"What about Lynx?" Jace was sitting on a chair in the cafeteria. At the moment he was looking at the tiger as he came up with names. So far the tiger had shook its head and made a sound he could only assume was disapproval.

    The tiger shook its head and made the huffing sound again. There were some chuckles from some nearby candidates that were watching the interaction. The tiger had essentially vetoed every name he suggested almost immediately.

    "Okay, that is all Christian and ancient Grecian religious names that I could find. As well as all the different terms of cat I could find." Jace sighed as he leaned his head on a hand he propped up on a table using his elbow. "I suppose this means I have to start looking into areas I have never looked into before. What do you think? Other religions or regions might have a name you might like."

    There was a beeping on his communication device. Jace frowned and pulled up the message. It was labeled as high priority by Commander Eelson.

    [Dear Sergeant Steel,

    Due to recent events within the torture training simulations we have determined that you are able to easily able to pass all of the simulations before the determined time frame. As such we have come up with a way to make your last three simulations more difficult.

    Therefore the next simulation you will be entering with Specialist Nina Diaz. She suffered a mental break after attempting the first simulation and failed. We request that you find a method to help her complete the next simulation. As well as find a way to have her overcome her difficulties with being tortured.

    This was suggested by the Director after determining that attempting to put you through torture training has been ineffective. You will report to the VR Drive Pod room after your break in order to go through the next simulation.

    Thank you for volunteering to help in this endeavor,

    Commander Riley Eelson.]

    "Well that is a nice way to tell me I am too good and need a handicap. I had a feeling this would end up becoming my problem. Solisa, are you there? I need some help with something." Jace asked toward his communication device while the tiger began growling in another direction.

    "She is not. Shipborne AI, designation Solisa, is currently on an independent network as she helps refurbish and redesign the Wing of Pegasus. As well as several other designs and projects that are currently classified above your level. I would not worry about it since there is not much that can be done on your part anyways." A mechanical voice spoke up from behind Jace. It was a rigid computer voice and lacked the clear personality he had become used to while interacting with Requiem AIs.

    Jace turned around and blinked in surprise. It was a robotic dog, or more accurately, it is the robotic dog he and Taylor Hielo designed. But it has since been further modified and changed.

    "Cain?"

    "Affirmative, this AI unit has the designation Cain. I have been cleared for duty following extensive alterations to my exterior shell. All of which has resulted in an increased capacity to both take damage and deal it out." Cain''s exterior consisted of reinforced plates and metallic wires. But when Taylor and Jace left him he was less armored. It seemed someone had taken the time and money needed in order to make Cain a stronger exterior.

    "Was that all that was done to you?" Jace asked as he looked closer as the tiger prowled around the robotic dog. "I think my new tiger companion is suspicious of you."

    "I can see that Creator." Cain''s head turned as it watched the tiger. "She is likely suspicious of a species or type of being she has not yet encountered before. From what I understand she has encountered a holographic form of an artificial intelligence but not an AI''s core." Cain stopped following it and turned to look at Jace. "I have sent all the relevant changes to both your and Taylor Hielo''s new personal communication devices."

    Jace frowned, "New personal communication device? I did not request one." He had been thinking about getting a new communication device. But he was going to wait until this Tartarus Project training was complete.

    "Affirmative, you did not." Cain''s head went up and down as he nodded in confirmation. "All of the members of the Tartarus Project that have developed useful technology are being given new personal communication devices in order to further encrypt communications and information."

    "Why?"

    "Because all innovations and innovators are given a higher security clearance after entering the Echo System. The clearance level depends on how important the projects are that the innovators are working on. Those here in the Echo System are required to abide by clearance mandated zones. A temporary pass can be provided by department heads or the director. Currently you and the other members of the Tartarus Project are confined to only a small part of the station." Cain explained.

    "That wasn''t…" Jace frowned before it clicked. "The new communication devices will also be doubling as our temporary passes should an engineering team have questions about our submitted works. Should I assume all communications will be watched as well?"

    "Correct. Very astute Creator!" Cain confirmed. "But that was not why I was sent here. During your first set of torture tests, which you basically used to show off not only your own torture skills but also your ability to escape confinement, your tiger companion seemed to be bored while you were in the VR Drive Pod. So she decided to send me to accompany the tiger."

    Jace rolled his eyes before he began gathering his things. He had only an hour left before his next simulation started. Which was apparently going to be a joint simulation. Before then he would have to do some research and see about these new communication devices.

    After putting his cafeteria tray on a prepared shelf he walked to his room with the tiger and Cain following behind him. The tiger was still growling, but much quieter now as it followed Jace. Cain on the other hand was quite loud while walking. With the clanking of his metal feet against the floor, it almost made him wonder how Cain managed to sneak up on him.

    Was he intentionally silent before or was he being loud on purpose now. He could be doing it to put the tiger at ease. That or being manipulative so Cain could implant false ideas in Jaces and the tigers mind.

    After they arrived at the dorm he was staying at he looked over the device that arrived while he was gone. Looking around he realized that he might not be the only one finding them as the other, far more exhausted and haunted candidates looked over their own before tucking them away and falling asleep on their bunks.

    Jace''s new communication device was a Hellion Holo Watch. The specific design was a Seeker IV. He had seen a few different holo watches growing up and talked about them with others at the academy. He planned to get one once he had a more permanent position after the extra training he was undergoing was finished.

    There were multiple lines of holo watches with several different companies having their own brands. Back in the academy they were given the Hellion Holo Watch Strand III. Strand III''s were cheap, decent, and durable which is why they were made the Cadet''s standard communication device.

    The Seeker IV was an expensive design. It looks like a normal watch with a digital screen that rests on an analog clock face with the big and little hand. Then there was the option to display a holographic screen that could be manipulated or manipulate the digital screen on the watch. But he had not heard of anything beyond the recently announced Seeker III. Seems that the Echo System was at least one generation ahead of the rest of the nation.

    When he put the watch on his wrist a holographic screen appeared. It was asking for basic information. He began filling it out as he sat on his bed. The tiger jumped on his bed and lay down next to him. While Cain laid down in front of his bunk.

    After filling out the basic information he pulled up the data on Cain''s changes that the technical team in charge of Cain provided him with. The external armor changes were the only obvious change. Everything else was more discreet and hidden under the exterior.

    The wiring running throughout Cain''s body was changed to make it more efficient as well as having redundant wiring. That way if his primary wiring failed or was damaged he would still be able to operate just with less efficiency.

    The hydraulics and mechanical joints had been changed out. He could tell that the replaced parts were doing the same thing as the original design but with greater ease. Making them more energy efficient and stronger if certain parts of the new joints were overclocked.

    Aside from those things there was not much else that was actively replaced. Many of the internal systems near the AI core were untouched. But that honestly made sense because the core itself as well as the control hubs around it were some of his and Taylor''s best work. The rest of the body might as well have been an exchangeable shell because of what they did.

    Actually that gives him a few ideas.

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