Lighting equipnt powered by the Ark Reactor had been installed between the uneven rock walls of Nolan's private cave. The fixtures cast steady, clean illumination that banished shadows to the furthest corners.
But maybe it was for atmosphere and warmth, or perhaps simple preference, the huge fire pit in the middle of the cave remained completely preserved. David had offered to remove it. Nolan had refused.
Fire was primal. Comforting in ways artificial light could never match.
As flas flickered and danced, wisps of orange and yellow light painted the cave walls in shifting patterns. The fire crackled, consuming wood with steady hunger. Heat radiated outward in waves, pushing back the mountain's chill.
Strong flas licked at Glox steak positioned on a tal grill pan above the coals. The at sizzled loudly, fat rendering and dripping onto hot tal. Each drop created small flares, brief explosions of brightness.
The aroma was intoxicating. Oil and char and protein. Extrely attractive, filling the cave with scent that made saliva flow automatically.
Next to the fire pit, Nolan sat cross-legged on the stone floor. He wore his power armor still, ceramite plates reflecting firelight. The armor's weight ant nothing to him, as natural as skin.
He ate with bold movents, like a wild wolf that had been hungry for too long. No pretense. No delicacy. Just pure consumption, devouring the at David had cooked with single-minded focus.
His hands tore at the steak, teeth ripping through seared exterior to reach the tender flesh beneath. Juices ran down his chin, ignored. This was sustenance. Fuel. Pleasure.
David stood nearby, tending the fire and additional at still cooking. His tal form caught the flas' glow, bronze surfaces warm with reflected light. Blue optics tracked Nolan's consumption with what might have been satisfaction.
"My Lord, the operation system of the Twin Islands Base is gradually on the right track." David's chanical voice carried clearly over the fire's crackle. "The existence of the machine spirit Procellas has greatly reduced the processing speed of many chores. If there are no unexpected situations in a short period of ti, we can consider using Procellas as the center, with countless Scyllax Guardian-automata, to build the central control core system of the entire base."
He paused, considering implications. "In this way, the efficiency of both production tasks and execution operations will be greatly improved."
The Man of Iron handed Nolan another plate of steaming steaks, the at still radiating heat that distorted the air above it.
Nolan, face full of grease and completely unbothered by it, took the plate casually. He didn't even look up from his current piece of at, words erging between bites.
"If various defense systems can be built inside the base, I have no problem with that." He swallowed, reaching for the fresh steak. "By the way, in order to prevent possible unexpected situations, David, when the ti cos, you will personally cast a tal statue of the Emperor and place it in the core of Procellas's base."
Another bite. Chew. Swallow. Continue speaking. "Also select so useful seals from the prayer scriptures about the Omnissiah that you rember and engrave them at so key node locations."
At this mont, David's movents stilled. The blue lights in his eyes seed to flicker with sothing approaching discomfort. Perhaps mory. Perhaps old pain.
The ancient machine quickly shook its tal head vigorously, the motion carrying more emotion than such a gesture should. It looked at Nolan directly.
"Uh... my Lord, why did you choose such a cumberso thod? Perhaps, the Emperor is always watching you."
The words carried weight. Uncertainty wrapped in statent.
Nolan's hands didn't stop their work. He tore another chunk of at free, chewed thoughtfully, then responded with his mouth still half-full.
"Although our current approach is to adapt to local conditions, I rember that the Emperor doesn't like artificial intelligence very much. It's hard to say whether it will protect you when encountering a real situation. I just want to seek psychological comfort."
He swallowed, expression growing more serious. "In addition, there may not be any Chaos electronic demons in the country, but there may be nanoviruses or other weird things that can produce similar effects. This is sothing we need to consider in advance."
His cyan eyes lifted, eting David's optical sensors. "I don't want to have to face an omnic crisis or a Man of Iron rebellion one day..."
Nolan paused, recognizing how that might sound. "I'm sorry, David, this is not for you personally, but a necessary worry."
Before he could continue, sothing changed. Nolan suddenly stopped eating mid-motion, hand frozen with at halfway to his mouth.
He frowned slightly, gaze losing focus. His eyes stared at the firelight constantly dancing before him, but they weren't seeing flas. They saw sothing else. Sothing distant and troubling.
His voice erged as a murmur, words directed at himself more than David. "Moreover, just when I perford the 'Miracle' last ti, the Emperor also gave a psychic prophecy of impending disaster..."
The admission ca reluctantly, as if speaking it aloud made it more real. "During this ti, I always subconsciously thought of this matter. Maybe, I an maybe... If the prophecy has nothing to do with the local area, then the forces of Chaos may not be as far away from this universe as I think."
The words hung heavy in the cave. Firelight continued its dance, indifferent to the implications.
"The Chaos Demons of the Warp..."
David's voice carried new weight. The speed of the blue light flashing in his optical sensors seed to increase noticeably, processing implications and probabilities.
The Man of Iron moved with deliberate care, shifting the sizzling barbecue on top of the fire aside to let it cool. The action bought ti to formulate response.
When David spoke again, its chanical voice seed to carry relief rather than fear. Almost... hope?
"My Lord, if your worries are correct, the worst we can do is to face the normal wars that the Imperium of Man encounters every day again."
