73
The Machine Core Station always felt strange to Milo. As though the air was dead around him. Sound was muffled except for a steady hum.
There was also a strong smell of ozone.
On the large stone cube in the center of the room, the Prime’s gem glowed softly. It was a ruby about the size of his fist. Its value was immeasurable to the mages outside.
If he wanted, he could probably trade it for a title, land, and more gold than he’d ever need.
But he never thought about that.
Greetings, Engineer Milo.
He nodded to the core in greeting. “I finished your test.”
Assessment in progress.
Milo took a deep breath. He couldn’t help but to look at the ceiling. There was still a possibility that, like with his previous test, failure could mean a horribly gruesome death.
The Prime hadn’t exactly denied the possibility.
Assessment complete. Passing grade applied.
Unlocking Supplemental Archive One.
Milo felt a low rumble which he now knew was the feeling of rooms shifting close to the Workshop. He guessed one of the doors which hadn’t been working was now going to open to a new room.
Supplemental Archive One unlocked and relocated. Access Granted.
Unlocking Manufacturing Wing.
Manufacturing Wing unlocked and relocated. Access Granted.
Initiating Manufacturing Processes.
The ground under his feet did more than rumble. It began to quiver and shake as a loud growling roar made the whole fortress quake. To Milo, it sounded like an enormous engine under his feet had revved to life.
There was no way the rest of the Academy hadn’t heard it, too.
He winced. He’d need to send Click to the Headmaster’s office to get an idea of what the mages thought of it. Not that he felt he could do much about them right now.
Congratulations, Engineer Milo.
He gave the core a wry smile. He was sure it had a little idea of the trouble it had just caused, but that it didn’t care.
“Thanks.”
The door to the Machine Core Station slid open with a hiss, letting him out again. He’d been in there for over an hour answering the Prime’s questions as part of its test.
He’d responded in stilted dwarven. He still wasn’t confident with the language, but he felt he’d be able to order an ale in a dwarven bar fairly easily, perhaps exchange some pointers in how to assemble a golem without too much difficulty or, if he was feeling frisky, he could very fluently engage with a dwarven prostitute if they existed.
With a grunt, he stepped out of the Machine Core Station.
He still had a lot of questions, but first wanted to see the Manufacturing Wing. That sounded very exciting. Too exciting to hold himself back.
From the main Workshop where his bench was located, multiple rooms split off. There was a room to the recharging stations. And a forge, which he hadn’t yet had much time to look at.
But a new set of doors had filled a blank wall. They were massive. Larger than any he’d seen before. As he stepped up and pressed a button to open them, he saw why.
Steam curled out as they opened.
And his drop dropped open with them.
A massive factory floor stretched out in front of him. He could see it had a lower level, too.
Huge vats bubbled away with liquid metal glowing brightly. As he watched, automated processes poured the metal into molds.
The loud crash and grind of machinery clattered in his ears.
A hiss as something hot was dunked into water.
“Wow!” Selma said, stepping up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder. “You did it!”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t drag his eyes off what he was seeing. Not even to look at her.
The intricate web of stations devoted to different tasks was both hypnotic and exciting. What was everything doing? What was possible here?
He saw one station that looked like it was churning some kind of green slime which glowed brightly. What was it for?
And another station had dozens of hoses aimed at a spot. They weren’t doing anything right now, but they clearly had a purpose.
Cleaning?
Painting?
Upgrade Process Initiated, Fed suddenly said in a soft voice. Preparing for Migration.
Migration?
“What?” Milo looked up, but Fed didn’t answer. “Fed? Hello?”
He glanced at Selma, who shrugged. Confused, he headed back to the Machine Core Station with Selma in tow. Ducking inside, he put his hands on his hips.
“Do you know what’s happening to Fed?”
The Workshop Assistant Module called Fed is being upgraded, Engineer Milo.
“What was that about Migration, though?”
A new Interface needs to be constructed to contain the upgraded Workshop Assistant Module. Please assemble new Interface immediately.
“Interface? What interface?”
A panel opened above and Milo couldn’t help but flinch as he imagined an arm with a screaming buzzsaw dropping down.
Instead, what fell out was a small rolled-up set of blueprints.
He snatched them out of the air and pulled them open.
Turning them up the right way, he frowned.
“What’s all the commotion, Milo?” Tania asked, sliding into the room with Mila at her hip. “It got real noisy down here all of a sudden.”
Milo grunted, flicking through a few pages. “I passed the exam,” he said. “Now this thing wants me to build a new Interface for Fed.”
