose, lay the fruits of the STC's labor.
Thirteen pieces of ice-blue material, each approximately the size of a fingertip, with sharp geometric edges that caught the light. They were crystal clear, possessing an internal luminescence that made them seem to glow from within. The crystals appeared almost too perfect to be real, like something from a jeweler's fever dream.
They lay arranged in a neat pattern within the compartment, appearing clearly before Nolan's wondering gaze.
Then, with a hint of doubt creeping into his eyes despite his excitement, Nolan carefully reached forward. His fingers, protected by sterile medical gloves he'd donned before beginning this process, moved with exaggerated care.
He delicately picked up a single ice-blue Panacea crystal that resembled nothing so much as a precisely cut gemstone. The object felt solid between his fingertips, substantial despite its small size.
"Uh... is this the Panacea?" His voice carried genuine uncertainty. The question hung in the air unanswered.
"Why does it look exactly like Heisenberg's 'special rock candy' at first glance?" The comparison to Breaking Bad's infamous blue crystal methamphetamine was unfortunate but undeniable. The resemblance was actually quite striking.
His fingertips rolled the crystal carefully, repeatedly feeling the distinct coldness radiating from the Panacea despite the room's ambient temperature. The material was also surprisingly hard, resisting the pressure of his enhanced grip. It felt more like compressed diamond than any pharmaceutical he'd encountered.
Nolan continued muttering to himself, working through his doubts verbally.
"Forget it. Let's bring this to Connors to study and determine the specific effects. If there are no unexpected problems, this should represent a successful synthesis, right?"
Nolan's thoughts raced as his eyes narrowed in calculation. A dozen different possibilities and applications spun through his mind simultaneously. The implications were staggering if this truly worked as advertised.
He carefully gathered all thirteen Panacea crystals from the square compartment, cupping them in one palm where they clicked together with soft crystalline sounds. Then he turned to exit the material storage room, mission accomplished.
However, his tall body had taken only a few steps toward the door when a thought occurred. Nolan stopped mid-stride, turned around with sudden decision, and walked back to retrieve the Panacea STC itself.
The device had restored itself to a complete, seamless metal cube once more, showing no sign of the compartments that had opened earlier. He picked it up carefully, surprised again by its weight, and tucked it securely under one arm.
Only then did he proceed out the door, carrying both the STC and its precious products.
Nolan, holding both the STC and the handful of Panacea crystals, moved quickly through the base corridors toward Connors' laboratory. His long strides covered ground rapidly, urgency driving his pace.
He reached the lab entrance and immediately began donning the required protective equipment. First came the disposable mask, elastic bands stretching over his head to hold it in place. Then the full protective suit, sealed at wrists and ankles to prevent contamination in either direction.
He worked methodically through the decontamination protocols, following the established procedures with practiced efficiency. Only after the disinfection cycle completed did he step through the interior door into the laboratory proper.
The scene that greeted him was simultaneously mundane and surreal.
A green humanoid lizard wearing a pristine white lab coat sat hunched before a laboratory table, his scaled form bent over papers covered in complex equations. A pair of small glasses perched somewhat precariously on his flat cheeks, constantly threatening to slide off the smooth scales. The lizard's clawed hand held a pen, carefully calculating some intricate data sequence.
"Teach, why are you doing human experiments on yourself again?" Nolan's voice carried both exasperation and genuine concern. A frown creased his features as he sighed subconsciously at the familiar sight.
He slowly walked to the opposite side of the laboratory table and gently set down both the Panacea crystals and the STC, arranging them carefully on the clean surface.
"Oh? Nolan, you're here." Connors slightly raised his lizard head, scales catching the laboratory's bright lights and producing subtle iridescent sheens. "Our base is being prepared for relocation, and I'm attempting to produce results as quickly as possible. Although I've been spending long hours in the lab, that doesn't mean I'm unaware of the external pressures you're facing."
There seemed to be no readable emotion in his pair of yellow vertical pupils, the reptilian eyes utterly alien compared to human expressions. But his slightly low voice, distorted somewhat by his transformed vocal structure, was nevertheless full of genuine concern for his student.
"Teach, I know you're doing this for everyone's benefit, but you cannot continue using yourself as the primary test subject." Nolan removed the mask from his face, needing Connors to see his expression. He spoke with helpless exasperation. "What if a more serious mutation occurs? What if the transformation becomes irreversible or dangerous? As long as you give the order, the Gang Dogs can sweep through the city to locate suitable subjects among the damn murderers and violent criminals. We're not lacking for candidates."
"Haha, don't worry. I will definitely delegate next time. Next time for certain." Connors shook his lizard head with a low, hissing laugh that was his species' equivalent of amusement. The promise rang hollow, both of them knowing he'd said the same thing before. "I'm simply too impatient to know precisely how many flaws remain in the limb regeneration potion formula. And you must admit, I have convenient appendages to assist with the experiments. An extra hand and a tail, how useful they are."
The thick tail in question swayed slightly behind him as if to emphasize the point, the scaled appendage moving with unconscious grace.
"By the way, Nolan, what brings you to my laboratory?" Connors raised one clawed hand to remove the small glasses from his face, setting them aside carefully. He stared directly at Nolan with those unsettling yellow vertical pupils and asked with genuine curiosity.
At this moment, Nolan, whose expression had returned to studied calm despite his inner excitement, raised his own hand and pointed deliberately at the STC and thirteen Panacea crystals arranged on the table between them.
