92 Ark Project (3)

Han guided Canute around the various third year facilities. He repeated Silence's route from last time. The last stop would be at the psychoframe training center. The training center was silent because there was no psychoframe to train with. The engineers were silently inspecting the psychoframe.

"I'm glad you're here. Han, how's your condition?" The third engineering team's Chief, Octo, said as he chewed on some bubble gum.

"I'm not here for my sake this time. This is Canute Myer."

"Huh, is that so? If it's for the rookie, then you should go find team four. They should be in the maintenance facility on the other side. They looked like they were readjusting the oldman since yesterday for the rookie." Octo said immediately losing any interest. 

Han was about to leave together with Canute, when Octo held them back with his shining greasy hands.

"…I'm not here to put on the psychoframe today."

Han meekly looked to Octo and said. Octo laughed darkly. 

"Huhu, follow me. I have business with you." Octo didn't care for Han's circumstances. Canute said he was fine and left ahead of Han.

Han felt a bit irritated from Octo's stubborn attitude, but simply nodded. Octo blew giant balloons with his gum as he hummed a song through his nose. He past the psychoframe training center and entered the third team's development room. The third team inside were busily moving about.

"Huh? Han's here?" A technician holding a welding machine said while looking to and fro from Han to Octo.

"Chief, didn't you say Han would be summoned tomorrow?"

"I met him while I was picking up some spare parts. The sooner the better for us."

"All he needs to do is see it anyway." The technician complained.

Octo happily smiled.

"Did you already attach the new leg suspensions? The one that old geezer installed onto the legs are too heavy. How do you expect anyone to run like that? That geezer thinks a psychoframe is a train or something."

"You should go see for yourself. It should be fully put together by now."

Octo walked deeper into the development center. All he could hear was the clanking sounds of heavy equipment being moved and fiddled with. There were mysterious tools Han had never seen in his life hanging on the walls.

"Welcome, Han. This is our true work room. Even Hephaestus's 1) work room couldn't compare to this place!" Octo said after spitting out his now flavorless bubblegum. He took out two new pieces of bubblegum and threw it into his mouth.

'He eats so well even though his hands are so greasy and dirty…'

Han watched Octo and thought to himself. Octo's words didn't stir any of his interests. Han couldn't relate to any of the engineers' feelings. 

Weeng.

The cover opened. Han's eyes grew wide. A psychoframe hung on the center of the room like a puppet. The engineers busily moved about the room.

'This isn't Oldman.'

This wasn't the training psychoframe. The outer shell finishing was vastly different and polished. There were countless high-tech equipment attached and in working condition at just a glance.

"A psychoframe?" Han mumbled. 

Octo scratched his nose and said proudly, "This is the second generation psychoframe. This is the only existing model frame. All the psychoframes that will be produced in the future will be based off of this one here."

Octo was able to take the prototype which the first engineering team had kept locked up. They had went through all the lawful legimet procedures to acquire this model.

'The geezer's abilities to develop the artificial frame hasn't rusted at all. The overall balance of this prototype is amazing. '

Octo observed the prototype in simple awe. The first generation psychoframe couldn't even compare to the beauty of the prototype. It wasn't an exaggeration to consider this a piece of art. It took countless failures to reach the absolute perfect golden balance point which was inside this prototype. The perfect balance of dragon and artificial parts could not be theorized. They had to implement the infinite number of ratios and methods one by one. This was a repetitive and mind numbing process which tested a person's patience and perseverance. This could not be done by any genius engineers but only the simple minded engineers.

"The second generation…."

Han's palms felt clammy. The key to humanity's future was here. Han felt it sharply in his heart this past battle, that no amount of talent could allow a psyker to dare hold a candle against a dragon without a psychoframe. Only psychoframes allowed one to fight against a dragon on equal footing. This was the strength which Han wished for.

"Luck is on our side. Our team has been assigned with this prototype. Ask us why, Han." Octo snapped his suspenders and said while Han quirked his head.

"Why?"

Octo took out the permit signed by Chief of Staff, Alexander. Han's photo was attached to it. Han's eyes shook.

"You're this psychoframe's pilot."

Han's eyes went from Octo to the psychoframe and then back to Octo. Han had the least amount of psychic powers amongst all third years. Yet, he had been selected to be this prototypes official pilot, nobody would believe this. Even Han himself was having a hard time believing.

"How… is it me?"

"Of course it's thanks to my great eloquence."

Han lightly laughed at Octo's joke. Ark always made the best possible choice. There must be a logical and sound reason for which Han had been selected to pilot this prototype. Han didn't even consider if he had been chosen through a back door method.