“Really?” Mila looked a bit excited.
“Yeah.”
Tania tried to read the blueprints. “What is it?”
Milo sighed. “Another golem.”
“I ain’t ever seen one like this before,” she said, squinted at the design.
“Yeah, it’s a lot more complex than your models,” he said with a groan. “I don’t even know what this part is in the skull.”
That is the Remote Relay, Engineer Milo, the Prime put in helpfully.
“Remote Relay?” Milo scratched his head, trying to think. “Is that, like, a way it can link to other systems?”
Affirmative, Engineer Milo. The Workshop Assistant Module will need to be mobile. With mobility, a remote requirement is essential to function.
Mila frowned at it. “It doesn’t seem to have any weapons. Is that right?”
“If I’m right, it’s because it’s meant to be an assistant,” Milo said. “Is that right, Prime?”
Affirmative, Engineer Milo. The Prime sounded a little pleased. The Workshop Assistant Module will work as an Interface between Engineer Milo and functioning Manufacturing and Workshop stations.
“That’ll save you having to plug away on your pad,” Tania said, chewing on the idea. “It ain’t the worst thing I’ve heard of.”
“I guess not,” Milo said.
“So,” she said, tugging the blueprints out of his hand. “Ya passed. That means there’s a whole lotta fancy stuff unlocked for ya?”
“I guess so.”
He made a grab for the blueprints, but she held them out of reach. “Nuh-uh,” she said with a wag of her finger. “We’re gonna take ya out, Milo. Remember, you’re like a real dwarf engineer now. When ya do something extra-flinky, what do ya do?”
He stared at her. Then he smiled. “Go drinking.”
“That’s right! We go drinking! And then we get Stonks ta drag us home!”
“I think we’ll skip that part.”
“But it’s the best part,” Selma complained, taking his arm.
“I wanna get dragged,” Mila said with a grin. “Please, Milo?”
He shook his head as he looked at them all.
One by one.
Then he shrugged. “Alright. Do whatever,” he said. “I owe you.”
“What for?”
He opened his mouth. “Ah,” he said. “That tongue thing. It solved everything.”
“Tongue thing?” Tania gave the other two golems a perplexed look. “Any of ya know what bunk he’s on about?”
“Not me,” Selma said.
Mila shook her head. “I dunno.”
“The tongue thing.” He sighed, not knowing what game they were playing now. But sure that, somehow, he was the butt of it. “I know you know what I’m talking about.”
“Oh!” Tania gave him a surprised look. Then her expression turned mischievous, which made his heart freeze to a halt in his chest. “The tongue thing. Ya mean this tongue thing, Milo?”
Then she grabbed him by the ears. And before he could say anything, kissed him on the mouth. Her lips were soft.
Warm.
There was an almost fruity smell in his nostrils as she melted against him and he against her. The gentle kiss swept through him on a shocked wave as he felt her tongue slide towards his and he responded with an instinct every young man knows but can’t define.
When she pulled away, her eyes glowed softly.
“Not bad,” she said.
“I did the tongue thing, too,” Selma said, turning him in her arm and leaning down to plant her lips on his.
His arms were rigid at his sides as her kiss felt more urgent. More hungry.
Their tongues swirled together until she pulled back with a girlish giggle that made her whole body shiver delightfully.
“Oh, my.” Selma patted at her hair. “Am I mussed?”
“Ya look fine, ya ditz,” Tania said affectionately.
Milo nodded, feeling dazed.
But he had no time to recover as Mila ducked down and then up to press her nose almost against his. She stared at him in the eyes.
“Go on,” Tania said, slapping her on the back.
“Eep!” Mila lunged, kissing him awkwardly.
At first.
Then she flung her arms around his neck, and he felt her passion overwhelm him as she let herself go.
“Mmf!”
When she reluctantly let go, she was bright red. Her ears looked hot enough to cook an egg on.
Which was funny, given his own felt the same.
He felt like an animal caught in bright lights at night.
He didn’t know what to say. What to do.
“Umm.”
“Bank looks closed for the rest of the night.” Tania chuckled. “I think we broke him. I told ya a bit of necking would knock his socks off.”
“Milo?” Selma waved a hand in front of his face. “Are you alright?”
“Or do we need to find a spanner?” Tania asked, making Mila giggle.
He shook his head.
He knew he should say something.
But before he could, he was swarmed by three giggling golems who snatched at least one part of his body and led him firmly out of the Workshop.
Out of the Academy.
And into the crisp early evening air towards a night of food, fun, and booze.