He spoke slowly, choosing his words with care to properly convey the magnitude of what he was presenting.
"Teach, this is the Standard Construction Template I mentioned to you previously. This particular device is an incredibly precious STC specifically designed for genetic therapy drug production." He paused, letting that sink in. "If this were placed in Raditus's homeworld, in the domains of the Adeptus Mechanicus, it would likely trigger another horrific war that would sweep across countless planets. Even here on Earth, if everyone understood its true efficacy and potential, armed conflict would be virtually inevitable."
Hearing Nolan's dramatic introduction, Connors, who had been sitting relaxed in his chair, subconsciously straightened his tall lizard body. The motion was instinctive, unconscious, his posture reflecting the sudden spike in attention.
His thick lizard tail swayed with more animation behind him, the appendage reflecting his rising emotional state even when his reptilian features could not.
"Although I am not truly an expert in physical sciences, that was never my specialization," Connors admitted readily, "I can nevertheless observe that the technological sophistication of this device far exceeds anything from the modern era. That much is evident just from examining its construction and materials."
His yellow vertical pupils moved back and forth repeatedly, studying both the Rubik's Cube-shaped Panacea STC and the ice-blue crystals with professional interest.
"Nolan, what specific disease is this genetic drug designed to treat?" The question was asked almost casually, as though he expected a narrow application. Cancer, perhaps. Or some specific genetic disorder.
"All diseases on Earth."
Nolan let the statement hang for a moment, watching Connors' reaction.
"Perhaps in the future, we will encounter exotic diseases in space that cannot be cured by this formula. Alien pathogens or conditions that don't exist on Earth. But right now, in this moment, I am one hundred percent certain that the Panacea can successfully treat ninety-nine point nine percent of all diseases currently known to humanity."
Nolan, squinting his eyes against the laboratory's bright lights, couldn't help but allow a grin to spread across his features. He spoke with understated confidence, the faint smile carrying absolute certainty.
A pair of snow-white fangs seemed to gleam slightly under the soft illumination, catching and reflecting the light.
For a long moment, Connors seemed to be completely stunned into silence. His lizard form froze mid-motion, processing the impossible claim he'd just heard.
Then, suddenly, he lurched forward with explosive energy. His lizard body propped itself up on powerful legs as excitement overwhelmed his usual scientific restraint.
He didn't even seem to notice when his thick tail swept sideways in his agitation, striking his chair with enough force to knock it completely over. The furniture clattered loudly against the floor, the sound echoing in the lab.
"Nolan! Tell me you're not lying right now! Is this true?" Connors' voice rose in pitch and volume, scaled hands gesturing emphatically. "Are you seriously claiming this is a Panacea that can cure virtually all diseases? All of them?"
The skepticism in his tone warred with desperate hope. Such a thing would revolutionize medicine, would save millions, billions of lives. It was too good to be true, which meant it probably wasn't true.
Connors subconsciously studied every subtle shift in Nolan's facial expression with those yellow vertical pupils, searching for any sign of deception or exaggeration. Looking for the catch, the limitation, the fine print.
Nolan, whose expression had returned to complete calm and seriousness, nodded heavily. Once. Deliberately. His entire posture communicated absolute sincerity.
He spoke with careful emphasis, making sure every word was clearly understood.
"Teach, you should know my character well enough by now. I never take things lightly when it comes to matters of genuine importance. I don't exaggerate or make claims I cannot support."
He gestured toward the ice-blue crystals.
"This is indeed, to the absolute best of my knowledge, a one hundred percent genuine Panacea. However, I cannot personally guarantee the specific effects or effectiveness without proper testing. You still need to analyze and verify the Panacea's capabilities yourself through rigorous scientific method."
Nolan paused, then added with pointed emphasis:
"Teach, I am explicitly not asking you to conduct human experiments on yourself to verify these claims. Please hear that clearly. Do not test this on yourself first."
He leaned forward slightly, making sure he had Connors' full attention.
"Because I don't actually know with certainty what this STC just manufactured. The formula might have errors. The materials might have been contaminated. This might be some failed toxic substance rather than a cure. We need proper analysis first."
"Don't worry! Nolan, I understand completely. Leave everything to me!"
Nolan's voice had not even finished delivering its warning when Connors, whose breathing had grown noticeably heavier with excitement, shook his lizard head vigorously in acknowledgment.
Then, in a motion almost too fast to follow, Connor suddenly extended one sharp claw with glinting talons at the fingertips. He snatched up a single crystal-clear ice-blue Panacea from the table, clutching it possessively.
His tall lizard body immediately turned and strode with purpose toward the extensive array of analytical instruments filling the laboratory. Mass spectrometers. Gene sequencers. Chromatography equipment. Everything needed for comprehensive pharmaceutical analysis.
Watching his humanoid lizard enter what was clearly another session of obsessive experimental focus, Nolan opened his mouth to continue offering warnings and cautions. The words formed on his tongue, ready to be delivered.
But seeing Connors already completely absorbed in preparation, muttering calculations to himself while powering up equipment, Nolan simply closed his mouth quietly without speaking.
He shrugged helplessly at the empty air, a gesture of resignation to forces beyond his control. You couldn't stop Connors when he entered this state. The professor would work until he had answers, sleeping and eating only when his body absolutely demanded it.
Nolan turned and walked out of the laboratory, leaving Connors to his analysis.
The Panacea's secrets would be revealed soon enough.
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