The ancient machine's words built montum, philosophy erging from vast experience. "And by then, those native humans who have never faced terrifying demons will still need you to lead them to continue fighting. There will be unbearable casualties, but the native humans who have been tempered by war are no longer babies."
David shifted position, firelight playing across tal limbs. "Sacrifice. The foundation of the Imperium of Man has always been built on sacrifice. This is a perfect motto that has been proven by countless lives. As a loyal Man of Iron, I can tell you with certainty that in fact, even if the most glorious Golden Age of mankind is fleeting, so things in human bones have never changed."
The blue optics blazed brighter. "This is the fundantal reason why today's Imperium of Man can continue to fight against countless xenos, heretics and even Chaos demons."
Philosophy beca conviction. "This doesn't even matter which universe or world... it is an important factor that allows the human species to stand out from countless competitors. The vast majority of human beings may be ignorant, reckless and aggressive, but at the sa ti they are also brave and fearless, possessing a strong spiritual will to sacrifice."
David's tal head tilted slightly, the gesture almost wistful. "I personally believe that even native humans will shine with the sa brilliance as long as they are given appropriate ti and many experiences..."
At this mont, David's words pulled Nolan from his dark contemplation. The philosophy settled over him like a blanket, warm and reassuring.
He fell into deep thought, processing wisdom delivered by a machine older than nations. Weighing possibilities. Considering futures.
Then, suddenly, he shook his head. The motion was sharp, decisive, breaking free from circular worries.
A faint smile appeared between the corners of his grease-stained mouth. Oil caught firelight, gleaming.
"David, you are right. Perhaps I am too worried about so issues."
His voice strengthened, conviction replacing anxiety. "No matter what, we should make the preparations we should. If the developnt of everything gradually exceeds the original expectations, then it is nothing more than a sentence..."
Nolan's smile widened, becoming sothing fierce and determined. "The soldiers will stop it, and the water will co to earth!"
He gestured broadly with the half-eaten steak still in his hand. "Moreover, I am not fighting alone. I have you guys in the team to help !"
Energy returned fully. Appetite reasserted itself. He pointed at the cooling at with enthusiasm.
"Co on, David, get on with the at!"
At this mont, Nolan's hunger that had briefly subsided returned to his body with renewed force. In high spirits, he continued to devour the food before him, attacking it with savage joy.
And David shook its tal head slightly, the motion carrying fondness despite lacking biological capacity for such emotion.
The ancient machine returned to the grill, preparing more steaks. It worked with the quiet satisfaction of a wise man who had retired after success, having said what needed saying.
The fire crackled. at sizzled. And in a cave beneath a mountain in Latveria, a man and a machine shared a mont of peace before the storms to co.
Early the next morning, sunlight just beginning to filter through cave entrances, Doom arrived.
He'd co more than ten hours earlier than the twenty-four Nolan had allocated. Full of energy despite everything he'd endured. Purpose drove him forward.
Doom found Nolan outside his private cave, the commander already awake despite the early hour. Sleep was a luxury Nolan rarely indulged fully.
The sorcerer carried a large bucket, steam rising from its contents. Sweet soup made from the roots and stems of various plants mixed with starch. A traditional Latverian breakfast, humble but nourishing.
The two shared the simple al that tasted neither particularly good nor particularly bad. Function over flavor. Sustenance to fuel planning.
While they ate, bowls balanced on rocks, they discussed the next action plan.
Doom spoke first, expressing his difficulties to Nolan with the honesty of soone who'd learned that false optimism served no one.
The number of rebels today was far less than before in terms of combat effectiveness and personnel quality. The failed rescue attempts had bled them. The best had died trying to save him.
Even if equipped with more advanced weapons and equipnt, superior technology couldn't replace lost experience and numbers. It was unlikely they could regain their previous revolutionary splendor through force alone.
Moreover, it was difficult to gain the support of the local people again. Trust, once broken, healed slowly. The resistance had promised victory too many tis. Delivered failure instead.
Doom acknowledged another limitation. He was proficient in witchcraft, possessed individual strength that made him formidable in personal combat.
But facing the shielding technology controlled by Leviathan, magic often beca useless. Those containnt devices negated his greatest advantage. It was difficult to play a big role against prepared enemies.
However, Nolan already had ideas about this situation. His mind had been working through possibilities during the long night.
He asked the critical question: If they wanted to re-mobilize the Latverian people, what would be the success rate?
Doom frowned, thinking carefully. His newly restored eyes tracked across mories, assessing sentint and wounds that ran deeper than any torture.
When he spoke, his voice carried caution but also certainty. "According to my past understanding, the people here just want to eat the flesh and bones of every mber of the Fortunov family! Almost every Latverian has a blood feud with the ruling class!"
He t Nolan's gaze directly. "I can't guarantee one hundred percent success, but the probability is not low. It's worth a try."
Nolan nodded slightly, eyes narrowed in calculation. Pieces falling into place. A plan forming.
He took a deep breath, decision crystallizing. His voice erged calm, controlled, carrying the weight of command.
"In that case, let's test the waters with so public opinion offensives first, and then respond according to subsequent developnts..."
He turned toward the cave entrance, raising his voice to carry.
"David, co in!"
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