"Whether it was your eloquence or not, it doesn't matter. When can I start to pilot this?"

"It will take some time. We still have a lot of work to do to complete this. The prototype wasn't built for battle. We're working hard to take it apart and fix it. You will have to frequently visit this place from now on. We must build the perfect model which suits mine and your tastes!"

Han stared in awe toward the second generation psychoframe. Oldman had to be worn in parts, but this one was built as a whole. The pilot just needed to step inside, then a second armor would wrap around themselves. The structure of this model greatly contrasted the crude design of the first generation psychoframes. The joints of the armor moved smoothly like small keys linked together. It appeared as if the armor had life to it. Nicely put, it looked ergonomic, but at the same time it was grotesque.

Han listened to Octo's drawn out explanation on the new, advancing direction for the next generation of psychoframes. 

'Overall, this prototype is built with higher dragon material, so it becomes highly sensitive to psychic energies. The first generation psykers don't have enough psychic energy to fully utilize this psychoframe to its full potential, but at the same time the fine control aspect of this psychoframe makes it difficult for second generation psykers.'

Han thought through all of Octo's explanations carefully. This was the basic meaning of Octo's complicated drawn out explanation. 

"From time to time, having less strength is more beneficial. The geezer Smith became greedy with his design. His craftsman's senses made him overconfident, rather than catering for the user, he created this for his own self satisfaction."

Octo continued to talk like he was talking to himself. Han stepped back a step from Octo and gave a side long scowl. He judged that Octo's mind definitely had a loose screw or two. He appeared like he would go insane if he didn't have anything to eat.

'Though his skills are unmistakable.'

Silence finished his wall self-reflection. He finally came out of his room to have a proper meal other than his daily protein drink. He headed to the cafeteria and began to pile food onto his plate as he passed them. He normally consumed exponentially more than most people assumed based on his body frame, but today he seems to be testing the limits to his whole body suit. 

KWANG!

Silence dropped his plates of food on the table and opened the lower portion of his mask. He almost ate as fast as he breathed. He didn't hold back, as if rewarding himself for restraining himself all this time.

"So his binging started again."

The soldiers who began trickling into the cafeteria commented. The soldiers were now familiar with most of Silence's peculiarities. If one were to consider Silence's actual age, having a peculiarity or two was not strange at all. Whenever Silence blamed himself, he would hole himself in his own room for a few days, and then binge. This was his mental health care coping method. 

"Huh, you're okay with coming out now?" Han said as he set down his moderately filled plate of food onto the table. His neat and proper plate of food greatly contrasted Silence's messy mountain of food. Canute stood just behind of Han.

-I'm done reflecting. Who's behind you?

Silence pointed to Canute. 

"Canute Meyer. I'm sure you've seen him before."

Canute had battled against one another during the mock squad battles. Other than that one time, they didn't have any chances to meet.

"Nice to meet you. Though I'm not sure you remember me."

-I'll remember you from now on.

Silence shook Canute's hand. Canute had also brought a mountain of food and began devouring his food next to them. While Canute ate, he kept sneaking glances to Silence. They only exchanged a few monotonous usual chatter as they ate.

'Does he harbor any ill will toward Silence? Canute was flattened last time… but it was a competition. He isn't one to harbour ill will for such petty reasons.'

The way Canute observed Silence was very particular. Silence felt Canute's stare and looked up.

-Did you have anything you wanted to say?

Canute scratched his chin upon Silence's question.

"No, nothing. I just felt that your mask looked cool."

-I asked the engineering team to make it for me. They can produce almost anything you request. Of course the design was my own idea. 

Han who had been watching the two, flinched.

'He probably thinks… that the skull design is cool.'

The skull mask felt very intimidating the first time Han fought against Silence. He looked like the god of death. Though now, he was very familiar with Silence and it appeared to be just an amusing prop. 

After, Silence stood up once he finished his meal. He was planning to finish all the overdue training he had been delaying all at once. His every step contained a great strength to them, which also conveyed his desire to grow stronger. Han lightly chuckled while watching Silence walk out.

"He's not as uptight as I assumed him to be." Canute said.

"He's not such a bad guy like he appears. He's also much stronger than you think."

Han had won against Silence once during the mock squad battle. This was not possible through sheer skill. Han had a bit of luck and Silence had been careless, Han's tenacity had helped make his victory possible.

"While we're on this topic, have you ever seen Silence's face?"

"No, he must have his own reasons for not wanting to reveal his own face."

"Is that so?"

Canute let off a sinister laugh as his eyes shined. Han had a bad premonition. 

"It's better not to, Canute."

"What am I going to do?" Canute slyly smiled and Han simply sighed.

"The thing you're thinking of now." Han knew that dissuading Canute at this point was impossible. Canute left first and winked as he left.

"I'm different from you, I'm too impatient to ignore the things I'm curious about."

 Canute planned his attack against Silence.

Canute's perseverance was very strong. He was very clear with his opinions, and held absolutely no fear of new challenges in his life. Ark had profiled him as a boy who grew up in the fishing village of Norway while watching the north seas. He was one who didn't fear the unknown and instead delved into it deeper.

'Silence.'

Canute was well aware of the rumors which surrounded Silence. Silence was one of the top elites amongst the third year. He was completely helpless against Silence the first time they met.

"Hmm." 

Canute followed Silence to the stamina training center. He sat down on a machine a distance away and began to exercise. 

'Is he training his agility? He doesn't train as much with weights.'

Silence exercised with lighter equipment. His training uniform flapped in the wind. Silence geared himself so that not a bit of his skin was open so that he could maintain his mysteriousness.

'From rumors, he wears his helmet because he wanted to hide the injury to his face… but well, if it's really because of a scar I can just apologize afterwards.'

Canute's eyes shined as he let go of his dumbbells. He whistled and leisurely snuck behind Silence.

'Reach out while casually passing him… like I'm just walking past…'

Canute swung his arm and Silence ducked. Canute's eyes widened in surprise.

Tah!

Silence turned around and kicked into Canute's stomach. Canute faltered. The battle ended at once and Silence stood shaking his index finger side to side.

"Damn."

Canute held his stomach as he got up. Silence mocked the other without words. He pointed his thumb down as he shook his hand. There were countless attempts to snatch Silence's mask. All the third years were extremely curious about Silence's true face. Not a single person had succeeded, and Silence's true face remained a mystery to all.

-It is a ninj-, I mean, a soldier's duty to always remain vigilant. 

Silence wrote happily.

"Very funny. Just you wait!"

Canute laughed, promising to return. Silence was wearing his mask, so his expression remained a mystery. He wasn't an easy opponent. You could never guess where Silence's attention was focused, so it was difficult trying to predict his next move. Canute carefully observed Silence whenever he passed the other throughout his day. 

"You're still at it?"

Han asked Canute who was hiding behind a crate that was set by the corner of a building.

"Silence will train at the Psychic Training Center everyday for an hour. Silence will pass this place in the next ten minutes. He will never guess that I'm hiding here waiting to ambush him."

"I see, work hard."

Han couldn't see the end of Canute's tenacity. He lightly patted Canute's back and continued on his way.

'He'll be here soon.'

Canute silenced his breath and stood on standby to ambush the other. But even after 10 minutes passed, he couldn't even see a speck of Silence. The only people passing by were the other soldiers who resided in the third year zone. Canute suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He slowly turned around. A man in a skull mask silently loomed behind him.

BAM!

Silence stood with crossed arms and playfully kicked Canute. Canute crashed into the wall as he winced in pain.

"How did you know?"

-Are you stupid? You were there for over 30 minutes, of course the others would tell me ahead of time. They told me a moron was hiding behind a crate, who else could it be but you?

Silence wrote in his electric note. His explanation was quite friendly.

"Damn it!" 

Canute was too focused on Silence that he failed to notice many important details. Everyone who passed Canute was a stranger to him, but everyone that lived in the third year zone was well acquainted with Silence. If people were gossiping, of course Silence would come to know about it.

Now that it's come to this, I'll just fight you fair and square. Come! Sly bastard!" 

Canute yelled confidently. Silence nonchalantly shrugged and followed through with his next move. He evaded Canute's attack using showy moves, all the while calmly countering all the attacks. Canute looked dizzy after a couple punches to the head. Blood flowed from his nose. Canute had strong close combat skills, however his skills were nothing but child's play against Silence.

Canute spit out blood from his mouth. His eyes faintly glowed into a green hue. His healing factor recovered most of his minor injuries in an instant.

'Healing factor? He will be very troublesome and annoying.'

Silence scratched his chin. It was very difficult to do away with someone with regenerative unique abilities.

"Good, good. Come on! Without fighting spirit, I'm no different than the undead." Canute shouted.

Silence let out a quiet sigh. His body shined.

Weeng!

Silence used his blink skill to teleport to the building rooftop. He took out his electric note and scribbled a message.

-A true warrior never backs away from a battle but… it's cheating to fight with a healing factor like that.

Silence disappeared in a flash. Canute frowned. At this point, seeing Silence's true face wasn't important. The other's true face could be whatever, for all he cared. 

'I have my pride as a man.'